Severe Cold Weather Event Response

Read an op-ed from Executive Director Toby Baker detailing how the winter storm exposed the state's vulnerable water infrastructure.

Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration.

TCEQ is committed to responding to the event while also following Department of State Health Services guidance for COVID19.

TCEQ Toll-Free Numbers

See video updates on TCEQ’s severe cold weather response

Temporary Fuel Waiver:

EPA has granted TCEQ’s request for temporary fuel waivers for the Texas Low Emission Diesel (TxLED) requirements that apply in 110 Texas counties, and the oxygenated gasoline requirements that apply in El Paso County. These waivers are to address a fuel supply emergency caused by refinery and distribution terminal disruptions resulting from the severe weather event throughout Texas.

• Second Temporary Fuel Waiver (03-05-2021)
• Temporary Fuel Waiver (02-19-2021)

Rules Suspensions:

• Office of the Governor lifts the final temporary rule suspension (05-08-2021)
• TCEQ Second Request to Partially Terminate Suspension (04-09-2021)
• Office of the Governor’s Second Approval to Partially Terminate Suspension (04-13-2021)
• TCEQ Request to Partially Terminate Suspension (03-15-2021)
• Office of the Governor’s Approval to Partially Terminate Suspension (03-17-2021)
• TCEQ Third Suspension Request (02-19-2021)
• TCEQ Second Suspension Request (02-15-2021)
• TCEQ Suspension Request (02-13-2021)
• Approval of the Third Request by the Governor’s Office (02-19-2021)
• Approval of the Second Request by the Governor’s Office (02-15-2021)
• Approval of the Request by the Governor’s Office (02-13-2021)

Public Participation Extension Requests:

See how to make an extension request:

• Public Participation Deadline Extension Requests
• Solicitudes de extensión de plazo para participación pública

Enforcement Discretion:

• Download the latest file showing the status of requests received by TCEQ for enforcement discretion
• Download documents related to requests for enforcement discretion
• Power Emergency Policy (02-10-2021)

Requesting Enforcement Discretion

• Request for case-by-case enforcement discretion should be sent by email to both the Office of Compliance and Enforcement (OCE) Director at craig.pritzlaff@tceq.texas.gov and to OCE@tceq.texas.gov. The request should include the following:
  • Concise statement supporting request for enforcement discretion
  • Anticipated duration of need for enforcement discretion
  • Citation of rule/permit provision for which enforcement discretion is requested
• Regulated entities must maintain records adequate to document activities related to the noncompliance under enforcement discretion, including details of the regulated entity's best efforts to comply. Information submitted related to enforcement discretion is subject to the Public Information Act. Any information that you intend to claim as confidential should be clearly marked.

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Public Water System Guidance:

• Public Water Systems: Report Your Outages Online
• Public Water Supplies: Guidance for responding to Freezing Conditions (02-18-2021)
• Public Water Systems: Responding to a Disaster (RG-517b)

Boil Water Notices

Boil water notices must be issued when distribution pressure drops below 20 pounds per square inch or if disinfection equipment is not functioning properly to maintain the minimum residual (0.2 mg/L free chlorine or 0.5 mg/L chloramines). Should your PWS need to shut down, issue a Boil Water Notice, or issue a precautionary Boil Water Notice, please notify the TCEQ regional office that serves your county and by e-mailing documentation to PWSBWN@tceq.texas.gov. A quick reference guide for issuing a Boil Water Notice is located here: Boil Water Notice Guide.

See forms for issuing Boil Water Notices.

Sample Collection

If your system is on a Boil Water Notice and your usual lab cannot analyze your bacteriological drinking water samples to rescind the notice as quickly as possible, call TCEQ at 855-685-8237.

If you are unable to facilitate the collection of any compliance samples, please reach out to the appropriate contact provided below:

• Chemical Sample Collection: PWSChem@tceq.texas.gov
• Disinfectant Residual Monitoring: PWSChem@tceq.texas.gov
• Bacteriological Samples:
  • Revised Total Coliform Rule, TCRData@tceq.texas.gov
  • Groundwater Rule, GWRData@tceq.texas.gov
• Lead and Copper: PWSLCR@tceq.texas.gov
• List of all Water Supply Division Program Email Boxes

Water Haulers

• Guidance for emergency temporary water haulers (02-18-2021)
• Approved Water Haulers

Emergency Funding Sources

• Water and Wastewater Funding Sources
• Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants

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Wastewater Treatment Plant Guidance:

• Wastewater Systems: Report Your Outages Online
• Wastewater Treatment Plants: Responding to Disasters (RG-517d)
• Texas Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (TXWARN) - Can offer free support, disaster response and mutual aid assistance for public and private water and wastewater utilities: 866-989-9276 or info@txwarn.org
• EPA Guidance – Operation of Conventional Wastewater Treatment Facilities in Cold Weather

2021 Water Quality Division, Wastewater Permitting Section Staff Contacts for Emergency Response

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Waste Management Guidance:

• Questions about Waste Management?
  • For questions regarding when your local weekly trash service will resume and what items will be accepted, contact your local municipality’s solid waste service provider.
  • For questions regarding solid waste permitting; debris management; and municipal, industrial, and hazardous waste management, contact TCEQ’s Waste Permits Division at 512-239-2335 or mswper@tceq.texas.gov for municipal waste questions and ihwper@tceq.texas.gov for industrial and hazardous waste questions.
• Household Hazardous Waste Guidance
  • Household Hazardous Waste: A Guide for Texans - Information on what you can do with household hazardous waste.
  • Contacts for Texas HHW Programs – A list of contacts and HHW collection programs by county. Due to the winter storm, please contact your local HHW collection program to check if and when they will be accepting HHW.
  • Household Hazardous Waste Guidance - How to comply with requirements and organize household hazardous waste collection events.
• Managing Debris from Declared Disasters (RG-518) - A lot of debris may be recycled, so before you haul it to the landfill, see what might be recycled in the table at the end of this guidance information.
• Locations of landfills
• MSW Map Viewer – Locate municipal solid waste (MSW) facilities and find information about them.
• Hauling Storm-Related Debris to the Curb – Following these specific guidelines will make for a speedier removal process. Check with your local government on what is available to you. Note – the flyers reference a hurricane, but the guidance is relevant for this winter storm event.
  • English flyer
  • Spanish flyer
  • Vietnamese flyer
• Concerns for authorized facilities (RG-517c)
• Temporary Debris Management form - For local jurisdictions to request a temporary debris management site to manage disaster debris.

Carcasses

• Disposing of Animal Carcasses Left Behind by Declared Disasters
  A guide for farm and ranch owners, state agencies, and local authorities when faced with animal mortalities.
• Disposal of Domestic or Exotic Animal Carcasses (RG-419)
• Additional Information from the Texas Animal Health Commission

Air Permit Guidance:

If your facility has a permit to protect air quality, read the following information after a declared disaster. The guidance will help operators and owners prevent or minimize any increased risk to human health and safety.

• Air Quality for Permitted Facilities: Responding to a Declared Disaster (RG-517a)

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