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EPA TRANSFERS RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLEAN WATER PROGRAM TO TEXAS

Release Date: 9/14/1998
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

      The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it is transferring responsibility for the Nation's second largest clean water program to Texas. The largest program is operated in California.

       Water quality is protected by developing surface water quality standards and regulating certain activities including the discharge of wastewater and stormwater from cities and industrial operations via a permitting program. Wastewater and stormwater permits regulate the quality of wastewater that will be discharged into a stream, river, lake or bay.  

       The Clean Water Act of 1972 intended for the federal government to transfer the regulation of water quality to states as they gained expertise and resources needed to ensure the protection of the Nation's waterways. Authorization of a state program meeting all the Clean Water Act requirements is contemplated by law. By submitting a sufficient program application, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) has been approved to operate the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program.  

       In Texas, nearly 4,000 public and private facilities have permits to discharge into the state’s 15 major river basins and 8 coastal basins. Until now, Texas companies had to obtain both a state and a federal wastewater permit. Companies faced two separate application processes and double paperwork to receive a wastewater permit. Removing the necessity of a second permit will reduce paperwork and added burden on businesses as well as allow the EPA to focus on the state’s most significant water quality problems. Under the federal Clean Water Act, EPA is required to continually oversee the state program via permit reviews, audits and inspections to ensure water quality of the 200,000 miles of streams and rivers in Texas.

       "While TNRCC has assured EPA of its resource commitment and has successfully answered questions on a broad range of issues, there continues to be intense public concern and scrutiny of its program," Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke said. "With this summer's drought we all became more aware of the importance of water, both quality and quantity, in our daily life.EPA, through its strong oversight program, will ensure that the transfer of this program to Texas continues to advance the clean water goals of our state."

       While the majority of wastewater discharge permits are issued by the TNRCC, Texas companies seeking wastewater discharge permits related to oil and gas activities will continue to obtain both a Railroad Commission of Texas permit and federal permit.