Texas Commission on Environmental Quality WEAT E & I Meeting November 18, 2015
Polly Porter Compliance Assistance Specialist Waco – Region 9. 254-761-3039. polly.porter@tceq.texas.gov. .
TCEQ Organization Commissioners Agency Environmental Communications Assistance Executive Director Intergovernmental Relations Toxicology Legal Services Administrative Enforcement Compliance Services Waste Water and Air
Environmental Assistance Division • Small Business & Local Gov’t. Assistance Section • Pollution Prevention & Education Section • Rural Ombudsman • Special Projects Coordinator • Public Education Program
Small Business & Local Gov’t. Assistance • Compliance Assistance o Regional staff for one-on-one help o Multi-media o Free and confidential • Advocacy o Develop rules o Compliance Advisory Panel • Outreach o Develop resources o Distribute information o Workshops and partnerships
Confidential means… • Without the threat of enforcement • Exception of imminent threat • Still subject to open records act
Rural Ombudsman . . Jason Robinson 512-239-6710. • Liaison between TCEQ and Local Govt. . • Partnership development. • Provides LG perspective on rules / policy. • Assistance, outreach and education. •
EnviroMentor Program • Qualified professionals. • Consultants, engineers, lawyers, utility operators. • Volunteer to help those with fewer resources (no $). • Improve recordkeeping practices. • Prepare permit renewal applications. • Troubleshoot water/wastewater problem. • Develop stormwater pollution prevention plan. • Spanish-speaking available.
EM Eligibility . . Local Governments – Small Business - • City with population of < 50,000 an independently owned and • County with population of < 100,000 operated company with 100 or • ISD serving < 100,000 population fewer employees.
Where we can’t help… . $ $ $ . Bad actors. Environmental Health and Safety Audit Privilege Act.
TexasEnviroHelp.org. Compliance resources can be searched by industry, issue or special topics .
Public Water Systems • About 7,000 facilities state-wide • Includes any entity meeting the definition of a PWS: …provide water for human consumption to at least 15 service connections or at least 25 individuals for at least 60 days out of the year…
Wastewater Treatment • About 1,430 municipal facilities state-wide • About 520 industrial facilities state-wide
RG-496 New PWS?
Search for “Compliance Resources”
RG-511 Mosquito Control Emergency!
Publications and Tools • RG-422 Public Drinking Water: Guide for Local Govt. • RG-434 Environmental Rules for Car Washes • RG-501 Managing Small Public Water Systems • RG-514 Basics of Industrial Stormwater Regulations • RG-530 Managing Small Wastewater Systems • Customer Service Inspection Model • Sample Operations and Maintenance Manual • Water Tank Inspection Form
MSGP Sampling Guide
What’s New in the Rules? • Receive news and information about: o Proposed or adopted rules o Public hearings or meetings o News releases o Permitting and other topics • Sign up Enter and confirm email address 1. Make selection from list of topics 2. Accept confirmation email 3.
New Items of Interest • HB 2767 – Powers, Duties, Administration of GCDs • Chapter 217 : Design Criteria – maintenance, rehabilitation, and renovation requirements, design criteria for new technologies, emergency power • HB 1600 and SB 567 – DESAL PLUS amends Chapter 290 for consistency with TWC and CFR • HB 1146 - Volunteer Operators for PWS
Federal Revised Total Coliform Rule • Applies to all Public Water Systems • Operator Training Workshop – Dec. 2 in Austin • EPA’s Quick Reference Guide • TCEQ’s RTCR Sample Siting Plan Template • Presentations from Oct. 28 meeting: o Nitrification Action Plans o Revised Total Coliform Rule
Water Supply Division • Plan and Technical Review o Exception requests o Financial, Managerial and Technical Assistance (FMT) o Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) o Texas Optimization Program (TOP) o Cross-Connection Control Program • Public Drinking Water o Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) o Source Water Assessment Viewer o Guidance documents o Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) • Districts
FMT Assistance • Drinking water and wastewater utilities • TRWA contractor • Financial* • Managerial • Technical
Texas Optimization Program • EPA goals to minimize passage of pathogens • Requirements: o Use an online turbidimeter o Monitor the performance of major treatment units o Submit a Monthly Optimization Report • Meet established criteria to earn recognition
Source Water Protection Program • Map the system • Identify potential contamination sources: o Abandoned wells o Failing septic systems o Non-point source pollution – fertilizer, pesticides, animal waste • Recommend site specific measures • Develop contingency plan for disruption of service • Recognition of successful project completion
PWS Reporting Requirements • Monitoring and Reporting for Surface Water Systems • Notifying Customers of a Change to Chloramine Disinfectant (English, Spanish) • Public Notice to Boil Water (English, Spanish) • Radionuclide Testing for Interim Approval of Well Completion
Monitoring and Reporting for Surface Water Systems • Surface Water Monthly Operating Reports (SWMOR) • Conventional plants, those with only two filters, and surface water plants using alternate technology • Surface Water Treatment Violation Report • Concentration Time (CT) Study • Total Organic Carbon Guidance
Water Quality Division Wastewater Permitting • o Municipal / Domestic o Industrial o Stormwater o Pretreatment Water Quality Assessment • o TPDES general permits o Sludge / land application o USACE 401 Certifications o Modeling, biomonitoring
Records and Reporting • Process Control Tests for Domestic Wastewater • Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) • Compliance Spreadsheets • Water Quality Noncompliance Notification • Bacteriological Testing
Pretreatment • Federal requirement: 40 CFR Part 403 o Prevent interference with operation and treatment o Prevent health and safety problems o Improve quality of sludge for reuse or recycling • Applicable to: o Plants with total design flow greater than 5.0 mgd o Categorical Industrial Users (CIU) o Significant Industrial Users (SIU)
Funding Sources • Texas Water Development Fund • Economically Distressed Areas Program • Rural Water Assistance Fund • State Water Implementation Fund for Texas • Clean Water State Revolving Fund • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund • Texas Water Infrastructure Coordination Committee
Contact TCEQ’s Public Drinking Water Section • pdws@tceq.texas.gov • Call 512 / 239-4691 • Mail: Water Supply Division MC-155 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality P O Box 13087 Austin TX 78711-3087
Contact TCEQ’s Water Quality Permits Section • wqap@tceq.texas.gov • Call 512 / 239-4671 • Mail: Water Quality Division MC-148 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality P O Box 13087 Austin TX 78711-3087
When you don’t know who to call… Toll-free Hotline: 1-800-447-2827. Web Pages: www. TexasEnviroHelp .org. E-mail: sbap@tceq.state.tx.us. TCEQ Regional Offices.
Customer Satisfaction Survey .. Submit comments about experiences with the TCEQ whether about rulemaking, permitting processes, assistance programs, or interactions with agency staff. Provide specifics whenever possible. .
Take Care of Texas It’s the only one we’ve got.
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