TCEQ meeting roundup: permits, delegations, general permits, TMDLs and enforcement orders adopted

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality convened on Aug. 6 and took action on a slate of permits, rule- and policy-related items, total maximum daily loads and enforcement orders. Key outcomes:

- Item 1 (Corex Utilities): Adopted the administrative law judge's proposed order with executive director corrections and issued amended TPDES permit WQ0013977001 to Corex Utilities, Texas Incorporated. The commission added a conclusion of law that federal or state law does not regulate contaminants of emerging concern in TPDES permits and adopted the executive director's response to comments.

- Item 2 (Bliz Exis LLC): Granted hearing requests from Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, Fitzhugh Neighbors, Save Our Springs Alliance, Hays-Trinity Groundwater Conservation District and a set of individual requesters; denied other hearing requests; referred specified issues (health, groundwater and surface-water protection, siting/buffer/odor, effluent limitations and testing, notice, application accuracy and design criteria in 30 TAC chapter 222) to the State Office of Administrative Hearings; set a maximum hearing duration of 180 days. Draft permit number: WQ001611001 (land-application permit for up to 12,000 gpd).

- Item 3 (City of Manor): Denied hearing requests from Wilbarger Creek Conservation Alliance and related individuals and issued the major amendment and renewal of TPDES permit WQ0014129002 to the City of Manor as recommended by the executive director.

- Item 4 (Pipkin Ranch v. U.S. Ecology): Denied Pipkin Ranch Holding LP's petition to revoke UIC permits WDW344'WDW350; the commission found the petition did not state requisite grounds for revocation and the renewal/amendment application is proceeding to SOA (preliminary hearing set).

- Item 5 (Contract-delegation resolution): Adopted a resolution delegating authority to the executive director to enter and manage contracts, including grant agreements and payment approvals, with an explicit expiration date included by commissioners on Aug. 31, 2027.

- Item 6 (Evaporation Pond General Permit WQG10000): Adopted the renewal with amendments of the TCEQ Evaporation Pond General Permit WQG10000; staff will be authorized to make non-substantive and clerical corrections as needed.

- Items 7'9 (TMDLs and implementation plan): Adopted five TMDLs for indicator bacteria in the Mustang, Persimmon and New Bayous watershed (Bays and Estuaries Basin, Brazoria and Fort Bend Counties); adopted a TMDL for Pohnish (Punisher) Park in Nueces County; approved an implementation plan for seven TMDLs in the Corpus Christi region in Nueces County.

- Enforcement docket (Items 10'17, 19'30, 32'34): Adopted enforcement orders as presented by the executive director. Items 18, 31 and 35 had been remanded for follow-up; the executive director reported item 18 (City of Stephenville) is participating in a supplemental environmental project, item 31 is affected by the respondent's death, and item 35 (Complex Ready Mix) needed further work before resolution.

Motions on the record were approved by voice vote ("aye"). Where the transcript records formal votes, the commission recorded the motions as approved and directed staff to implement the adopted orders and to proceed with contested-case referrals where indicated.

No closed session was held; the public-comment period included one speaker addressing the —1-mile rule and cumulative industrial impacts (see separate note). The meeting adjourned at 11:09 a.m.

For details on any specific item, the commission's orders, permit language and SOA referral documents on the TCEQ docket are the official record.