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TCEQ renews quarries general permit; extends water‑quality protection area pilot to new riverway
Summary
TCEQ adopted a renewed general permit regulating discharges from quarries in designated water‑quality protection areas, expanding the pilot program to include the Koch Stephenson Scenic Riverway and setting renewal application deadlines for existing permittees.
TCEQ staff presented the renewal of the quarries general permit (TXG‑05) and described changes that add a second designated water‑quality protection area and update applicability and financial assurance requirements.
Jesse Gresalamia said the renewed 2025 general permit (renamed “quarries in certain water quality protection areas general permit”) was adopted on the commission agenda Jan. 16, 2025 and issued with an effective date of Jan. 23, 2025. Existing permittees that are administratively continued have 90 days from the effective date (deadline April 23, 2025) to submit renewal applications, staff said.
The renewal implements House Bill 1688 and extends the pilot program originally established for the John Graves Scenic Riverway to now include the Koch Stephenson Scenic Riverway. Staff reported the Koch Stephenson Scenic Riverway is defined in the bill as the South Llano River in "Kimball Canning," located upstream of the river's confluence with the North Llano River at the City of Junction, per the discussion at the meeting.
Major changes listed by staff include renaming the permit, adding the Koch Stephenson Scenic Riverway definition, modifying the definition of water‑quality protection areas to encompass the new area, expanding permitting and financial assurance requirements for quarries in the new area, and explaining that the pilot program is extended two years and now expires on Sept. 1, 2027.
Why it matters: the renewed permit expands geographic areas subject to additional quarry permitting and financial assurance requirements under Texas Water Code Chapter 26, Subchapter M, altering compliance obligations for operators in the affected riverways.
Questions and next steps - Staff invited questions and said the permit renewal is in effect; they noted the April 23, 2025 renewal application deadline for administratively continued permittees.
Ending: Staff said they would provide follow‑up information to stakeholders on request and proceed with implementation of the renewed permit.
