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TCEQ staff outline implementation of House Bill 3333 banning new wastewater permits to Devil's River
Summary
TCEQ staff said House Bill 3333, effective 09/01/2025, bars new domestic or industrial wastewater discharge permits to the Devil's River and its drainage area in Val Verde County; the agency will reference the law in its implementation procedures rather than pursue dedicated rulemaking.
Greg Easley, moderator and a manager in the Water Quality Assessment section at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), told the advisory work group that House Bill 3333 "became effective on 09/01/2025" and prohibits new domestic or industrial wastewater permits for discharges into the Devil's River or waters in its drainage area within Val Verde County.
Easley said the statute applies to permit applications submitted to TCEQ on or after 09/01/2025 and "does not require any rulemaking," but staff plan to add a reference to the new law in the next revision of the agency's Procedures to Implement the Texas Water Quality Standards (IPs). He said that update will appear in the IPs agenda item during the upcoming revision process and that staff will continue to provide implementation updates to stakeholders.
The change does not affect general stormwater permits or municipal separate storm sewer permits, Easley said. TCEQ staff did not propose any rulemaking specifically to enact the prohibition; instead, they will document the statute in agency guidance and in the IPs update. No formal action or vote on a local policy occurred during the meeting.
