Recently, the TCEQ and the EPA reached an agreement that the TCEQ will develop screening procedures to address this issue of the EPA’s objections to Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permits regarding temperature limits that exceeded the segment criteria. Concurrently, and over a more extended time frame, the TCEQ will evaluate existing temperature criteria.
The TCEQ is seeking your participation from stakeholders in developing screening procedures for addressing thermal discharges in TPDES permits where thermal discharges may be an issue in the receiving waters.
Attached to this article are the tentative meeting agenda for the August 20 meeting and one possible approach to thermal discharge screening.
For additional information please go to http://www.tceq.texas.gov/waterquality/standards/WQ_stds