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The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) met on March 9 to hold a general meeting. The commission discussed various items pertaining to the environmental wellbeing of Texas. These items included discussion on new construction proposals, as well as changes to water quality standards. A video of this meeting can be found here and the agenda can be found here.

 

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Item 1: Consideration of proposed denial of licensure

  • Mr. Ferguson provided commentary on his licensure situation
  • Both the Executive Director and the Office of Public Interest Council agree to move forward to with the denial of granting Mr. Ferguson a license
  • OPIC raised additional concerns in regard to Mr. Ferguson’s criminal history; in particularly the nature of his crimes forced them to come to the conclusion he is untrustworthy
  • Commissioner Janecka motioned to move forward in the denial of a Water Systems Operator license to Mr. Ferguson based on the recommendations of the Executive Director and OPIC
  • Item 1 passed unanimously

 

Item 2: Consideration of a hearing request by the citizens of Harris County in regard to the construction of Municipal Utility District 495, TPDES 0001522201

  • Niermann – Is general concern from the people of Harris County about this new Municipal Utility District
  • Niermann – Are various environmental concerns the people have; feels it is enough to approve the hearing request
  • Both the ED and OPIC agree to move forward and grant the hearing request
  • Commissioner Janecka motioned to move forward in granting the hearing request to the people of Harris County and have further action referred to the TCEQ Alternative Dispute Resolution Program
  • Item 2 passed unanimously

 

Item 3: Consideration of publishing the draft proposal of only allowing max 4 loads of indicator bacteria to be dumped daily from Lake Palestine for public comment

  • Niermann – The ED has come to the conclusion that only 4 daily loads of indicator bacteria should be dumped in Angelina County and that the draft proposal is ready for public comment
  • OPIC recommends that the commission moves forward and allows for the draft proposal to be published for the public to comment on it
  • Commissioner Lindley motioned to move forward in publishing the draft proposal of limiting the dumping of indicator bacteria to no more than 4 times a day for public commentary
  • Item 3 passed unanimously

Items 4-18: Enforcement Docket

  • Close to $190,000 worth of penalties have been assessed since the last TCEQ meeting and the enforcement division recommends moving forward with notification of said penalties to their perpetrators
  • Commissioner Janecka motioned to move forward with administering the penalties assessed by the enforcement division of close to $190,000 against cases listed in Items 4-18
  • Items 4-18 passed unanimously

 

Item 19: Consideration of a hearing on 30 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 307, Water Quality Standards and its revisions

  • Niermann – The ED feels a hearing is warranted for this matter as it is in the public interest
  • This would now require a yearly review of water quality standards, covering all bodies of water in the state of Texas
  • This yearly review also allows for up-to-date science to be considered when changing the standards
  • A hearing has tentatively been set for May 2, 2022 and is waiting to be announced; pending approval from TCEQ
  • OPIC recommends moving forward and approving a hearing on the water quality standards revisions
  • Commissioner Lindley motioned to approve the hearing request on making changes to 30 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 307
  • Item 19 passed unanimously

 

Item 20: Public Comment

  • No one was present to provide public comment

 

Items 21-24: Closed session meeting

  • Items 21-24 were not acted upon and the meeting was adjourned