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- Enforcement in Texas
- Air Enforcement in Texas
- Water Enforcement in Texas
- Waste Enforcement in Texas
- Underground Storage Tanks Program in Texas
- Pesticide Enforcement in Texas
Enforcement in Texas
Our vision in Texas is to make environmental compliance commonplace to achieve clean air, water, and land. Our mission is to protect and sustain human health and the environment by ensuring compliance with Federal environmental laws in partnership with the states and tribes.
Air, Hazardous Waste and Water Enforcement Programs and issues in the State are the responsibility of Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Air Enforcement in Texas
Objectives and Goals for Texas
The Air Enforcement Branch serves as the principal point of contact among all stakeholders on Texas air pollution enforcement issues. Our staff:
- inspect active Texas facilities,
- review records and data to assess compliance strategies,
- investigate potential noncompliance activities,
- actively participate in negotiations for new enforcement orders,
- manage existing enforcement orders,
- respond to numerous and varied requests for Applicability Determination, Alternative Monitoring, and Compliance Assistance Projects,
- Delegation Documents for State of Texas, and
- Status of Delegations for State of Texas by specific Rule/Subpart
- New Source Performance Standards (NSPS 60)
- National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP 61)
- National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP 63)
- Other Rules in Texas
- Contacts by Industry Group
In accordance with a directive from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), https://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/memos/ac-12-2023, EPA Region 6 Air Enforcement is transitioning to 100% electronic recordkeeping, effective October 1, 2023. This means we will no longer actively process paper mailed documents for any purpose (i.e. reporting, notification or other correspondence). This includes CDs and USB drives, which our IT protocols no longer allow to prevent computer malware. Additionally, our email server has limited capacity, so email options are restricted to specific document types only (e.g. administrative order required reports), as explained in the Alternate Submission Options (pdf) (41.31 KB) . Region 6 Air Enforcement strongly urges facilities and organizations to submit reports and notifications to EPA for federal rules and courtesy notifications for state requirements via the Compliance and Emissions Data Reporting Interface (CEDRI), https://www.epa.gov/electronic-reporting-air-emissions/cedri, which is located on EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX), https://cdx.epa.gov/. Guidance for submission of Other Type reports not specifically listed for CEDRI can be found in CEDRI Submission for Rules Not Listed (pdf) (1.91 MB) and CEDRI Create Reports Job Aide (pdf) (1.66 MB) . If your state or EPA issued air permit includes permit conditions which require mailed paper copies of compliance documents to EPA, by this notification EPA waives such requirements. In this regard, Region 6 Air Enforcement anticipates that paper mail received after October 1 will not be processed for further review or transferred for file record retention. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with this important change.
Water Enforcement in Texas
Offshore and Oil & Gas National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits
The Water Enforcement Branch works closely with the Department of Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement. These inspectors perform most of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System offshore platform compliance inspections for EPA on offshore platforms in Texas. Additionally, the US Coast Guard Marine Safety Officeconducts inspections. We also work closely with the Offshore Operators Committee, which is a trade organization representing the offshore operators.
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
Storm Water Management Program
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit requires, permittees to develop and implement a comprehensive Storm Water Management Program that must include pollution prevention measures, treatment or removal techniques, monitoring, use of legal authority, and other appropriate measures to control the quality of storm water discharged to the storm drains and thence to waters of the United States. If you are a permitted Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System that has recently received a letter from EPA to participate in the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Self-Assessment, you should download all the Modules, that apply to the programs you have implemented.
- DownloadMunicipal Separate Storm Sewer System Modules
Drinking Water Enforcement in Texas
The Safe Drinking Water Act program performs the enforcement for the Public Water Supply and Underground Injection Control. These enforcement actions are handled in coordination with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Drinking Water Provider Compliance Information
Looking for compliance information about your drinking water system? These useful web pages can help you learn how your drinking water provider is meeting federal and state requirements. Enter your providers name and search for results.
Waste Enforcement in Texas
Waste Enforcement in Texas
Texas is authorized to administer the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act hazardous waste program under EPA oversight. The Waste Enforcement Branch, with the State, is responsible for enforcing these regulations. The Branch conducts inspections, reviews and data analysis to assess compliance. The Branch takes enforcement actions and assess the nature and extent of contamination and clean up.
Enforcement of Lead-Based Paint Requirements in Texas
The Waste Enforcement Branch is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Toxic Substances Control Act for lead-based paint. The Branch conducts inspections and takes enforcement actions to address violations and require compliance with these requirements.
Underground Storage Tanks Program in Texas
The Pesticides, Toxics and Underground Storage Tank Branch of the US Environmental Protection Agency works with the Texas Commission on Environmental Qualityand provides oversight for the Texas Underground Storage Tank Program and Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality takes enforcement actions for violations of state regulations, which are required to be at least as stringent as EPA’s regulations. EPA implements the Underground Storage Tanks program in Indian country and is responsible for conducting Underground Storage Tanks inspections and enforcement actions.
Pesticide Enforcement in Texas
The Waste Enforcement Branch works with the Texas Department of Agriculture to enforce the provisions of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The EPA is responsible for enforcement of provisions regulating the registration, labelling, production, and importation of pesticides and pesticidal devices. The Texas Department of Agriculture has primary responsibility for enforcement of provisions regulating the proper use and handling of pesticides.
