The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approved on March 11 penalties amounting to $1,073,244 against 29 regulated entities for violations of state environmental regulations.
The commission said the agreed orders covered several enforcement categories, including eight air quality cases, one industrial hazardous waste case, three multi-media cases, five municipal wastewater discharges, two petroleum storage tanks, eight public water systems, and one water quality case. Additionally, a default order was issued for one petroleum storage tank violation.
On March 10, the executive director approved further penalties totaling $121,836 against 43 entities. The agenda items from the meeting are available on the TCEQ website. The next agenda meeting is scheduled for April 1 and will be accessible via live webcast and archived on YouTube.
The Texas Department of Environmental Quality conducts its main administrative operations at its Austin headquarters on Park 35 Circle and operates regional offices throughout Texas for environmental oversight according to the official website. The agency employs about 2,800 staff working from its central office in Austin and across 16 regional offices statewide according to the official website.
The department’s mission is to protect Texas by reducing and preventing pollution while promoting clean air, clean water and safe waste management aligned with sustainable economic development according to the official website. Its regulatory scope includes air emissions, water pollution control, waste disposal oversight and petroleum storage regulation according to the official website.
Collaboration among compliance and enforcement divisions as well as air, water and waste departments helps regulate emissions and maintain public health standards across Texas according to the official website. The agency’s statewide presence through its regional offices allows it to influence environmental regulation throughout Texas according to the official website.
