The purpose of this Chapter is to maintain the quality of water in the state consistent with the public health and enjoyment, the propagation and protection of terrestrial and aquatic life, and the operation of existing industries, taking into consideration the economic development of the state; to encourage and promote the development and use of regional and areawide waste collection, treatment, and disposal systems to serve the waste disposal needs of the citizens of the state, and to require the use of all reasonable methods to implement this policy. The Chapter is composed of the following subchapters: A- Administrative Provisions; B- General Powers and Duties authorizing the commission to administer the provisions of this chapter and to establish the level of quality to be maintained in, and shall control the quality of, the water in the state of Texas as provided by this Chapter. The commission has the powers and duties specifically prescribed by this Chapter and all other powers necessary or convenient to carry out its responsibilities. Examples are the development of a State Water Quality Plan, conduct of Research and Investigations, establishment of strategic and comprehensive monitoring of water quality and the periodic assessment of it, implementation of water quality management functions, including enforcement actions, within the state, investigation powers for the purposes of this chapter, issuance of orders and making of determinations to effectuate the purposes of this Chapter, issuance of permits for the discharge of waste or pollutants into or adjacent to water in the state, issuance of general permits for the discharge of treated sewage into or adjacent to water in this state by a sewage treatment and disposal system, approval of disposal system plans, monitoring and reporting; D- Prohibition against Pollution; Enforcement prohibiting unauthorized discharges of sewage, municipal waste, recreational waste, agricultural waste, or industrial waste into or adjacent to any water in the state; laying down pretreatment effluent standards; recognizing the commission as the principle authority on matters relating to the quality of the water in the state; authorizing the Parks and Wildlife Department and its authorized employees to enforce the provisions of this chapter to the extent that any violation affects aquatic life and wildlife, the Department of Health in the abatement of nuisances resulting from pollution; the Railroad Commission of Texas for the control and disposition of waste and the abatement and prevention of pollution of surface and subsurface water resulting from activities under their jurisdiction; the State Soil and Water Conservation Board for the abatement and prevention of pollution resulting from agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint source pollution; E- Authority of Local Governments in the inspection of public areas; F- Criminal Prosecution; G- Oil and Hazardous Substance Spill Prevention and Control otherwise cited as the Texas Hazardous Substances Spill Prevention and Control Act with the purpose to prevent the spill or discharge of hazardous substances into the waters in the state and to cause the removal of such spills and discharges without undue delay; H- Poultry Operations regulating poultry facilities; handling and disposal of poultry carcasses; records of sale, purchase, transfer, or application of poultry litter; and inspection of records; I- Underground and Aboveground Storage Tanks to maintain and protect the quality of groundwater and surface water resources in the state from certain substances in underground and aboveground storage tanks that may pollute groundwater and surface water resources and require the use of all reasonable methods, including risk-based corrective action, to implement this policy; J- Groundwater Protection to ensure that charges of pollutants, disposal of wastes, or other activities subject to regulation by state agencies be conducted in a manner that will maintain present uses and not impair potential uses of groundwater or pose a public health hazard, and the quality of groundwater be restored if feasible; K- Occupational Licensing and Registration; L- Protection of Certain Watersheds; and M- Water Quality Protection Areas.
United States of America · 1977-09-01