The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approved on April 1 penalties amounting to $1,265,590 against 40 regulated entities for violations of state environmental regulations. In addition, the executive director approved penalties totaling $157,879 against 48 entities on March 24.
These enforcement actions cover a range of violations. Agreed orders were issued in categories including air quality, industrial wastewater discharges, multi-media cases, municipal wastewater discharges, petroleum storage tanks and public water systems. Default orders addressed issues related to industrial hazardous waste, multi-media matters and water quality.
The commission’s agenda items from the meeting are available for review on the TCEQ website. The next agenda meeting is scheduled for April 15 and can be viewed live through the Agenda Meeting Webcasts webpage or later via archived videos on the agency’s YouTube channel.
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 as well as from sixteen regional offices across Texas according to the official website.
According to the official website, TCEQ enforces regulations covering air emissions, water pollution control measures and oversight of waste disposal and petroleum storage statewide. The department facilitates collaboration through compliance and enforcement divisions that regulate emissions standards as well as water quality and public health requirements across Texas according to the official website.
