The Amazingly Large Number of Environmental Permits Companies May Need to Obtain in Texas

In a conversation with one of our attorneys in our Austin office, the subject of the types of permits or authorizations that a business may be requried to obtain in the State of Texas.  I sat down and drafted a list of those that I have worked on over the last 25 years of practicing environmental law in Texas.  My practice has involved projects and issues in states all across the country, but I decided to focus on those that state or federal agnencies issue in Texas.  In part this is because we were discussing agencies in Austin that I have worked with to obtain permits for clients.

The list is fairly long.  One must keep in mind that Texas is one of the largest states in terms of land mass, population, and industry.  We have one of the largest concentrations of oil and gas exploration and production, pipelines, terminals, chemical plants, petrochemical plants, oil refineries, manufacturing, mining, electrical power production, and many other industries and businesses that are regulated under federal and state environmental laws.  Thus, Texas has some of the largest and most sophisticated environmental agencies.  These agencies include the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Railroad Commission of Texas (which despite its name regulates oil and gas), the Texas  Department of State Heath Services (which regulates radioactive materials and permits), and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  Groundwater well permits may be necessary to drill a water well in counties with groundwater conseration districts.  Surface water use requires a permit from the TCEQ.  The Public Utility Commission would receive the power to regualte water rates under proposed legislation, moving this power from the TCEQ.

The TCEQ is the second largest environmental agency next to the US EPA.

So I thought I would provide the list.  Readers, let me know what I may have left out!

1. Types of Permits: 

1.  
   1. Air                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   i.      New Source Review,

                                                            ii.      Prevention of Significant Deterioration,

                                                          iii.      Title V,

                                                          iv.      Acid Rain,

                                                            v.      Standard Permits

                                                          vi.      Permits by Rule

1.  
   1. Wastewater and Water

                                                              i.      NPDES

                                                            ii.      Storm Water

                                                          iii.      Wetlands

                                                          iv.      Water Use and Supply

1.      Surface Water—permitting with the TCEQ

2.      Groundwater—Groundwater Conservation Districts and Well Permitting

3.      Public Water Supply Utility

1.  
   1. Solid and Hazardous Waste, including the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act, the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

                                                              i.      Solid Waste

                                                            ii.      Hazardous Waste

                                                          iii.      Oil and Gas Waste

                                                          iv.      Exemptions and Exclusions

                                                            v.      Wastewater Treatment Land Farming

                                                          vi.      Injection Wells

1.  
   1. Radioactive Material

                                                              i.      Radioactive Materials Licensing

                                                            ii.      Uranium Mining

1.  
   1. Species and Habitat

                                                              i.      Endangered Species Incidental Take Permit and Section 7 Consultation

                                                            ii.      Migratory Birds

                                                          iii.      These may arise on their own or may arise in federal and state permitting for other programs

1.  
   1. Historical and Cultural Resources

                                                              i.      Federal and State programs, which typically arise in federal and state permitting for other programs

 

1. Facility and Industry Types
   1. Natural gas-fired power plant,
   2. Chemical plant,
   3. Refinery,
   4. Manufacturing
   5. Coatings
   6. Furniture manufacturing
   7. Jet Engine Repair and Maintenance
   8. Oil and Gas (exploration and production, natural gas plants, gathering lines, water and carbon dioxide floods, injection wells, well integrity)
   9. Pipelines (gas, oil, and carbon dioxide)
   10. Terminals (oil and refined product)
   11. Construction
   12. Real Estate Development
   13. Colleges and Universities
   14. Water Use
   15. Water Supply (wholesale and retail)
   16. Injection Wells (Hazardous, Nonhazardous, and Salt Water)
   17. Radioactive Materials (Use, Pipeline Inspection)
   18. Uranium in-situ mining
   19. Agriculture (farming and ranching)