1C-04 TCEQ Construction General Permit (TXR150000).pdf

General Permit to Discharge Under the Texas Pollutant Discharge

Elimination System

Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activities

TXR150000

Effective March 5, 2018 printed on recycled paper T E X A S C O M M I S S I O N O N E N V I R O N M E N T A L Q U A L I T Y

TPDES GENERAL PERMIT NUMBER TXR150000 RELATING TO

STORMWATER DISCHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTRUCTION

ACTIVITIES

Table of Contents

Part I. Flow Chart and Definitions

Section A. Flow Chart to Determine Whether Coverage is Required

Section B. Definitions

Part II. Permit Applicability and Coverage

Section A. Discharges Eligible for Authorization

1. Stormwater Associated with Construction Activity

2. Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Construction Support Activities

3. Non-Stormwater Discharges

4. Other Permitted Discharges

Section B. Concrete Truck Wash Out

Section C. Limitations on Permit Coverage

1. Post Construction Discharges

2. Prohibition of Non-Stormwater Discharges

3. Compliance with Water Quality Standards

4. Impaired Receiving Waters and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Requirements

5. Discharges to the Edwards Aquifer Recharge or Contributing Zone

6. Discharges to Specific Watersheds and Water Quality Areas

7. Protection of Streams and Watersheds by Other Governmental Entities

8. Indian Country Lands

9. Oil and Gas Production and Transportation

10. Stormwater Discharges from Agricultural Activities

11. Endangered Species Act

12. Other

Section D. Deadlines for Obtaining Authorization to Discharge

1. Large Construction Activities

2. Small Construction Activities

Section E. Obtaining Authorization to Discharge

1. Automatic Authorization for Small Construction Activities with Low Potential for

Erosion:

2. Automatic Authorization for Small Construction Activities:

3. Authorization for Large Construction Activities:

Construction General Permit TPDES General Permit TXR150000

4. Waivers for Small Construction Activities:

5. Effective Date of Coverage

6. Notice of Change (NOC)

7. Signatory Requirement for NOI Forms, Notice of Termination (NOT) Forms, NOC

Letters, and Construction Site Notices

8. Contents of the NOI

Section F. Terminating Coverage

1. Notice of Termination (NOT) Required

2. Minimum Contents of the NOT

3. Termination of Coverage for Small Construction Sites and for Secondary Operators at Large Construction Sites

4. Transfer of Day-to-Day Operational Control

Section G. Waivers from Coverage

1. Waiver Applicability and Coverage

2. Steps to Obtaining a Waiver

3. Effective Date of a LREW

4. Activities Extending Beyond the LREW Period

Section H. Alternative TPDES Permit Coverage

1. Individual Permit Alternative

2. Alternative Authorizations for Certain Discharges

3. Individual Permit Required

4. Alternative Discharge Authorization

Section I. Permit Expiration

Part III. Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWP3)

Section A. Shared SWP3 Development

Section B. Responsibilities of Operators

1. Secondary Operators and Primary Operators with Control Over Construction Plans and Specifications

2. Primary Operators with Day-to-Day Operational Control

Section C. Deadlines for SWP3 Preparation, Implementation, and Compliance

Section D. Plan Review and Making Plans Available

Section E. Revisions and Updates to SWP3s

Section F. Contents of SWP3

Section G. Erosion and Sediment Control Requirements Applicable to All Sites

Part IV. Stormwater Runoff from Concrete Batch Plants

Section A. Benchmark Sampling Requirements

Section B. Best Management Practices (BMPs) and SWP3 Requirements

Section C. Prohibition of Wastewater Discharges

Part V. Concrete Truck Wash Out Requirements

Part VI. Retention of Records

Part VII. Standard Permit Conditions

Part VIII. Fees

Appendix A: Automatic Authorization

Appendix B: Erosivity Index (EI) Zones in Texas

Appendix C: Isoerodent Map

Appendix D: Erosivity Indices for EI Zones in Texas

Part I. Flow Chart and Definitions

Section A. Flow Chart to Determine Whether Coverage is Required

When calculating the acreage of land area disturbed, include the disturbed land-area of all construction and construction support activities.

Section B. Definitions

Arid Areas - Areas with an average annual rainfall of 0 to 10 inches.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) - Schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, structural controls, local ordinances, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants. BMPs also include treatment requirements, operating procedures, and practices to control construction site runoff, spills or leaks, waste disposal, or drainage from raw material storage areas.

Commencement of Construction - The initial disturbance of soils associated with clearing, grading, or excavation activities, as well as other construction-related activities (e.g., stockpiling of fill material, demolition).

Common Plan of Development - A construction activity that is completed in separate stages, separate phases, or in combination with other construction activities. A common plan of development (also known as a “common plan of development or sale”) is identified by the documentation for the construction project that identifies the scope of the project, and may include plats, blueprints, marketing plans, contracts, building permits, a public notice or hearing, zoning requests, or other similar documentation and activities. A common plan of development does not necessarily include all construction projects within the jurisdiction of a public entity (e.g., a city or university). Construction of roads or buildings in different parts of the jurisdiction would be considered separate “common plans,” with only the interconnected parts of a project being considered part of a “common plan” (e.g., a building and its associated parking lot and driveways, airport runway and associated taxiways, a building complex, etc.). Where discrete construction projects occur within a larger common plan of development or sale but are located ¼ mile or more apart, and the area between the projects is not being disturbed, each individual project can be treated as a separate plan of development or sale, provided that any interconnecting road, pipeline or utility project that is part of the same “common plan” is not included in the area to be disturbed.

Construction Activity - Includes soil disturbance activities, including clearing, grading, excavating, construction-related activity (e.g., stockpiling of fill material, demolition), and construction support activity. This does not include routine maintenance that is performed to maintain the original line and grade, hydraulic capacity, or original purpose of the site (e.g., the routine grading of existing dirt roads, asphalt overlays of existing roads, the routine clearing of existing right-of-ways, and similar maintenance activities). Regulated construction activity is defined in terms of small and large construction activity.

Construction Support Activity – A construction-related activity that specifically supports construction activity, which can involve earth disturbance or pollutant-generating activities of its own, and can include, but are not limited to, activities associated with concrete or asphalt batch plants, rock crushers, equipment staging or storage areas, chemical storage areas, material storage areas, material borrow areas, and excavated material disposal areas. Construction support activity must only directly support the construction activity authorized under this general permit.

Dewatering – The act of draining rainwater or groundwater from building foundations, vaults, and trenches.

Discharge – For the purposes of this permit, the drainage, release, or disposal of pollutants in stormwater and certain non-stormwater from areas where soil disturbing activities (e.g., clearing, grading, excavation, stockpiling of fill material, and demolition), construction materials or equipment storage or maintenance (e.g., fill piles, borrow area, concrete truck wash out, fueling), or other industrial stormwater directly related to the construction process (e.g., concrete or asphalt batch plants) are located.

Drought-Stricken Area – For the purposes of this permit, an area in which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook indicates for the period during which the construction will occur that any of the following conditions are likely: (1) “Drought to persist or intensify”, (2) “Drought ongoing, some improvement”, (3) “Drought likely to improve, impacts ease”, or (4) “Drought development likely”. See http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/seasonal_drought.html.

Edwards Aquifer - As defined under Texas Administrative Code (TAC) § 213.3 of this title (relating to the Edwards Aquifer), that portion of an arcuate belt of porous, water-bearing, predominantly carbonate rocks known as the Edwards and Associated Limestones in the Balcones Fault Zone trending from west to east to northeast in Kinney, Uvalde, Medina, Bexar, Comal, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties; and composed of the Salmon Peak Limestone, McKnight Formation, West Nueces Formation, Devil’s River Limestone, Person Formation, Kainer Formation, Edwards Formation, and Georgetown Formation. The permeable aquifer units generally overlie the less-permeable Glen Rose Formation to the south, overlie the less-permeable Comanche Peak and Walnut Formations north of the Colorado River, and underlie the less-permeable Del Rio Clay regionally.

Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone - Generally, that area where the stratigraphic units constituting the Edwards Aquifer crop out, including the outcrops of other geologic formations in proximity to the Edwards Aquifer, where caves, sinkholes, faults, fractures, or other permeable features would create a potential for recharge of surface waters into the Edwards Aquifer. The recharge zone is identified as that area designated as such on official maps located in the offices of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the appropriate regional office. The Edwards Aquifer Map Viewer, located at http://www.tceq.texas.gov/compliance/field_ops/eapp/mapdisclaimer.html, can be used to determine where the recharge zone is located.

Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone - The area or watershed where runoff from precipitation flows downgradient to the recharge zone of the Edwards Aquifer. The contributing zone is located upstream (upgradient) and generally north and northwest of the recharge zone for the following counties: all areas within Kinney County, except the area within the watershed draining to Segment No. 2304 of the Rio Grande Basin; all areas within Uvalde, Medina, Bexar, and Comal Counties; all areas within Hays and Travis Counties, except the area within the watersheds draining to the Colorado River above a point 1.3 miles upstream from Tom Miller Dam, Lake Austin at the confluence of Barrow Brook Cove, Segment No. 1403 of the Colorado River Basin; and all areas within Williamson County, except the area within the watersheds draining to the Lampasas River above the dam at Stillhouse Hollow reservoir, Segment No. 1216 of the Brazos River Basin. The contributing zone is illustrated on the Edwards Aquifer map viewer at http://www.tceq.texas.gov/compliance/field_ops/eapp/mapdisclaimer.html.

Effluent Limitations Guideline (ELG) – Defined in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 122.2 as a regulation published by the Administrator under § 304(b) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) to adopt or revise effluent limitations.

Facility or Activity – For the purpose of this permit, referring to a construction site, the location of construction activity, or a construction support activity that is regulated under this general permit, including all contiguous land and fixtures (for example, ponds and materials stockpiles), structures, or appurtenances used at a construction site or industrial site.

Final Stabilization - A construction site status where any of the following conditions are met:

(a) All soil disturbing activities at the site have been completed and a uniform (that is, evenly distributed, without large bare areas) perennial vegetative cover with a density of at least 70% of the native background vegetative cover for the area has been established on all unpaved areas and areas not covered by permanent structures, or equivalent permanent stabilization measures (such as the use of riprap, gabions, or geotextiles) have been employed.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/seasonal_drought.html http://www.tceq.texas.gov/compliance/field_ops/eapp/mapdisclaimer.html http://www.tceq.texas.gov/compliance/field_ops/eapp/mapdisclaimer.html

(b) For individual lots in a residential construction site by either:

(1) the homebuilder completing final stabilization as specified in condition (a) above;

or

(2) the homebuilder establishing temporary stabilization for an individual lot prior to the time of transfer of the ownership of the home to the buyer and after informing the homeowner of the need for, and benefits of, final stabilization. If temporary stabilization is not feasible, then the homebuilder may fulfill this requirement by retaining perimeter controls or BMPs, and informing the homeowner of the need for removal of temporary controls and the establishment of final stabilization.

Fulfillment of this requirement must be documented in the homebuilder’s stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWP3).

(c) For construction activities on land used for agricultural purposes (such as pipelines across crop or range land), final stabilization may be accomplished by returning the disturbed land to its preconstruction agricultural use. Areas disturbed that were not previously used for agricultural activities, such as buffer strips immediately adjacent to surface water and areas that are not being returned to their preconstruction agricultural use must meet the final stabilization conditions of condition (a) above.

(d) In arid, semi-arid, and drought-stricken areas only, all soil disturbing activities at the site have been completed and both of the following criteria have been met:

(1) Temporary erosion control measures (for example, degradable rolled erosion control product) are selected, designed, and installed along with an appropriate seed base to provide erosion control for at least three years without active maintenance by the operator, and

(2) The temporary erosion control measures are selected, designed, and installed to achieve 70% of the native background vegetative coverage within three years.

Hyperchlorination of Waterlines – Treatment of potable water lines or tanks with chlorine for disinfection purposes, typically following repair or partial replacement of the waterline or tank, and subsequently flushing the contents.

Impaired Water - A surface water body that is identified as impaired on the latest approved CWA §303(d) List or waters with an EPA-approved or established total maximum daily load (TMDL) that are found on the latest EPA approved Texas Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality for CWA Sections 305(b) and 303(d), which lists the category 4 and 5 water bodies.

Indian Country Land – All land within the limits of any Indian reservation under the jurisdiction of the United States government, notwithstanding the issuance of any patent, and, including rights-of-way running through the reservation; (2) all dependent Indian communities with the borders of the United States whether within the originally or subsequently acquired territory thereof, and whether within or without the limits of a state;

and (3) all Indian allotments, the Indian titles to which have not been extinguished, including rights-of-way running through the same. (40 CFR §122.2)

Indian Tribe - Any Indian Tribe, band, group, or community recognized by the Secretary of the Interior and exercising governmental authority over a Federal Indian Reservation (40

CFR §122.2).

Infeasible –Not technologically possible, or not economically practicable and achievable in light of best industry practices. (40 CFR §450.11(b)).

Large Construction Activity - Construction activities including clearing, grading, and excavating that result in land disturbance of equal to or greater than five (5) acres of land.

Large construction activity also includes the disturbance of less than five (5) acres of total land area that is part of a larger common plan of development or sale if the larger common plan will ultimately disturb equal to or greater than five (5) acres of land. Large construction activity does not include routine maintenance that is performed to maintain the original line and grade, hydraulic capacity, or original purpose of the site (for example, the routine grading of existing dirt roads, asphalt overlays of existing roads, the routine clearing of existing right-of-ways, and similar maintenance activities.)

Linear Project – Includes the construction of roads, bridges, conduits, substructures, pipelines, sewer lines, towers, poles, cables, wires, connectors, switching, regulating and transforming equipment and associated ancillary facilities in a long, narrow area.

Low Rainfall Erosivity Waiver (LREW) - A written submission to the executive director from an operator of a construction site that is considered as small construction activity under the permit, which qualifies for a waiver from the requirements for small construction activities, only during the period of time when the calculated rainfall erosivity factor is less than five (5).

Minimize - To reduce or eliminate to the extent achievable using stormwater controls that are technologically available and economically practicable and achievable in light of best industry practices.

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) - A separate storm sewer system owned or operated by the United States, a state, city, town, county, district, association, or other public body (created by or pursuant to state law) having jurisdiction over the disposal of sewage, industrial wastes, stormwater, or other wastes, including special districts under state law such as a sewer district, flood control or drainage district, or similar entity, or an Indian tribe or an authorized Indian tribal organization, that discharges to surface water in the state.

Notice of Change (NOC) – Written notification to the executive director from a discharger authorized under this permit, providing changes to information that was previously provided to the agency in a notice of intent form.

Notice of Intent (NOI) - A written submission to the executive director from an applicant requesting coverage under this general permit.

Notice of Termination (NOT) - A written submission to the executive director from a discharger authorized under this general permit requesting termination of coverage.

Operator - The person or persons associated with a large or small construction activity that is either a primary or secondary operator as defined below:

Primary Operator – the person or persons associated with construction activity that meets either of the following two criteria:

(a) the person or persons have on-site operational control over construction plans and specifications, including the ability to make modifications to those plans and specifications; or

(b) the person or persons have day-to-day operational control of those activities at a construction site that are necessary to ensure compliance with a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) for the site or other permit conditions (for example, they are authorized to direct workers at a site to carry out activities required by the SWP3 or comply with other permit conditions).

Secondary Operator – The person or entity, often the property owner, whose operational control is limited to:

(a) the employment of other operators, such as a general contractor, to perform or supervise construction activities; or

(b) the ability to approve or disapprove changes to construction plans and specifications, but who does not have day-to-day on-site operational control over construction activities at the site.

Secondary operators must either prepare their own SWP3 or participate in a shared SWP3 that covers the areas of the construction site, where they have control over the construction plans and specifications.

If there is not a primary operator at the construction site, then the secondary operator is defined as the primary operator and must comply with the requirements for primary operators.

Outfall - For the purpose of this permit, a point source at the point where stormwater runoff associated with construction activity discharges to surface water in the state and does not include open conveyances connecting two municipal separate storm sewers, or pipes, tunnels, or other conveyances that connect segments of the same stream or other water of the U.S. and are used to convey waters of the U.S.

Permittee - An operator authorized under this general permit. The authorization may be gained through submission of a notice of intent, by waiver, or by meeting the requirements for automatic coverage to discharge stormwater runoff and certain non-stormwater discharges from construction activity.

Point Source –Any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock concentrated animal feeding operation, landfill leachate collection system, vessel or other floating craft from which pollutants are, or may be, discharged. This term does not include return flows from irrigated agriculture or agricultural stormwater runoff (40 CFR §122.2).

Pollutant - Dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, filter backwash, munitions, chemical wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt, and industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste discharged into any surface water in the state. The term "pollutant" does not include tail water or runoff water from irrigation or rainwater runoff from cultivated or uncultivated rangeland, pastureland, and farmland. For the purpose of this permit, the term “pollutant” includes sediment.

Pollution - The alteration of the physical, thermal, chemical, or biological quality of, or the contamination of, any surface water in the state that renders the water harmful, detrimental, or injurious to humans, animal life, vegetation, or property or to public health, safety, or welfare, or impairs the usefulness or the public enjoyment of the water for any lawful or reasonable purpose (Texas Water Code (TWC) §26.001(14)).

Rainfall Erosivity Factor (R factor) - the total annual erosive potential that is due to climatic effects, and is part of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE).

Receiving Water - A “Water of the United States” as defined in 40 CFR §122.2 or a surface water in the state into which the regulated stormwater discharges.

Semiarid Areas - areas with an average annual rainfall of 10 to 20 inches.

Separate Storm Sewer System - A conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with drainage systems, streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains), designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater; that is not a combined sewer, and that is not part of a publicly owned treatment works (POTW).

Small Construction Activity - Construction activities including clearing, grading, and excavating that result in land disturbance of equal to or greater than one (1) acre and less than five (5) acres of land. Small construction activity also includes the disturbance of less than one (1) acre of total land area that is part of a larger common plan of development or sale if the larger common plan will ultimately disturb equal to or greater than one (1) and less than five (5) acres of land. Small construction activity does not include routine maintenance that is performed to maintain the original line and grade, hydraulic capacity, or original purpose of the site (for example, the routine grading of existing dirt roads, asphalt overlays of existing roads, the routine clearing of existing right-of-ways, and similar maintenance activities).

Steep Slopes – Where a state, Tribe, local government, or industry technical manual (e.g.

stormwater BMP manual) has defined what is to be considered a “steep slope”, this permit’s definition automatically adopts that definition. Where no such definition exists, steep slopes are automatically defined as those that are 15 percent or greater in grade.

Stormwater (or Stormwater Runoff) - Rainfall runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and drainage.

Stormwater Associated with Construction Activity - Stormwater runoff, as defined above, from a construction activity.

Structural Control (or Practice) - A pollution prevention practice that requires the construction of a device, or the use of a device, to reduce or prevent pollution in stormwater runoff. Structural controls and practices may include but are not limited to: silt fences, earthen dikes, drainage swales, sediment traps, check dams, subsurface drains, storm drain inlet protection, rock outlet protection, reinforced soil retaining systems, gabions, and temporary or permanent sediment basins.

Surface Water in the State - Lakes, bays, ponds, impounding reservoirs, springs, rivers, streams, creeks, estuaries, wetlands, marshes, inlets, canals, the Gulf of Mexico inside the territorial limits of the state (from the mean high water mark (MHWM) out 10.36 miles into the Gulf), and all other bodies of surface water, natural or artificial, inland or coastal, fresh or salt, navigable or non-navigable, and including the beds and banks of all water-courses and bodies of surface water, that are wholly or partially inside or bordering the state or subject to the jurisdiction of the state; except that waters in treatment systems which are authorized by state or federal law, regulation, or permit, and which are created for the purpose of waste treatment are not considered to be water in the state.

Temporary Stabilization - A condition where exposed soils or disturbed areas are provided a protective cover or other structural control to prevent the migration of pollutants.

Temporary stabilization may include temporary seeding, geotextiles, mulches, and other techniques to reduce or eliminate erosion until either permanent stabilization can be achieved or until further construction activities take place.

Thawing Conditions – for the purposes of this permit, thawing conditions are expected based on the historical likelihood of two or more days with daytime temperatures greater than 32 ̊F. This date can be determined by looking at historical weather data.

Note: The estimation of thawing conditions is for planning purposes only. During construction, the permittee will be required to conduct site inspections based upon actual conditions (i.e., if thawing conditions occur sooner than expected, the permittee will be required to conduct inspections at the regular frequency).

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) - The total amount of a pollutant that a water body can assimilate and still meet the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards.

Turbidity – A condition of water quality characterized by the presence of suspended solids and/or organic material.

Waters of the United States - Waters of the United States or waters of the U.S. means:

(a) all waters which are currently used, were used in the past, or may be susceptible to use in interstate or foreign commerce, including all waters which are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide;

(b) all interstate waters, including interstate wetlands;

(c) all other waters such as intrastate lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, or natural ponds that the use, degradation, or destruction of which would affect or could affect interstate or foreign commerce including any such waters:

(1) which are or could be used by interstate or foreign travelers for recreational or other purposes;

(2) from which fish or shellfish are or could be taken and sold in interstate or foreign commerce; or

(3) which are used or could be used for industrial purposes by industries in interstate commerce;

(d) all impoundments of waters otherwise defined as waters of the United States under this definition;

(e) tributaries of waters identified in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this definition;

(f) the territorial sea; and

(g) wetlands adjacent to waters (other than waters that are themselves wetlands) identified in paragraphs (a) through (f) of this definition.

Waste treatment systems, including treatment ponds or lagoons designed to meet the requirements of CWA are not waters of the U.S. This exclusion applies only to manmade bodies of water which neither were originally created in waters of the U.S. (such as disposal area in wetlands) nor resulted from the impoundment of waters of the U.S. Waters of the U.S. do not include prior converted cropland. Notwithstanding the determination of an area’s status as prior converted cropland by any other federal agency, for the purposes of the CWA, the final authority regarding CWA jurisdiction remains with EPA.

Part II. Permit Applicability and Coverage

Section A. Discharges Eligible for Authorization

1. Stormwater Associated with Construction Activity

Discharges of stormwater runoff and certain non-stormwater discharges from small and large construction activities may be authorized under this general permit.

2. Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Construction Support Activities

Discharges of stormwater runoff and certain non-stormwater discharges from construction support activities as defined in Part I.B of this general permit may be authorized, provided that the following conditions are met:

(a) the construction support activities are located within one (1) mile from the boundary of the construction site where the construction activity authorized under the permit is being conducted that requires the support of these activities;

(b) an SWP3 is developed for the permitted construction site according to the provisions in Part III.F of this general permit, and includes appropriate controls and measures to reduce erosion and the discharge of pollutants in stormwater runoff according to the provisions in Part III.G of this general permit;

(c) the activities are directly related to the construction site;

(d) the activities are not a commercial operation, nor serve other unrelated construction projects; and

(e) the activities do not continue to operate beyond the completion of the construction activity at the project it supports.

Construction support activities that operate outside the terms provided in (a) through (e) above must obtain authorization under a separate Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permit, which may include the TPDES Multi Sector General Permit (MSGP), TXR050000 (related to stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity), an alternative general permit (if available), or an individual water quality permit.

3. Non-Stormwater Discharges

The following non-stormwater discharges from sites authorized under this general permit are also eligible for authorization under this general permit:

(a) discharges from fire-fighting activities (fire-fighting activities do not include washing of trucks, run-off water from training activities, test water from fire suppression systems, or similar activities);

(b) uncontaminated fire hydrant flushings (excluding discharges of hyperchlorinated water, unless the water is first dechlorinated and discharges are not expected to adversely affect aquatic life), which include flushings from systems that utilize potable water, surface water, or groundwater that does not contain additional pollutants (uncontaminated fire hydrant flushings do not include systems utilizing reclaimed wastewater as a source water);

(c) water from the routine external washing of vehicles, the external portion of buildings or structures, and pavement, where detergents and soaps are not used, where spills or leaks of toxic or hazardous materials have not occurred (unless spilled materials have been removed; and if local state, or federal regulations are applicable, the materials are removed according to those regulations), and where the purpose is to remove mud, dirt, or dust;

(d) uncontaminated water used to control dust;

(e) potable water sources, including waterline flushings, but excluding discharges of hyperchlorinated water, unless the water is first dechlorinated and discharges are not expected to adversely affect aquatic life;

(f) uncontaminated air conditioning condensate;

(g) uncontaminated ground water or spring water, including foundation or footing drains where flows are not contaminated with industrial materials such as solvents;

and

(h) lawn watering and similar irrigation drainage.

4. Other Permitted Discharges

Any discharge authorized under a separate National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), TPDES, or TCEQ permit may be combined with discharges authorized by this general permit, provided those discharges comply with the associated permit.

Section B. Concrete Truck Wash Out

The wash out of concrete trucks at regulated construction sites must be performed in accordance with the requirements of Part V of this general permit.

Section C. Limitations on Permit Coverage

1. Post Construction Discharges

Discharges that occur after construction activities have been completed, and after the construction site and any supporting activity site have undergone final stabilization, are not eligible for coverage under this general permit. Discharges originating from the sites are not authorized under this general permit following the submission of the notice of termination (NOT) or removal of the appropriate site notice, as applicable, for the regulated construction activity.

2. Prohibition of Non-Stormwater Discharges

Except as otherwise provided in Part II.A of this general permit, only discharges that are composed entirely of stormwater associated with construction activity may be authorized under this general permit.

3. Compliance with Water Quality Standards

Discharges to surface water in the state that would cause, have the reasonable potential to cause, or contribute to a violation of water quality standards or that would fail to protect and maintain existing designated uses of surface water in the state are not eligible for coverage under this general permit. The executive director may require an application for an individual permit or alternative general permit (see Parts II.H.2 and 3.) to authorize discharges to surface water in the state if the executive director determines that any activity will cause, has the reasonable potential to cause, or contribute to a violation of water quality standards or is found to cause, has the reasonable potential to cause, or contribute to, the impairment of a designated use. The executive director may also require an application for an individual permit considering factors described in Part II.H.3 of this general permit.

4. Impaired Receiving Waters and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Requirements

The permittee shall determine whether the authorized discharge is to an impaired water body on the latest EPA-approved CWA Section 303(d) List or waters with an EPA-approved or established TMDL that are found on the latest EPA-approved Texas

Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality for CWA Sections 305(b) and 303(d), which lists the category 4 and 5 water bodies.

New sources or new discharges of the pollutants of concern to impaired waters are not authorized by this permit unless otherwise allowable under 30 TAC Chapter 305 and applicable state law. Impaired waters are those that do not meet applicable water quality standard(s) and are listed as category 4 or 5 in the current version of the Texas Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality, and waterbodies listed on the CWA § 303(d) list. Pollutants of concern are those for which the water body is listed as impaired.

Discharges of the pollutants of concern to impaired water bodies for which there is a TMDL are not eligible for coverage under this general permit unless they are consistent with the approved TMDL. Permittees must incorporate the conditions and requirements applicable to their discharges into their SWP3, in order to be eligible for coverage under this general permit. For consistency with the construction stormwater-related items in an approved TMDL, the SWP3 must be consistent with any applicable condition, goal, or requirement in the TMDL, TMDL Implementation Plan (I-Plan), or as otherwise directed by the executive director.

5. Discharges to the Edwards Aquifer Recharge or Contributing Zone

Discharges cannot be authorized by this general permit where prohibited by 30 TAC Chapter 213 (relating to Edwards Aquifer). In addition, commencement of construction (i.e., the initial disturbance of soils associated with clearing, grading, or excavating activities, as well as other construction-related activities such as stockpiling of fill material and demolition) at a site regulated under 30 TAC Chapter 213, may not begin until the appropriate Edwards Aquifer Protection Plan (EAPP) has been approved by the TCEQ’s Edwards Aquifer Protection Program.

(a) For new discharges located within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, or within that area upstream from the recharge zone and defined as the Contributing Zone (CZ), operators must meet all applicable requirements of, and operate according to, 30 TAC Chapter 213 (Edwards Aquifer Rule) in addition to the provisions and requirements of this general permit.

(b) For existing discharges located within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, the requirements of the agency-approved Water Pollution Abatement Plan (WPAP) under the Edwards Aquifer Rule is in addition to the requirements of this general permit. BMPs and maintenance schedules for structural stormwater controls, for example, may be required as a provision of the rule. All applicable requirements of the Edwards Aquifer Rule for reductions of suspended solids in stormwater runoff are in addition to the requirements in this general permit for this pollutant.

(c) For discharges located within ten stream miles upstream of the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, applicants shall also submit a copy of the NOI to the appropriate TCEQ regional office.

Counties: Comal, Bexar, Medina, Uvalde, and Kinney

Contact: TCEQ Water Program Manager San Antonio Regional Office 14250 Judson Road San Antonio, Texas 78233-4480

(210) 490-3096

Counties: Williamson, Travis, and Hays

Contact: TCEQ Water Program Manager Austin Regional Office 12100 Park 35 Circle

Room 179, Building A Austin, Texas 78753

(512) 339-2929

6. Discharges to Specific Watersheds and Water Quality Areas

Discharges otherwise eligible for coverage cannot be authorized by this general permit where prohibited by 30 TAC Chapter 311 (relating to Watershed Protection) for water quality areas and watersheds.

7. Protection of Streams and Watersheds by Other Governmental Entities

This general permit does not limit the authority or ability of federal, other state, or local governmental entities from placing additional or more stringent requirements on construction activities or discharges from construction activities. For example, this permit does not limit the authority of a home-rule municipality provided by Texas Local Government Code §401.002.

8. Indian Country Lands

Stormwater runoff from construction activities occurring on Indian Country lands are not under the authority of the TCEQ and are not eligible for coverage under this general permit. If discharges of stormwater require authorization under federal NPDES regulations, authority for these discharges must be obtained from the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

9. Oil and Gas Production and Transportation

Stormwater runoff from construction activities associated with the exploration, development, or production of oil or gas or geothermal resources, including transportation of crude oil or natural gas by pipeline, are not under the authority of the TCEQ and are not eligible for coverage under this general permit. Authorization for stormwater discharges from construction activities that are associated with production of oil or gas or geothermal resources, including transportation of crude oil or natural gas by pipeline must be obtained, as required, from the U.S. EPA or the Texas Railroad Commission, as applicable. Discharge of stormwater related to construction activity, from a facility that stores both refined products intended for off-site use and crude oil in aboveground storage tanks, is regulated by the TCEQ and is eligible for coverage under this general permit.

10. Stormwater Discharges from Agricultural Activities

Stormwater discharges from agricultural activities that are not point source discharges of stormwater are not subject to TPDES permit requirements. These activities may include clearing and cultivating ground for crops, construction of fences to contain livestock, construction of stock ponds, and other similar agricultural activities.

Discharges of stormwater runoff associated with the construction of facilities that are subject to TPDES regulations, such as the construction of concentrated animal feeding operations, would be point sources regulated under this general permit.

11. Endangered Species Act

Discharges that would adversely affect a listed endangered or threatened aquatic or aquatic-dependent species or its critical habitat are not authorized by this permit, unless the requirements of the Endangered Species Act are satisfied. Federal requirements related to endangered species apply to all TPDES permitted discharges and site-specific controls may be required to ensure that protection of endangered or threatened species is achieved. If a permittee has concerns over potential impacts to listed species, the permittee may contact TCEQ for additional information.

12. Other

Nothing in Part II of the general permit is intended to negate any person’s ability to assert force majeure (act of God, war, strike, riot, or other catastrophe) defenses found in 30 TAC §70.7.

Section D. Deadlines for Obtaining Authorization to Discharge

1. Large Construction Activities

(a) New Construction - Discharges from sites where the commencement of construction activity occurs on or after the effective date of this general permit must be authorized, either under this general permit or a separate TPDES permit, prior to the commencement of those construction activities.

(b) Ongoing Construction - Operators of large construction activities continuing to operate after the effective date of this permit, and authorized under the TPDES Construction General Permit TXR150000 (effective on March 5, 2013), must submit an NOI to renew authorization or a NOT to terminate coverage under this general permit within 90 days of the effective date of this general permit. During this interim or grace period, as a requirement of this TPDES permit, the operator must continue to meet the conditions and requirements of the 2013 TPDES general permit.

2. Small Construction Activities

(a) New Construction - Discharges from sites where the commencement of construction activity occurs on or after the effective date of this general permit must be authorized, either under this general permit or a separate TPDES permit, prior to the commencement of those construction activities.

(b) Ongoing Construction - Discharges from ongoing small construction activities that commenced prior to the effective date of this general permit, and that do not meet the conditions to qualify for termination of this permit as described in Part II.F of this general permit, must meet the requirements to be authorized, either under this general permit or a separate TPDES permit, within 90 days of the effective date of this general permit. During this interim period, as a requirement of this TPDES permit, the operator must continue to meet the conditions and requirements of the 2013 TPDES Construction General Permit.

Section E. Obtaining Authorization to Discharge

1. Automatic Authorization for Small Construction Activities with Low Potential for

Erosion:

Operators of small construction activity, as defined in Part I.B of this general permit, shall not submit an NOI for coverage, unless otherwise required by the executive director.

Operators of small construction activities, which occur in certain counties and during periods of low potential for erosion that do not meet the conditions of the waiver described in Part II.G of this general permit, may be automatically authorized under this general permit if all the following conditions are met.

(a) the construction activity occurs in a county and during the corresponding date range(s) listed in Appendix A;

(b) the construction activity is initiated and completed, including either final or temporary stabilization of all disturbed areas, within the time frame identified in Appendix A for the location of the construction site;

(c) all temporary stabilization is adequately maintained to effectively reduce or prohibit erosion, permanent stabilization activities have been initiated, and a condition of final stabilization is completed no later than 30 days following the end date of the time frame identified in Appendix A for the location of the construction site;

(d) the permittee signs a completed TCEQ small construction site notice for low potential for erosion, including the certification statement;

(e) a signed and certified copy of the small construction site notice for low potential for erosion is posted at the construction site in a location where it is readily available for viewing by the general public, local, state, and federal authorities prior to commencing construction activities, and maintained in that location until completion of the construction activity;

NOTE: Posted site notices may have a redacted signature as long as there is an original signed and certified site notice, with a viewable signature, located on-site and available for review by any applicable regulatory authority.

(f) a copy of the signed and certified small construction site notice for low potential for erosion is provided to the operator of any MS4 receiving the discharge at least two days prior to commencement of construction activities;

(g) discharges of stormwater runoff or other non-stormwater discharges from any supporting concrete batch plant or asphalt batch plant is separately authorized under an individual TPDES permit, another TPDES general permit, or under an individual TCEQ permit where stormwater and non-stormwater is disposed of by evaporation or irrigation (discharges are adjacent to water in the state); and

(h) any non-stormwater discharges are either authorized under a separate permit or authorization, are not considered by TCEQ to be a wastewater, or are captured and routed for disposal at a publicly operated treatment works or licensed waste disposal facility.

If all of the conditions in (a) – (h) above are met, then the operator(s) of small construction activities with low potential for erosion are not required to develop a SWP3.

If an operator is conducting small construction activities and any of the above conditions

(a) – (h) are not met, the operator cannot declare coverage under the automatic authorization for small construction activities with low potential for erosion and must meet the requirements for automatic authorization (all other) small construction activities, described below in Part II.E.2.

For small construction activities that occur during a period with a low potential for erosion, where automatic authorization under this section is not available, an operator may apply for and obtain a waiver from permitting (Low Rainfall Erosivity Waiver – LREW), as described in Part II.G of this general permit. Waivers from coverage under the LREW do not allow for any discharges of non-stormwater and the operator must ensure that discharges on non-stormwater are either authorized under a separate permit or authorization.

2. Automatic Authorization for Small Construction Activities:

Operators of small construction activities as defined in Part I.B of this general permit shall not submit an NOI for coverage, unless otherwise required by the executive director.

Operators of small construction activities, as defined in Part I.B of this general permit or as defined but who do not meet in the conditions and requirements located in Part II.E.1 above, may be automatically authorized for small construction activities, provided that they meet all of the following conditions:

(a) develop a SWP3 according to the provisions of this general permit, that covers either the entire site or all portions of the site for which the applicant is the operator, and implement the SWP3 prior to commencing construction activities;

(b) all operators of regulated small construction activities must post a copy of a signed and certified Small Construction site notice, the notice must be posted at the construction site in a location where it is safely and readily available for viewing by the general public, local, state, and federal authorities, at least two days prior to commencing construction activity , and maintain the notice in that location until completion of the construction activity (for linear construction activities, e.g.

pipeline or highway, the site notice must be placed in a publicly accessible location near where construction is actively underway; notice for these linear sites may be relocated, as necessary, along the length of the project, and the notice must be safely and readily available for viewing by the general public; local, state, and federal authorities);

(c) operators must maintain a posted site notice at the construction site until final stabilization has been achieved; and

NOTE: Posted site notices may have a redacted signature as long as there is an original signed and…