Texas Commission on Environmental Quality now is responsible for issuing permits for water discharge both on land and into water after a new law passed during the recent 89th session of the Texas legislature. Previously Railroad Commission of Texas was responsible for permits for water discharge on land.
Catarina R. Gonzales, one of three commissioners of TCEQ, addressed the new policy at the 10th Permian Basin conference of the Produced Water Society Aug. 11-13 in Midland. She told Midland Reporter Telegram, “We’re evaluating science to ensure that discharge of water, including produced water, is safe for human health and the environment… We are interested in the industry’s thoughts.”
Gonzales encouraged operators to communicate with neighbors for better understanding and to avoid contested cases, and she recommended meeting with TCEQ ahead of discharge. She added, “Legislators realized if we’re going to keep ‘the Texas miracle’ going, we need to keep developing these resources. We want to be part of that economic growth.”
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