The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is beginning a review of the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (standards) to start the revision process. The TCEQ requested preliminary public comments to the standards and the Procedures to Implement the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards, RG-194 (Standards Implementation Procedures) in January 2006. Comments were received by March 1, 2006 and are currently being considered by TCEQ staff.

Revisions to the standards and the Standards Implementation Procedures are needed to:

• Incorporate recently developed site-specific standards for individual water bodies.

• Incorporate new research on the toxicity of specific chemicals.

• Improve the way that standards are used and applied.

The process of reviewing and revising the standards is a joint process with the TCEQ, EPA, the general public, other governmental agencies, industries, municipalities, environmental groups, and others. Much of the coordination is done through the Surface Water Quality Standards Advisory Work Group.

For the next triennial review, the TCEQ staff are considering a variety of potential changes (PDF), such as nutrient criteria (PDF), revised toxic criteria, numerous additional uses and criteria for individual water bodies, and changes in how to apply bacterial indicators. (Help with PDF Files.) Revisions are being developed by internal staff workgroups, plus the Surface Water Quality Standards Advisory Work Group. The first work group meeting has been scheduled for March 7, 2007 at the TCEQ central office in Austin, Texas.

Procedures to Implement the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards RG-194, which explain how the standards are used in permitting, is reviewed and revised along with the standards revision.