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TITLE 30ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 213EDWARDS AQUIFER
SUBCHAPTER AEDWARDS AQUIFER IN MEDINA, BEXAR, COMAL, KINNEY, UVALDE, HAYS, TRAVIS, AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES
RULE §213.5Required Edwards Aquifer Protection Plans, Notification, and Exemptions

(e) Static hydrocarbon and hazardous substance storage in an aboveground storage tank facility.

  (1) Design standards. Systems used for the temporary and permanent aboveground storage of static hydrocarbon and hazardous substance must be constructed within controlled drainage areas that are sized to capture one and one-half (1-1/2) times the storage capacity of the system. The controlled drainage area must be constructed of, and in a material impervious to, the substance(s) being stored, and must direct spills to a convenient point for collections and recovery. Any spills from storage tank facilities must be removed from the controlled drainage area for disposal within 24 hours of the spill.

  (2) Contents of an aboveground storage tank facility plan. A permanent aboveground storage tank facility plan must contain, at a minimum, the following information.

    (A) Application. For an aboveground storage tank facility, the information required under §213.4 of this title must be filed with the executive director at the appropriate regional office.

    (B) Site location map. A site location map as specified in subsection (b)(2) of this section, including a legible road map, a general location map, and a site plan, must be submitted as part of the plan for a permanent facility.

    (C) Geologic assessment. For all facilities located on either the recharge zone or transition zone, a geologic assessment prepared by a geologist, as described in subsection (b)(3) of this section, must be submitted for the area containing the aboveground storage tank system. The geologic assessment report must be signed, sealed, and dated by the geologist preparing the report.

    (D) Technical report. For all facilities located on either the recharge zone or transition zone, a technical report must be submitted on forms provided by, or approved by, the executive director. The technical report must contain the information requested in subsection (b)(4)(B) and (C) and (5) of this section. A technical report for a water pollution abatement plan submitted under subsection (b) of this section satisfies this requirement, provided it properly addresses the proposed aboveground storage tank facility.

  (3) A description of measures that will be used to contain any spill of hydrocarbons or hazardous substances from temporary storage of 250 gallons or more must be included with the plan unless described under subsection (b)(4)(G) of this section. Any new temporary aboveground hydrocarbon and hazardous substance storage tank system must be located a minimum horizontal distance of 150 feet from any domestic, industrial, irrigation, or public water supply well, or other sensitive feature.

  (4) Exemptions from this section.

    (A) Equipment used to transmit electricity that utilizes oil for insulation or cooling purposes, including transformers and oil circuit breakers, are exempt from this subsection. Construction of supporting structures is a regulated activity for which a water pollution abatement plan under subsection (a)(1) of this section is required.

    (B) Permanent storage facilities with a cumulative storage capacity of less than 500 gallons are exempt from this section.

(f) Notification and inspection.

  (1) The applicant must provide written notification of intent to commence construction, replacement, or rehabilitation. Notification must be given to the appropriate regional office no later than 48 hours prior to commencement of the regulated activity.

    (A) Written notification must include:

      (i) the date on which the regulated activity will commence;

      (ii) the name of the approved plan for the regulated activity; and

      (iii) the name of the prime contractor and the name and telephone number of the contact person.

    (B) The executive director will use the notification to determine if the applicant is eligible for an extension of an approved plan. Construction will not be considered to have commenced until written notification is received by the appropriate regional office.

  (2) If any sensitive feature is discovered during construction, replacement, or rehabilitation, all regulated activities near the sensitive feature must be suspended immediately.

    (A) The holder of an approved Edwards Aquifer protection plan must immediately notify the appropriate regional office of any sensitive features encountered during construction. This notice must be given before continuing construction.

    (B) Regulated activities near the sensitive feature may not proceed until the executive director has reviewed a geologic assessment report prepared by a geologist that consists of information required under subsection (b)(3)(C) and (D) of this section for the sensitive feature and has reviewed and approved the methods proposed to protect the sensitive feature and the Edwards Aquifer from potentially adverse impacts to water quality. The geologic assessment report must be signed, sealed, and dated by the geologist preparing the report.

    (C) The holder of an approved sewage collection system plan, must meet the following.

      (i) Upon completion of any lift station excavation, a geologist must certify that the excavation has been inspected for the presence of sensitive features. The certification must be signed, sealed, and dated by the geologist preparing the certification. Certification that the excavation has been inspected must be submitted to the appropriate regional office.

        (I) Further activities may not proceed until the executive director has reviewed and approved the methods proposed to protect any sensitive feature and the Edwards Aquifer from potentially adverse impacts to water quality from the lift station.

        (II) Construction may continue if the geologist certifies that no sensitive feature or features were present.

      (ii) The applicant must submit a plan for ensuring the structural integrity of the sewer line or for modifying the proposed collection system alignment around the feature. The plan must be certified by a Texas licensed professional engineer. These plans must be submitted to the appropriate regional office for review and approval.

    (D) For an approved underground storage tank facility plan, a geologist must certify that a completed tankhold excavation has been inspected for the presence of sensitive features. The certification must be signed, sealed, and dated by the geologist preparing the certification.

      (i) Certification that the tankhold excavation has been inspected must be submitted to the appropriate regional office.

      (ii) If a sensitive feature is discovered, the applicant must propose methods to protect the feature and the Edwards Aquifer from potentially adverse impacts to water quality from the underground storage tank system. Installation activities may not proceed until the executive director has reviewed and approved the proposed methods. The protection methods must be consistent with subsection (d)(1)(B) of this section.

      (iii) Construction may continue if the geologist certifies that no sensitive feature or features were present.

  (3) The executive director must review methods or plans proposed to protect sensitive features and the Edwards Aquifer from potentially adverse impacts to water quality. This review will be completed within one week of receiving a method or plan. Regulated activities near the sensitive feature may not continue until the executive director has approved the proposed methods or plans.

(g) On-site sewerage systems. On-site sewerage systems located on the recharge zone are subject to §285.40 of this title (relating to OSSFs on the Recharge Zone of the Edwards Aquifer) and other applicable provisions contained in Chapter 285 of this title. Systems must be designed, installed, maintained, repaired, and replaced in accordance with Chapter 285 of this title.

(h) Exemption.

  (1) Regulated activities exempt from the Edwards Aquifer protection plan application requirements under this section are:

    (A) the installation of natural gas lines;

    (B) the installation of telephone lines;

    (C) the installation of electric lines;

    (D) the installation of water lines;

    (E) the installation of other utility lines which are not designed to carry and will not carry the following:

      (i) pollutants;

      (ii) storm water runoff;

      (iii) sewage effluent; or

      (iv) treated effluent from a wastewater treatment facility.

  (2) An individual land owner who seeks to construct his/her own single-family residence or associated residential structures on the site is exempt from the Edwards Aquifer protection plan application requirements under this section, provided that he/she does not exceed 20% impervious cover on the site.

  (3) Temporary erosion and sedimentation controls are required to be installed and maintained for exempted activities on the recharge zone.

  (4) All temporary erosion and sedimentation controls:

    (A) must meet the requirements contained in subsection (b)(4)(D)(i) of this section;

    (B) must be installed prior to construction;

    (C) must be maintained during construction; and

    (D) may be removed only when vegetation is established and the construction area is stabilized.

  (5) The executive director may monitor storm water discharges from these projects to evaluate the adequacy of the temporary erosion and sedimentation control measures. Additional protection will be required if the executive director determines that these controls are inadequate to protect water quality.


Source Note: The provisions of this §213.5 adopted to be effective December 27, 1996, 21 TexReg 12125; amended to be effective June 1, 1999, 23 TexReg 10477; amended to be effective September 1, 2003, 28 TexReg 6291

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