Buddy Garcia, Chairman
Larry R. Soward, Commissioner
Bryan W. Shaw, Ph.D., Commissioner
Staff:
Address/Phone/Fax
Three full-time commissioners are appointed by the governor to
establish overall agency direction and policy, and to make final
determinations on contested permitting and enforcement matters.
They are appointed for six-year terms with the advice and consent
of the Texas Senate. A commissioner may not serve more than two
six-year terms, and the terms are staggered so that a different
member’s term expires every two years. The governor also
names the chairman of the commission.
The TCEQ commissioners have adopted a mission
statement and philosophy that embody their vision of how this
agency should conduct its business, and have issued a Resolution
Concerning Public Participation at the TCEQ.
Commissioners'
Agendas
Current Agenda
Marked Agenda
Work Sessions
The following five offices report directly to the commissioners:
General Counsel
Les Trobman, General Counsel
Staff:
Address/Phone/Fax
The general counsel is the chief adviser on law and ethics for
the commissioners. The general counsel provides legal assistance to
the commissioners for their review of permits, proposed enforcement
actions, rules, and other matters, in addition to managing the
administrative affairs of the commissioners’ office.
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) staff under the general
counsel assist permit applicants and persons opposed to the
applications in resolving their differences informally, if
possible, to avoid the time and expense of a contested public
evidentiary hearing. ADR procedures are voluntary, and those
participating in ADR do not forfeit their right to a hearing if ADR
does not result in a settlement.
Chief
Auditor
Steve Goodson, Chief Auditor
Staff:
Address/Phone/Fax
The Chief Auditor’s Office (CAO) provides assurance and
advisory services that help the commissioners and management meet
agency goals and objectives. The CAO provides independent and
objective information, analyses, and recommendations to assist
management in effecting constructive change, managing business
risk, and improving the compliance and accountability of the
regulated community and business partners.
Chief Clerk
LaDonna Castañuela, Chief Clerk
Staff:
Address/Phone/Fax
The Office of the Chief Clerk (OCC) issues required notices of
applications, public hearings, and public meetings. The OCC also
prepares the commission agendas, transmits final decision documents
to applicants and other parties, and maintains the official records
of pending commission proceedings. The OCC also maintains those
pages of the TCEQ’s Web site pertaining to notice
searches, OCC
database searches,
commissioners’ agendas and
work sessions and the executive
director’s agendas.
See also:
Chief Clerk's Database
Search for TCEQ Public
Notices
Public Assistance
Bridget Bohac, Director
Staff:
Address/Phone/Fax
The Office
of Public Assistance (OPA) answers questions about pending TCEQ
permits, explains the permitting process and opportunities for
public participation, and conducts
public meetings around the state on permit applications. The
office includes an Environmental
Equity Program that helps minority and low-income communities
work toward solutions to problems with industries and facilities
near their homes. OPA is responsible for distributing the TCEQ
Customer Satisfaction Survey, which encourages customers'
feedback on their experiences with the agency. Every two years OPA
summarizes the most recent biennium's survey responses in a
Report on Customer Service to the Legislative Budget Board. The
director is the agency's customer
service representative, and OPA is the point of contact for all
complaints against the agency.
Public Interest Counsel
Blas J. Coy, Jr., Public Interest Counsel
Staff:
Address/Phone/Fax
The Office of Public Interest Counsel was created by the
legislature to ensure that the public's interest is represented in
issues considered by the commission. The
office does not formally represent individuals at commission
proceedings. However, citizens who have questions about the legal
aspects of dealing with the TCEQ, its hearing process, and its
rules can obtain help from this office. Assistance is available to
anyone who is affected by a particular permit application or other
agency authorization. The staff of the Public Interest Counsel also
assists people with questions about enforcement proceedings.
