Note: Do not send blueprints or
full specification booklets with the Chapter 317, Summary
Transmittal Letter. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ) will request these items by mail or fax if it is determined
that a full review is required. This does not apply to wastewater
projects located over the Edwards Aquifer. Full plans and
specifications must be submitted to the appropriate regional office
(Austin or San Antonio).
Background
Sewerage systems (domestic wastewater treatment systems) or
material alterations to sewerage systems are required to be
developed in accordance with state design criteria. The design
criteria set minimum standards necessary for domestic wastewater
treatment systems to function properly and meet requirements for
effluent quality. The criteria also contain certain safety
standards.
Submittal And Review Requirements
Up until January of 1996, plans and specifications (plans and
specs) for all sewerage systems or material alterations to sewerage
systems were required to be technically reviewed and approved by
the state to ensure that they complied with design criteria. In
January 1996, the TCEQ rules were modified to give TCEQ the
discretion to select plans and specs on a case-by-case basis for
technical review, rather than reviewing all of them. In addition,
municipalities and other state agencies were given the option to
review and approve projects in lieu of TCEQ.
In March 1997, the TCEQ rules were further modified by limiting
the requirement for submittal of plans and specs for every project
where TCEQ is the review authority and instead require submittal of
a summary transmittal
letter for each project. The summary letter must contain a
written findings statement from a registered professional engineer
that the plans and specs for the project are in substantial
compliance with design criteria and that any deviation from the
standards is based on best professional judgment. If TCEQ chooses
to conduct a technical review of the plans and specs for the
project, TCEQ must notify the design engineer within 10 days of
receipt of the summary, and the plans and specs for the project
must then be submitted to TCEQ for technical review and approval.
Construction may not be initiated on
projects which are designated for technical review until TCEQ has
issued written approval for the plans and specs.
Design Criteria
Texas Cities with Design Approval Authority
The TCEQ is currently updating this list and therefore, what
follows is a partial list only.
- City of Austin
- City of Carrollton
- City of Dallas
- City of Faith
- City of Fort Worth
- City of Houston
- City of Kerrville
- City of Plano
- City of San Antonio
- City of Wichita Falls
Design Forms and Instructions
All application forms listed below are Word Perfect and Adobe
Acrobat PDF documents. (Help with downloading files.)
The forms may be used as refresher/training aids or to prepare
for a TCEQ full technical review/Edwards Aquifer project.
Edwards Aquifer Projects
-
TCEQ-00582: Sewage Collection Systems Application for Regulated
Activities on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone (MS Word, Word Perfect, PDF)
-
TCEQ-00624: Lift Station/Force Main System Application for
Regulated activities on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone (MS Word, Word Perfect, PDF)
