joint groundwater report - Texas Commission on Environmental ...

GROUNDWATER PROTECTIONThe following material is provided to give an overview of <strong>groundwater</strong> protection issues related to: the <strong>Texas</strong>Groundwater Protection Committee (TGPC), the state’s <strong>groundwater</strong> protection policy, the TGPC’srecommended <strong>groundwater</strong> classification system, risk-based cleanup levels for <strong>groundwater</strong>, the definition of<strong>groundwater</strong> contamination as it applies to this <strong>report</strong>, and notification to and from regulatory agenciesconcerning <strong>groundwater</strong> contamination. Additional sources of public information are also discussed.<strong>Texas</strong> Groundwater Protection CommitteeThe <strong>Texas</strong> Groundwater Protection Committee was created by the 71st <strong>Texas</strong> Legislature in 1989 as a meansto bridge gaps between existing state <strong>groundwater</strong> programs and to optimize water-quality protection byimproving coordination among agencies involved in <strong>groundwater</strong> activities. House Bill 1458 (codified as§§26.401 through 26.407 of the <strong>Texas</strong> Water Code) established the TGPC; outlined the TGPC’s powers,duties, and responsibilities; and established the state’s <strong>groundwater</strong> protection policy.The TGPC actively identifies opportunities to improve existing <strong>groundwater</strong> quality programs and promotescoordination between agencies. The TGPC also strives to improve or identify areas where new or existingprograms could be enhanced to provide additional protection. Major responsibilities of the TGPC are:< to improve interagency coordination in the area of <strong>groundwater</strong> protection;< to develop and update a comprehensive <strong>groundwater</strong> protection strategy for the state;< to study and recommend to the Legislature <strong>groundwater</strong> protection programs for areas in which<strong>groundwater</strong> is not protected by current regulation;< to publish an interagency <strong>groundwater</strong> monitoring and contamination <strong>report</strong>;< to file with the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the House of Representatives a <strong>report</strong> of theTGPC’s activities during the biennium preceding each regular legislative session, including anyrecommendations for legislation for <strong>groundwater</strong> protection; and< to advise the TNRCC on the development of agricultural chemical plans to prevent <strong>groundwater</strong>pollution.The TGPC’s membership is composed of the following individuals or their designated representative:< the executive director of the <strong>Texas</strong> Natural Resource Conservation <strong>Commission</strong>;< the executive administrator of the <strong>Texas</strong> Water Development Board;< a representative selected by the Railroad <strong>Commission</strong> of <strong>Texas</strong>;< the commissioner of health of the <strong>Texas</strong> Department of Health;< the deputy commissioner of the Department of Agriculture;< the executive director of the <strong>Texas</strong> State Soil and Water Conservation Board;< a representative selected by the <strong>Texas</strong> Alliance of Groundwater Districts;< the director of the <strong>Texas</strong> Agriculture Experiment Station; and< the director of the Bureau of Economic Geology, University of <strong>Texas</strong> at Austin.The executive director of the <strong>Texas</strong> Natural Resource Conservation <strong>Commission</strong> serves as the TGPC’schairman. The TNRCC is designated as the lead agency for the TGPC and administers the activities of the11