Citizens Against the Landfill in Hempstead Michael McCall Wayne Knox And the City of Hempstead v. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Pintail Landfill, L.L.C.

ACCEPTED
03-14-00718-CV
4288348
THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
2/25/2015 6:42:32 PM
JEFFREY D. KYLE
CLERK
NO. 03-14-00718-CV

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FILED IN
3rd COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AUSTIN, TEXAS
AT AUSTIN, TEXAS 2/25/2015 6:42:32 PM
JEFFREY D. KYLE
Clerk
CITIZENS AGAINST THE LANDFILL IN HEMPSTEAD; MICHAEL
MCCALL; WAYNE KNOX; AND THE CITY OF HEMPSTEAD,
Plaintiffs/Appellees,
v.
TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND
PINTAIL LANDFILL, L.L.C., Defendants/Appellants.

From 201st District Court,
Travis County, Texas

APPELLANTS CITIZENS AGAINST THE LANDFILL IN HEMPSTEAD,
MICHAEL MCCALL, WAYNE KNOX, AND CITY OF HEMPSTEAD’S
BRIEF

KELLY HART & HALLMAN LLP HANCE SCARBOROUGH, LLP
Monica M. Jacobs Terry L. Scarborough
State Bar No. 24007433 State Bar No. 17716000
Diana L. Nichols Michael L. Woodward
State Bar No. 00784682 State Bar No. 21979300
301 Congress Avenue, Suite 2000 V. Blayre Pena
Austin, TX 78701 State Bar No. 24050372
Telephone: (512) 495-6400 Wesley P. McGuffey
Facsimile: (512) 495-6401 State Bar No. 24088023
400 W. 15th Street, Ste. 950
ATTORNEYS FOR THE Austin, TX 78701
CITY OF HEMPSTEAD Telephone: (512) 479-8888
Facsimile: (512) 482-6891

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS
CITIZENS AGAINST THE LANDFILL
IN HEMPSTEAD, MICHAEL
MCCALL, AND WAYNE KNOX

ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED
 IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 53.2(a), the parties to the
judgment at issue in this appeal are:

Citizens Against the Landfill in Hempstead, Michael McCall, and Wayne Knox
APPELLANTS/PLAINTIFFS

HANCE SCARBOROUGH, LLP
Terry L. Scarborough
Michael L. Woodward
V. Blayre Pena
Wesley P. McGuffey
400 W. 15th Street, Ste. 950
Austin, TX 78701
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS CITIZENS AGAINST THE LANDFILL IN HEMPSTEAD,
MICHAEL MCCALL, AND WAYNE KNOX

City of Hempstead
APPELLANT/PLAINTIFF

KELLY HART & HALLMAN LLP
Monica M. Jacobs
Diana L. Nichols
301 Congress Avenue, Suite 2000
Austin, Texas 78701
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT, CITY OF HEMPSTEAD

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
APPELLEE/DEFENDANT

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS,
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION
Nancy Elizabeth Olinger
Cynthia Woelk
Daniel C. Wiseman
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT, TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

2
Pintail Landfill, LLC
APPELLEE/DEFENDANT

MCELROY, SULLIVAN, MILLER, WEBER & OLMSTEAD, L.L.P.
Brent W. Ryan
Paul R. Tough
P.O. Box 12127
Austin, Texas 78711

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT, PINTAIL LANDFILL, LLC

3
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES & COUNSEL ……………………………….…………2

TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………….………4

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ………………………………………………………6

INDEX OF APPENDICIES………………………………………………..………9

STATEMENT OF THE CASE ……………………………………………..……11

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT ……………………………13

ISSUES PRESENTED ……………….……………….…………………….……14

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS ……………………..……………………..……16

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ……………………………….……………26

ARGUMENT ………………………………………………………..……………29

THE REGISTRATION MUST BE REVERSED BECAUSE TCEQ’S
APPROVAL OF APPLICANT’S REGISTRATION FAILED TO FOLLOW
THE CLEAR, UNAMBIGUOUS LANGUAGE OF ITS
REGULATIONS...........................................................................................29

A. Standard of Review……………………………….…………………30

B. TCEQ’s Spontaneous Interpretation of 30 Texas Administrative Code
§§ 330.9(f) and 330.9(b)(3).…………………………………………31

C. TCEQ Failed to Follow the Clear, Unambiguous Language of Its
Regulations.………………………………………………………… 33

1. TCEQ Failed to Follow the Clear, Unambiguous Language of
30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.9(b)(3).…….…….……35

2. TCEQ Failed to Follow the Clear, Unambiguous Language of
30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.9(f).…………...………36

4
 3. TCEQ Failed to Follow the Clear, Unambiguous Language of
its Regulations Defining Transfer Station and Waste
Separation/Recycling Facility.……………………..…………37

D. A Loophole Big Enough to Drive a Truck Through: Even if the
Regulations Were Ambiguous, TCEQ’s Interpretation Would Not Be
Entitled to Deference Because it is Plainly Erroneous or Inconsistent
with the Regulation or its Underlying Statutes.…………….….……39

THE TCEQ DENIED AFFECTED PERSONS DUE PROCESS BY
AUTHORIZING THE FACILITY THROUGH REGISTRATION RATHER
THAN A PERMIT.……………………………..……………………….…40

THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE REVERSED BECAUSE TCEQ
ALLOWED AN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF NOTICES OF DEFICIENCY
WELL BEYOND ITS PUBLICLY PRONOUNCED POLICY.……..……42

PRAYER …………………………………………………………………………48

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE …………………………………………..….……50

5
 INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Constitution Provisions

Article 1, Section 19 of the Texas Constitution……………………….…………..41

Statutes

Texas Health and Safety Code

§ 361.002(a)……………………………………………………………16, 40

§ 361.061..………………………………………………..…..……….. 16, 40

§ 361.086(a)….……………………….……………………………..… 16, 40

§ 3611.0861……………………………………………….……..……..18, 40

§ 361.088……………………………………………….…………...….41, 42

§ 361.0665……………………………………………….……………..41, 42

§ 361.0666………………………………………………….…………..41, 42

§ 361.067…………………………………………...……..……………41, 42

§ 361.079………………………………………………….……………41, 42

§ 361.0791……………………………………………..………….……41, 42

§ 361.081………………………………………………….……………41, 42

§ 361.089…………………………………………………….……………..17

§ 361.321 (e)……………………………………………………………….30

Tex. Gov’t Code §§ 2001.174(2)(A)-(F)……………………………………..30, 31

6
Rules

30 Texas Administrative Code

§ 39, subchapter H…………………...………………….………………….17

§ 55 (f)……………………………………………………………………..17

§ 50.139 (b)………………………..………………….……………………18

§ 330……………………………..………………….…………………passim

§ 330.3(157)…..………………..…...……….…………………26, 29, 37, 38

§ 330.3 (174)………………….……………………………21, 26, 29, 37, 38

§ 330.7(a)….………...………………...………..………….......14, 16, 17, 26

§ 330.9(a)…………..…………………….….………………….…………16

§ 330.9(b)(3)……………..………………..14, 21, 26, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 39

§ 330.9(f)…………….……….14, 17, 21, 22, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37

§ 330.11………………………………………………...………………16, 26

§ 330.13……………………………………………………...…………16, 26

Cases

CenterPoint Energy Houston Elec., LLC v. PUC,
408 S.W. 3d 910 (Tex. App. – Austin 2013, pet denied)………29, 31, 33, 39

County of Dallas v. Wiland,
216 S.W.3d 344, 347 (Tex. 2007)……………………………..…..……….42

Moore v. State,
739 S.W. 2d 347, 349 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987)………………….…………39

7
PUC v. Gulf States Utilities Co.,
809 S.W. 2d 201 (Tex. 1991)…………………….……….……29, 31, 33, 39

Railroad Comm’n of Texas v. Home Transp. Co.,
670 S.W.2d 319, 325 (Tex. App. – Austin 1984, no writ)…………....……33

Rodriguez v. Service Lloyds Ins. Co.,
997 S.W.2d 248, 254 (Tex. 1999)……………………….…..…33, 34, 35, 38

SWEPI, LP v. Railraod Comm’n of Texas,
314 S.W. 3d 253 (Tex. App. – Austin 2010, pet denied)……………...….33

Tex. Dept. of Transp.. V. Needham,
82 S.W. 3d 314, 318 (Tex. 2002)………………………………………35, 38

TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. v. Combs,
340 S.W.3d 432, 439 (Tex. 2011)………………………...……………35, 38

United Copper v. Grissom,
17 S.W.3d 797 (Tex. App.—Austin 2000)…………………………..…….31

Other Authority

31 Tex. Reg. 2506………………………………………………........……17, 18, 34

31 Tex. Reg. 2548……..………………………………………………..........……17

8
 INDEX OF APPENDICIES

Appendix A Final Judgment dated September 4, 2014

Appendix B Traditional Municipal Solid Waste Disposal: A Guide for Local
Governments

Appendix C 31 Tex. Reg. 2506 (March 24, 2006);
31 Tex. Reg. 2548 (March 24, 2006)

Appendix D Guidelines for Utilizing the Source-Separated Recycling Permit
Exemption for Municipal Solid Waste Transfer Facilities.

Appendix E Waller County’s Request for Determination and Denial of
Permit Application and Registration Application

Appendix F CALH’s Comments on Pintail Landfill Transfer Station

Appendix G Text of Statutes (Tab 1–Tab 14), Regulations (Tab 15–Tab 23),
and Constitutional Provisions (Tab 24).

Tab 1 Texas Health & Safety Code § 361.002(a)

Tab 2 Texas Health & Safety Code § 361.061

Tab 3 Texas Health & Safety Code § 361.086(a)

Tab 4 Texas Health & Safety Code § 361.0861

Tab 5 Texas Health & Safety Code § 361.088

Tab 6 Texas Health & Safety Code § 361.0665

Tab 7 Texas Health & Safety Code § 361.0666

Tab 8 Texas Health & Safety Code § 361.067

Tab 9 Texas Health & Safety Code § 361.079

Tab 10 Texas Health & Safety Code § 361.0791

9
Tab 11 Texas Health & Safety Code § 361.081

Tab 12 Texas Health & Safety Code § 361.089

Tab 13 Texas Health & Safety Code § 361.321(e)

Tab 14 Texas Government Code §§ 2001.174(2)(A)-(F)

Tab 15 30 Texas Administrative Code § 50.139 (b)

Tab 16 30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.3(157)

Tab 17 30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.3 (174)

Tab 18 30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.7(a)

Tab 19 30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.9(a)

Tab 20 30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.9(b)(3)

Tab 21 30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.9(f)

Tab 22 30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.11

Tab 23 30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.13

Tab 24 Article 1, Section 19 of the Texas Constitution

10
 STATEMENT OF THE CASE

On August 16, 2013, CALH and City of Hempstead (“Plaintiffs” or

“Appellants”) timely filed Motions to Overturn the issuance of Registration No.

40259 to Pintail Landfill, LLC (“Applicant” or “Pintail”) with the Texas

Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”).1 On August 23, 2013, TCEQ’s

General Counsel requested further briefing on Motions to Overturn filed by

Plaintiffs.2 On September 11, 2013, response briefs to the Motions to Overturn

were filed by the TCEQ Public Interest Counsel, the TCEQ Executive Director,

and Pintail.3 TCEQ’s Public Interest Counsel recommended denial of the

registration because TCEQ violated its own NOD policy.4 On September 20,

2013, reply briefs were filed by Plaintiffs.5 On October 11, 2013, Plaintiffs’

Motions to Overturn were overruled by operation of law.6 Plaintiffs exhausted

administrative remedies and timely appealed the issuance of Registration No.

40259 to Travis County District Court.7 Plaintiffs filed briefs on the merits.8

1
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, Administrative Record (“AR”) Vol. 8, Item 58 and 59 (CALH’s and City’s
Motions to Overturn).
2
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 8, Item 60 (Letter from TCEQ General Counsel Requesting
Briefing).
3
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 8, Items 61, 62 and 63 (Responses to Motions to Overturn).
4
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 8, Item 61.
5
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 8, Items 64 and 65 (Replies to Responses to Motions to Overturn).
6
See R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 8, Item 66.
7
C.R. at 3 (relating to CALH); C.R. at 49 (relating to City).
8
Supp. C.R. at 3 (Supplemented February 11, 2015); Supp. C.R. at 207 (Supplemented February
11, 2015).

11
Defendants TCEQ and Pintail filed response briefs.9 Plaintiffs filed reply briefs.10

On September 3, 2013, a hearing was held on the administrative appeal in district

court.11 On September 4, 2013, the district court denied Plaintiffs’ requests for

relief, finding that it “must affirm” the decision of TCEQ’s Executive Director to

issue the registration.12 On October 6, 2013, Plaintiffs timely filed a Joint Motion

for New Trial.13 Neither TCEQ nor Pintail filed substantive responses to

Plaintiffs’ Motion for New Trial. On October 16, 2013, the district court denied

Plaintiffs’ Joint Motion for New Trial.14 On November 14, 2013 and November

18, 2013, respectively, Plaintiffs timely filed notices of appeal.15 Plaintiffs file this

Joint Appellants’ Brief to challenge the district court’s ruling.16

9
Supp. C.R. at 3 (Supplemented January 26, 2015); Supp. C.R. at 97 (Supplemented January 26,
2015).
10
C.R. at 389 (CALH Reply Brief); C.R. at 448 (City Reply Brief).
11
C.R. at 503 (Final Judgment).
12
C.R. at 503 (Final Judgment).
13
C.R. at 505 (Plaintiffs’ Joint Motion for New Trial).
14
C.R. at 674 (Order denying Plaintiffs’ Joint Motion for New Trial).
15
C.R. at 675 (CALH’s Notice of Appeal); C.R. at 678 (City’s Notice of Appeal).
16
Plaintiffs file this brief jointly, but reserve the right to file separate reply briefs in this appeal.

12
 STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT

Texas agencies, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

(“TCEQ”), are required to follow their regulations and underlying statutes. In the

case of TCEQ, these are the regulations and statutes that are designed to protect

our health and our environment. Maintaining these safeguards as they were

intended is important to the preserve Texans’ heath and natural resources. The

decisional process regarding these important issues would be significantly aided by

oral argument. Oral argument will bring clarity to the written arguments presented

by the briefs and appreciably aid the Court in its consideration of the issues and in

determining the correct result.

13
 ISSUES PRESENTED

I. Issue 1

An agency is required to follow the clear, unambiguous language of its own

regulations. TCEQ Rule 330.7(a) generally requires a permit for Municipal Solid

Waste (“MSW”) facilities, but there are specific exceptions. Rule 330.9(b)(3)

allows transfer stations that transfer 125 tons of municipal solid waste per day or

less to qualify for registration, rather than requiring a permit. Rule 330.9(f) allows

transfer stations that include materials recovery operations to qualify for

registration, but only if certain requirements set forth in the rule are met. TCEQ

issued a registration to a transfer station that includes a materials recovery facility,

but the facility does not meet the requirements of Rule 330.9(f). Did the trial court

err in its judgment upholding this registration when TCEQ failed to follow the

clear, unambiguous language of its regulations?

II. Issue 2

TCEQ rules and the Solid Waste Act generally require a permit for an MSW

facility. The permitting process provides affected persons the opportunity for

hearing. On the other hand, the registration process does not provide an

opportunity for hearing. Plaintiffs assert that TCEQ acted in violation of its

permitting requirement by utilizing a registration to authorize this Facility. Under

the permitting requirements, Plaintiffs would have had a statutory right to a hearing

14
as affected persons. Did the trial court err in its judgment denying all claims that

due process rights were violated when there was no opportunity for hearing on this

registration authorization?

III. Issue 3

The TCEQ publicly pronounced its policy regarding technical notices of

deficiency (NODs) in letters to the regulated entities, instructions to its staff

members, communications with the public, and representations to the Texas

legislature. TCEQ’s stated policy is to allow no more than two (2) NODs before

returning an MSW registration application. In this case, TCEQ allowed six (6)

NODs and two (2) extensions of time, which is far more than the two (2) NOD

limit. Did the trial court err in its judgment upholding this registration when more

than two (2) NODs were issued?

15
 STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

A. Statutory and Regulatory Framework

The Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act (the “Act”) was enacted “to safeguard

the health, welfare, and physical property of the people and to protect the

environment by controlling the management of solid waste.”17 The Act authorizes

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) to issue permits

governing the construction, operation, and maintenance of solid waste facilities.18

The Act generally requires that a person apply for and obtain a separate permit for

each solid waste facility.19

To implement its statutory authority under the Act, TCEQ promulgated rules

found in Title 30, Chapter 330 of the Texas Administrative Code (“TCEQ Rules”).

The TCEQ Rules generally require a permit for any storage, processing, or

disposal of any solid waste unless the activity is exempted from permitting

requirements and authorized through a less rigorous process.20 These less rigorous

authorization processes include registration, notification, and exemption of certain

waste management activities from permitting or registration. Consistent with its

17
Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.002(a) (West 2010).
18
Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.061(West 2010).
19
Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.086(a) (West 2010).
20
30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.7(a) (2014) (relating to “Permit Required”); 30 Tex. Admin. Code
§ 330.9(a) (2014) (relating to “Registration Required”); 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.11 (2014)
(relating to “Notification Required”); 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.13 (2014) (relating to Waste
Management Activities Exempt from Permitting, Registration, or Notification).

16
rules, the TCEQ repeatedly and habitually acknowledges its general permit

requirement.21

To obtain a solid waste permit, an applicant must show that the facility will

be designed, constructed, and operated in a manner that complies with applicable

TCEQ regulations designed to protect the public’s health, welfare, and property.22

The permitting process involves substantial opportunities for affected persons to

participate, including the opportunity to request and participate in a contested case

hearing before TCEQ.23 After the public participation process is complete,

including any contested case hearing, TCEQ decides whether to grant or deny the

permit.24 The Executive Director may not issue a permit without an opportunity

21
See C.R. at 401–02 (CALH’s Reply Brief at 12–13 (citing 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.7(a)
(2014) (relating to “Permit Required”); TCEQ Publication No. RG-469, Traditional Municipal
Solid Waste Disposal: A Guide for Local Governments (listing transfer station registration
exceptions in 330.9(b) and stating, “If none of these criteria can be met, a permit is required”);
31 Tex. Reg. 2548; 31 Tex. Reg. 2506 (“The commission adopts new §330.9, Registration
Required, to list all MSW management activities that are exempt from permitting requirements
but that still require commission approval by registration.”); TCEQ Waste Permits Division
Publication titled “Guidelines for Utilizing the Source-Separated Recycling Permit Exemption
for Municipal Solid Waste Transfer Facilities” at 1 (“What is the Source-Separated Recycling
Permit Exemption? The source-separated recycling permit exemption, described in 30 TAC
§330.9(f), allows qualifying MSW transfer facilities to operate under a registration instead of a
permit. . . . This provision to operate under a registration instead of a permit is distinct from
other provisions for registration of a transfer facility based on the population of the area served,
waste acceptance rate, and location within a permitted facility (30 TAC §330.9(b)).”).
22
30 Tex. Admin. Code Ch. 330 (2014) (TCEQ Rules for solid waste permitting program).
23
See 30 Tex. Admin. Code Ch. 330 (2014); 30 Tex. Admin. Code Ch. 39, Subch. H (2014)
(TCEQ rules setting forth the public notice requirements for permits); 30 Tex. Admin. Code Ch.
55, Subch. F (2014) (TCEQ rules for requesting a contested case hearing on permit applications).
24
Tex. Health and Safety Code Ann. § 361.089 (West Supp. 2013).

17
for hearing and a final decision from the TCEQ commissioners unless the

application is not opposed by an affected person.25

The Act provides certain narrow exceptions to the general permitting

requirement, which are reflected in the TCEQ Rules. Specifically, the Act allows

certain types of facilities to be authorized by a mere registration, rather than by a

permit.26 An applicant seeking authorization by registration must file an

application, but unlike the permitting process, the registration process does not

include an opportunity for a contested case hearing. Moreover, unlike permit

approval, the Executive Director has exclusive authority to review and approve

registrations without a vote by TCEQ commissioners.27

In accordance with the Act’s provisions, TCEQ Rule 330.9 allows

authorization of certain specific and precisely defined types of facilities pursuant to

a registration, rather than a permit.28 Rule 330.9 was expressly promulgated “to

list all those MSW management activities that are exempt from permitting

requirements but that still require commission approval by registration.”29 Thus,

an applicant for a registration must be seeking approval for one of the specific

types of facilities specified in Rule 330.9 and must meet the applicable

requirements of 330.9 for that particular type of waste management activity.
25
Tex. Water Code Ann. § 5.122 (West 2008).
26
Tex. Health and Safety Code Ann. §§ 361.0861, 361.111 (West 2010).
27
30 Tex. Admin. Code § 50.139(b) (2014).
28
30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.9 (2014).
29
31 Tex. Reg. 2502 (March 24, 2006), at 2506 (emphasis added).

18
 B. The Proposed Solid Waste Complex

Pintail Landfill, LLC (“Applicant” or “Pintail”) wishes to construct and

operate a large solid waste complex within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the

city of Hempstead.30 The complex would consist of two solid waste facilities: 1) a

223-acre, 410-foot high landfill (the “Landfill”); and 2) a transfer station/material

recovery facility to be located at the same site as the Landfill.31 This appeal

pertains to the transfer station/material recovery facility, but information is

provided below relating to the larger proposed Landfill for context.

C. The Pending Landfill Permit Application

The Applicant has filed an application for a Type I municipal solid waste

(“MSW”) permit to authorize construction and operation of the proposed

Landfill.32 The Applicant filed Parts I and II of the Landfill application on July 22,

2011, and filed Parts III and IV of the Landfill application on January 20, 2012.33

The Landfill is proposed to be constructed and operated on top of the sandy

recharge zone of the regional aquifer that serves as the sole source of drinking

water for the citizens of the city of Hempstead and other nearby residents.34

30
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 1, Item 1, (Registration Application for MSW Facility), at p. I-1.
31
See generally R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 1, Item 1 (Registration Application Transmittal
Letter), p. 2; AR Vol. 1, Item 1 (Registration Application), at p. I-1.
32
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 7, Item 53, p. 5.
33
APPENDIX E: R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 67, p. 4-10 (Waller County’s Request for
Determination and Denial of Permit Application and Registration Application).
34
APPENDIX F: R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 67, p. 2 (CALH’s Comments on Pintail Landfill
Transfer Station).

19
Accordingly, the proposed Landfill has generated considerable public concern and

opposition, having received 1,302 hearing requests at the time CALH filed its reply

to responses to its motion to overturn this registration.35

A number of commenters, including attorneys for Waller County, asked

TCEQ to uphold Waller County Ordinance 2001-001, which prohibits developing

a landfill at this location.36 These commenters pointed out that the proposed

landfill did not qualify for the statutory grandfathering provision because only

Parts I and II, which requested only a land use determination rather than an actual

permit, had been filed at the time the ordinance was passed, and Parts I through IV

are required for a landfill application seeking a permit.37 Furthermore, commenters

asserted that the transfer station/materials recovery registration application did not

qualify the proposed landfill for the statutory grandfathering provision because the

registration application was incomplete at the time of final passage of the

ordinance on August 26, 2011.38 The proposed landfill is currently the subject of a

contested case hearing.

D. The Registration

35
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 8, Item 65 (CALH’s Reply to Responses to MTO’s).
36
See e.g., APPENDIX E: R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 67 (Waller County’s Request for
Determination and Denial of Permit Application and Registration Application).
37
APPENDIX E: R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 67, p. 4-10 (Waller County’s Request for
Determination and Denial of Permit Application and Registration Application).
38
APPENDIX E: R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 67, pp. 1-4, 9 (Waller County’s Request for
Determination and Denial of Permit Application and Registration Application).

20
 On August 2, 2011, the Applicant filed its application for MSW Facility

Registration No. 40259 (the “Registration Application”), requesting authority to

operate a transfer station/materials recovery facility (the “Facility”).39 On the first

page of its Registration Application, the Applicant explains that the Facility will

transfer and recycle waste at the same location as the proposed Landfill in order to

initiate a market for incoming waste materials.40 Claiming authority under

Rule 330.9(b)(3), the Applicant improperly utilized the registration process to

authorize its transfer station/materials recovery facility.41 Rule 330.9(b)(3) allows

registration for transfer station facilities that transfer less than 125 tons of waste or

less per day. Rule 330.9(b)(3) expressly applies only to transfer station facilities

only, and does not authorize the registration of materials recovery, waste

separation, or recycling facilities.42

Importantly, Applicant did not claim to use Rule 330.9(f) to authorize its

registration. That rule does apply to transfer stations that include materials

recovery operations, such as the facility proposed by the Applicant. The rule

requires “any new MSW Type V transfer station that includes a materials recovery

operation” to meet two qualifications: (1) it must recover at least ten percent of the

waste stream for recycling, and (2) it must send the remaining waste to a landfill
39
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 1, Item 1, (Registration Application for MSW Facility).
40
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 1, Item 1, (Registration Application for MSW Facility).
41
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 1, Item 1, p. 2 (Registration Application for MSW Facility).
42
The terms “materials recovery facility,” “recycling facility,” and “waste separation facility”
are used interchangeably in TCEQ rules. See 30 Tex. Admin. Code 330.3(174).

21
facility within 50 miles (the so-called “10/50 requirement”).43 It is undisputed that

Applicant did not meet the 10/50 requirement. In Part II of the Registration

Application, Applicant openly fails to meet the requirement, stating (1) that

materials will be recovered at a rate not to interfere with proper operations of the

facility, and (2) that waste materials will be transported to a landfill within 100

miles.44

During TCEQ’s registration review process, CALH commented that

registration was inappropriate for this facility because the recycling activities

exceeded those authorized for registration, and therefore permitting was required.45

E. TCEQ’s Extended Review of the Registration

During review of the Registration Application, the TCEQ allowed more than

two (2) technical notices of deficiency (“NODs”) and afforded multiple extensions

of time for the Applicant to respond to the deficiencies.46 This conduct violated

TCEQ’s own repeatedly published policies.47 The six NOD’s and two letters

granting extensions were mailed to Pintail on August 15, 2011 (NOD), October 27,

43
30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.9(f) (2014).
44
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 1, Item 1, p. II-3 (Registration Application) (“The facility will
recover recyclable materials at a rate not to interfere with proper operations of the facility. Non-
recyclable materials will be transported to a properly permitted Type I or Type IV landfill that is
located within 100 miles of the proposed facility.”).
45
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 9, Item 67, pp. 3-6 (CALH’s Comments submitted by Hance
Scarborough, LLP).
46
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 8, Item 61, p. 3-4 (Office of Public Interest Counsel’s Response to
Motions to Overturn).
47
Id.

22
2011 (NOD), December 2, 2011 (letter granting extension), February 17, 2012

(NOD), April 12, 2012 (NOD), May 8, 2012 (letter granting extension), June 25,

2012 (NOD), and August 16, 2012 (NOD).48 Notably, the second NOD from the

TCEQ dated October 27, 2011 stated,

Failure to submit a satisfactory response to each of the noted
deficiencies may result in the application being returned due to
technical deficiencies. Please note we do not anticipate granting an
extension of time to fulfill this request. Also, please be aware that a
third notice of technical deficiency will not be issued.49

The TCEQ’s policy banning more than two NOD’s was also published in its TCEQ

Sunset Evaluation Report dated October 2009.50 The policy is also described in

TCEQ’s Municipal Solid Waste (“MSW”) Permit Application Review Process

document for its staff.51 Finally, the policy specifically applicable to a registration

request is dictated to TCEQ staff as follows:

Review the second NOD response. If the application still has
significant deficiencies, prepare a letter for the Section Manager’s
signature returning the application with an explanation why the
application is being returned. If the deficiencies are very minor in
nature, work with the applicant/consultant to resolve them. There are
no third NODs.52

48
See R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Index, Items 3, 13, 16, 22, 24, 27, 32, and 39.
49
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 2, Item 13 (NOD Letter and Policy Notice to Pintail).
50
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 8, Item 61, p. 3–4 (citing TCEQ Sunset Self-Evaluation Report,
Sec. VII, p. 248).
51
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 8, Item 59, p. 7 (“There will be no 3rd NOD…” and only a few
minor deficiencies may be addressed within one week.).
52
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 8, Item 65, Exhibit 1, p. 3 of “Registration Application
Procedures” document (CALH’s Reply to Responses to MTO’s).

23
 As a result of the numerous NOD’s and deficiencies in the Registration

Application, Pintail had eleven (11) different versions of the application.53 These

versions are dated August 1, 2011, August 8, 2011, August 29, 2011; November

16, 2011; January 18, 2012; March 15, 2012; May 1, 2012; May 31, 2012; July 20,

2012; September 14, 2012, and October 18, 2012.54 Despite the excessive number

of NOD’s, the Registration was issued by the Executive Director on July 23,

2013.55

F. Citizens Against the Landfill in Hempstead (“CALH”).

Citizens Against the Landfill in Hempstead (CALH)56 is an organization

created to protest the Applicant’s proposed MSW complex near Hempstead, Texas,

and to inform the public about the issues related to the proposed MSW facilities.

CALH has over 400 members comprised of Waller County landowners, residents,

business owners, businesses, and many other affected parties who have legitimate

reasons to oppose the proposed MSW complex. Several of CALH’s members own

land, reside, and work adjacent to and near the proposed facility site, and would be

affected in a manner distinct from members of the general public. Plaintiff

Michael McCall is a resident of Waller County and lives less than a mile from the

53
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 7, Item 55, p. 6 (MSW Registration No. 40259).
54
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 7, Item 55, p. 6 (MSW Registration No. 40259).
55
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 7, Item 55, p. 1 (MSW Registration No. 40259 (referring to the
facility as a Type V Transfer Station, but authorizing registrant to “store and process wastes, and
to recycle recovered materials…”)).
56
For purposes of this document, CALH also includes Appellants Michael McCall and Wayne
Knox.

24
proposed site of the Landfill. Plaintiff Wayne Knox is a resident of Waller County

who owns and operates Pipe and Valve. Pipe and Valve is located in Waller

County directly across from the proposed Facility.

G. The City of Hempstead.

The City of Hempstead (the “City”) is a home rule municipality with a

growing and diverse population of approximately 5,800 residents located in

northern Waller County, Texas. The proposed landfill complex would be located

within the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and very near the important junction

of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 290, which serves as the gateway into the

City. The City supplies water to its residents from wells located near the proposed

landfill complex.

25
 SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

This Court has held that rules must be followed. When an agency fails to

follow the clear, unambiguous language of its own regulation, the court must

reverse the agency’s action. TCEQ did not follow its rules when it issued a

registration to this Facility, so the issuance must be reversed. At least four rules

were broken:57

1) 30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.9(b)(3). This registration rule
expressly applies only to transfer stations, and TCEQ broke this rule by
applying it to a materials recovery, or recycling, facility.

2) 30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.9(f). This registration rule applies to
transfer stations with materials recovery operations (i.e. this Facility).
TCEQ broke this rule by failing to apply it. It was not claimed as authority
for registration and its requirements (the “10/50 requirements”) were
ignored.

3) 30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.3(157). This rule defines a transfer
station as a facility that transfers waste and does nothing more. TCEQ broke
this rule by treating a materials recovery facility as a transfer station.

4) 30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.3(174). This rule defines materials
recovery, waste separation, and recycling facilities. TCEQ broke this rule
by treating a materials recovery facility as a transfer station.

If a facility does not qualify for registration (or any other permitting

exemption), the law requires a permit and allows affected persons to request a

57
Five rules were broken if Rule 330.7(a) is counted, which generally requires a permit. This
rule states: “Except as provided in §§330.9, 330.11, 330.13, or 330.25 of this title (relating to
Registration Required; Notification Required; Waste Management Activities Exempt from
Permitting, Registration, or Notification; and Relationship with County Licensing System), no
person may cause, suffer, allow, or permit any activity of storage, processing, removal, or
disposal of any solid waste unless such activity is authorized by a permit or other authorization
from the commission.”

26
hearing. By issuing this registration, TCEQ eviscerated the permit requirement of

its rules. TCEQ impermissibly expanded the scope of 330.9(b), which expressly

applies only to “transfer station facilities.” A transfer station is not a materials

recovery or recycling facility. Therefore, TCEQ failed to follow the plain

language of its own rules. Accordingly, reversal is required.

The permitting process is important because it provides affected persons an

opportunity for contested case hearing. The registration process does not. The

opportunity for hearing invokes obligatory statutory protections that provide a

meaningful evidentiary hearing for affected persons. Plaintiffs affected by the

improperly registered solid waste facility and its larger landfill counterpart were

denied their opportunity for hearing by this registration issuance. Because a permit

was required and the permitting process provides opportunity for a hearing, the

affected persons were denied their rights to due process. Accordingly, issuance of

the registration should be reversed.

Finally, the registration should be reversed because of excessive Notices of

Deficiency (“NOD’s”). The TCEQ arbitrarily disregarded its publicly pronounced

policy that only two NOD’s are issued to applicants. According to the TCEQ own

Public Interest Counsel, the public must have confidence that the TCEQ applies its

stated policies, including its two NOD policy, in a uniform manner. The TCEQ

repeatedly expressed its NOD policy to the legislature, its staff, applicants, and

27
affected persons. The policy expressed is clear. Applications are required to be

returned after unsuccessful resolution of two (2) NOD’s. The TCEQ acted

arbitrarily and unreasonably violated its publicly pronounced NOD policy when it

issued six (6) NODs and two (2) extensions of time to respond to Applicant.

Therefore, issuance of the registration should be reversed.

28
 ARGUMENT

I. THE REGISTRATION MUST BE REVERSED BECAUSE TCEQ’S
APPROVAL OF APPLICANT’S REGISTRATION FAILED TO
FOLLOW THE CLEAR, UNAMBIGUOUS LANGUAGE OF ITS
REGULATIONS.

Issuance of this registration must be reversed because this Facility is not just

a transfer station. Rule 330(b)(3) only allows registration for transfer station

facilities that transfer less than 125 tons of waste per day. This Facility is not a

transfer station—it is a transfer station with a materials recovery operation.

Therefore, the 10/50 requirements of Rule 330.9(f) apply. TCEQ and Applicant,

however, ignored this rule and its requirements. As discussed further below, TCEQ

failed to follow the clear, unambiguous language of at least four of its regulations

when it improperly issued a registration for Applicant’s transfer station/materials

recovery facility (the “Facility”) utilizing Rule 330.9(b)(3).58 Therefore, the Court

must reverse the agency’s action as arbitrary and capricious.59

Additionally, even if a rule is ambiguous or leaves room for policy

determinations, a court may not defer to an agency’s interpretation that is plainly

erroneous or inconsistent with the regulation or its underlying statutes.60 TCEQ’s

unauthorized interpretation of its rules is plainly erroneous and inconsistent with

58
See 30 Tex. Admin. Code §§330.9(f), 330.9(b)(3), 330.3(157), and 330.3(174) (2010).
59
PUC v. Gulf States Utilities Co., 809 S.W.2d 201, 207 (Tex. 1991); CenterPoint Energy
Houston Elec., LLC v. PUC, 408 S.W.3d 910, 917 (Tex. App.—Austin 2013, pet. denied).
60
Id.

29
the underlying statute because it creates a dangerous loophole that eviscerates the

permitting requirement of the Solid Waste Act and TCEQ Rules. Accordingly, the

registration of this Facility must be reversed.

A. Standard of Review

In this appeal brought under Texas Health and Safety Code § 361.321(a), the

issue is whether the action of TCEQ was invalid, arbitrary, or unreasonable.61 The

Third Court of Appeals specifically addressed this standard of review in Smith v.

Houston Chemical Services, Inc., opining that the issue of whether the action is

invalid, arbitrary, or unreasonable was intended to incorporate the provisions of

Administrative Procedures Act (“APA”), Texas Government Code

§ 2001.174(2)(A)–(F).62 In accordance with these provisions, a reviewing court

shall reverse or remand the case for further proceedings if substantial rights of the

appellant have been prejudiced because the administrative findings, inferences,

conclusions, or decisions are:

(A) in violation of a constitutional or statutory provision;

(B) in excess of the agency's statutory authority;

(C) made through unlawful procedure;

(D) affected by other error of law;

(E) not reasonably supported by substantial evidence considering the

61
Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.321(e) (West 2010).
62
872 S.W.2d 252, 257 n 2 (Tex. App.—Austin 1994, writ denied).

30
 reliable and probative evidence in the record as a whole; or

(F) arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly
unwarranted exercise of discretion.63

This case raises a question of rule construction, which courts review de

novo.64 Courts interpret administrative rules, like statutes, under traditional

principles of statutory construction.65 When an agency fails to follow the clear,

unambiguous language of its own regulation, the court must reverse the agency’s

action as arbitrary and capricious.66 Furthermore, the agency’s decision is

reversible upon a finding of any errors listed in Texas Government Code

§ 2001.174(2)(A)–(F).67

B. TCEQ’s Spontaneous Interpretation of 30 Texas Administrative
Code §§ 330.9(f) and 330.9(b)(3).

The first public pronouncement of TCEQ’s interpretation of 330.9(b)(3) was

at the hearing on this appeal in district court. At that hearing, the district court

asked the Applicant why it claimed it did not need to register under Rule 330.9(f)

and satisfy the 10/50 requirements. For the first time, the Applicant presented a

new interpretation of Rule 330.9(f) and 330.9(b)(3) that was not asserted at the

agency level, was not asserted in briefing, and flew in the face of TCEQ definitions

63
Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(A)–(F) (West 2008).
64
CenterPoint, 408 S.W.3d at 916.
65
Id.
66
Gulf States Utilities, 809 S.W.2d at 207; CenterPoint, 408 S.W.3d at 917.
67
United Copper v. Grissom, 17 S.W.3d 797, 801 (Tex. App.—Austin 2000, pet. dism’d).

31
and the plain language of both rules.68 Even though 330.9(f) expressly applies to

any transfer station that includes materials recovery operations, Applicant argued

that the 10/50 requirements of 330.9(f) only apply to transfer stations that include

material recovery operations if the facility exceeds the volume limitation of 125

tons of waste per day that is imposed by Rule 330.9(b)(3). As discussed later, this

reading plainly contradicts the rules.

At the same hearing, the court asked TCEQ’s attorneys to explain a guidance

document appearing to apply the requirements of Rule 330.9(f) to transfer stations

with material recovery operations. After a brief deliberation among the TCEQ

attorneys, they deferred to the Applicant’s interpretation of the rules. Thus, also

for the first time, TCEQ attorneys adopted the new interpretation that Rule 330.9(f)

only applies to transfer stations that include a material recovery operation if the

facility exceeds the waste volume limitation set forth in Rule 330.9(b)(3).

As discussed below, Applicant and TCEQ’s reading of the rules disregards

their plain language and therefore is impermissible. Furthermore, Applicant and

TCEQ’s position ignores relevant TCEQ guidance on the very rule at issue –

330.9(f). Also as discussed below, TCEQ’s own guidance document69 emphasizes

that, to receive a registration, any transfer station that includes a materials recovery

68
See C.R. at 512–14 (Plaintiff’s Joint Motion for New Trial at 8–10).
69
See APPENDIX D: TCEQ Waste Permits Division Publication titled “Guidelines for
Utilizing the Source-Separated Recycling Permit Exemption for Municipal Solid Waste Transfer
Facilities.”

32
facility must meet the 10/50 rule requirements set forth in Rule 330.9(f). The

guidance document further explains that this requirement is distinct from other

provisions for registration in Rule 330.9(b).70

C. TCEQ Failed to Follow the Clear, Unambiguous Language of Its
Regulations.

When an agency fails to follow the clear, unambiguous language of its own

regulation, the court must reverse the agency’s action as arbitrary and capricious.71

A rule’s plain language must be followed unless it is ambiguous.72 If a rule is

ambiguous or leaves room for policy determinations, a court may not defer to an

agency’s interpretation that is plainly erroneous or inconsistent with the regulation

or its underlying statutes.73

A court construes an administrative rule in the same manner it construes a

statute.74 The court’s primary objective is to give effect to the agency’s intent.75

As the Texas Supreme Court has explained, other than the plain language of the

rule itself, the “best source” of an agency’s intent is found in the Texas Register,

where the agency publishes its notice of the proposed rule and its “explanation of

70
Id.
71
Gulf States Utilities, 809 S.W.2d at 207 (Tex. 1991); CenterPoint, 408 S.W.3d at 917.
72
CenterPoint, 408 S.W.3d at 916.
73
Id.
74
Rodriguez v. Service Lloyds Ins. Co., 997 S.W.2d 248, 254 (Tex. 1999); SWEPI, LP v.
Railroad Comm’n, 314 S.W. 3d 253, 260 (Tex. App. –Austin 2010, pet. denied); Railroad
Comm’n of Texas v. Home Transp. Co., 670 S.W.2d 319, 325 (Tex. App. –Austin 1984, no writ).
75
Rodriguez, 997 S.W.2d at 254 (Tex. 1999); CenterPoint, 408 S.W.3d at 917; SWEPI, 314
S.W.3d at 260; Home Transp. Co., 670 S.W.2d at 325.

33
the rule.”76 Here, in the notice published in the Texas Register, TCEQ explained

that Rule 330.9 was adopted “to list all those MSW management activities that are

exempt from permitting requirements but that still require commission approval by

registration.”77

TCEQ failed to follow the clear, unambiguous language of at least four of its

regulations when it issued a registration for the Facility. First, TCEQ failed to

follow Rule 330.9(b)(3), the provision under which Applicant claimed authority

for registration. This rule expressly applies only to transfer station facilities.

Second, TCEQ failed to follow Rule 330.9(f), which requires that any transfer

stations facilities with materials recovery operations must meet the 10/50

requirements. It is undisputed that the Facility is a transfer station with materials

recovery operations, and that the 10/50 requirements were not met. Third, TCEQ

failed to follow the clear, unambiguous language of its own definitions. TCEQ

rules specifically define both types of facilities at issue, transfer stations and waste

separation/recycling facilities (also referred to as a materials recovery facilities),

and these facilities engage in different waste management activities. Because

TCEQ failed to follow the plain language of its rules, the registration of this

Facility must be reversed.

76
Rodriguez, 997 S.W.2d at 254.
77
APPENDIX C: 31 Tex. Reg. 2502 (March 24, 2006), at 2506 (emphasis added).

34
 1. TCEQ Failed to Follow the Clear, Unambiguous Language
of 30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.9(b)(3).

TCEQ and Applicant have improperly claimed authority to register the

Facility under Rule 330.9(b)(3), which applies only to transfer station facilities that

transfer less than 125 tons of waste per day. Applying this rule to other types of

facilities in addition to transfer stations controverts the plain language of the Rule

itself. Rule 330.9(b)(3) expressly applies to “transfer station facilities,” not

recycling facilities or any other types of waste management facilities.78 The rule

states that “[a] registration is required for an MSW transfer station facility that is

used in the transfer of MSW to a solid waste processing or disposal facility….”79

As discussed below, transfer station facilities and recycling facilities are separately

defined in TCEQ regulations, each involing distinct waste management activities.

TCEQ and reviewing courts are bound to construe these terms by their regulatory

definitions only.80 Because TCEQ failed to follow the clear, unambiguous

language of its own regulation, the Court must reverse the agency’s action as

arbitrary and capricious.

78
30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.9(b) (2014).
79
30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.9(b) (2014).
80
Tex. Dept. of Transp. V. Needham, 82 S.W.3d 314, 318 (Tex. 2002) (“But if a statute defines a
term, a court is bound to construe that term by its statutory definition only.”) (emphasis added);
see also TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. v. Combs, 340 S.W.3d 432, 439 (Tex. 2011) (“If a statute
… assigns a particular meaning to a term, we are bound by the statutory usage.”); id. at 438
(“We interpret administrative rules, like statutes, under traditional principles of statutory
construction.”); Rodriguez, 997 S.W.2d at 254 (“We construe administrative rules, which have
the same force as statutes, in the same manner as statutes.”).

35
 2. TCEQ Failed to Follow the Clear, Unambiguous Language
of 30 Texas Administrative Code § 330.9(f).

TCEQ failed to follow Rule 330.9(f), which requires any new MSW Type V

transfer station that includes a materials recovery operation to meet two

qualifications: (1) it must recover at least ten percent of the waste stream for

recycling, and (2) it must send the waste to a landfill within 50 miles (the so-called

“10/50 requirement”). It is undisputed that the Facility is not merely a transfer

station facility, but includes a material recover operation.81 Thus, the requirements

of Rule 330.9(f) expressly apply to this Facility because they apply to “any new

MSW Type V transfer station that includes a material recovery operation.”82

Even though this rule fits like a glove, the Applicant did not meet its

requirements. Indeed, in Part II of Applicant’s Registration Application, Applicant

openly states (1) that materials will be recovered at a rate not to interfere with

proper operations of the facility, and (2) that waste materials will be transported to

a landfill within 100 miles.83 This fails to meet the applicable 10/50 requirements,

and therefore, the registration must be reversed.

As previously discussed, TCEQ contended for the first time in hearing

before the district court that the requirements of 330.9(f) were inapplicable to this
81
C.R. at 509 (Plaintiff’s Joint Motion for New Trial, Note 10 and accompanying text).
82
30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.9(f) (2014) (emphasis added).
83
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 1, Item 1, p. II-3 (Registration Application) (“The facility will
recover recyclable materials at a rate not to interfere with proper operations of the facility. Non-
recyclable materials will be transported to a properly permitted Type I or Type IV landfill that is
located within 100 miles of the proposed facility.”).

36
Facility. This assertion fails because it conflicts with the plain language of the

rule, which expressly applies to “any” Type V transfer station that includes a

material recovery operation.

Furthermore, this assertion is surprising because TCEQ’s published

guidance on Rule 330.9(f)84 emphasizes that, to receive a registration, any transfer

station that includes a materials recovery facility must meet the 10/50 rule

requirements set forth in Rule 330.9(f). The guidance document explains that Rule

330.9(f) is distinct from other provisions for registration of a transfer facility

based on the population of the area served, waste acceptance rate, and location

within a permitted facility (30 TAC §330.9(b)).”85 Further, the guidance document

does not suggest that applicants wishing to operate a materials recovery facility

may use Rule 330.9(b) if they self-impose waste acceptance limitations. On the

contrary, Rule 330.9(f) expressly applies to “any … station that includes a material

recovery operation,”86 regardless of waste acceptance rates.

3. TCEQ Failed to Follow the Clear, Unambiguous Language
of its Regulations Defining Transfer Station and Waste
Separation/Recycling Facility.

Registration of this Facility violates the clear, unambiguous language of

Rules 330.3(157) and 330.3(174), which define transfer station and waste
84
See APPENDIX D: TCEQ Waste Permits Division Publication titled “Guidelines for
Utilizing the Source-Separated Recycling Permit Exemption for Municipal Solid Waste Transfer
Facilities.”
85
Id.
86
30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.9(f) (2014).

37
separation/recycling facilities, respectively.87 When an agency’s rules expressly

define a term, a court is bound to construe the term by that regulatory definition

only.88 The term “transfer station” in Rule 330.9(b) cannot include a material

recovery facility, because that would be inconsistent with the express definitions of

a “transfer station” and “material recovery facility” set forth in the TCEQ’s own

rules.

The term “transfer station” is expressly defined in the TCEQ rules as “[a]

facility used for transferring solid waste from collection vehicles to long haul

vehicles….”89 That definition is not ambiguous, and it plainly does not include a

“material recovery facility,” which is also expressly defined in the rules and is a

completely different kind of facility – i.e., one where “recyclable materials are

removed from the waste stream” for recycling.90 Moreover, since TCEQ expressly

provided different definitions for the term “transfer station” and the term “material

87
30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.3(157) (“Transfer station—A facility used for transferring solid
waste from collection vehicles to long-haul vehicles (one transportation unit to another
transportation unit).”); 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.3(174) (“Waste-separation/recycling facility-
-A facility, sometimes referred to as a material recovery facility, in which recyclable materials
are removed from the waste stream for transport off-site for reuse, recycling, or other beneficial
use.”)
88
Tex. Dept. of Transp. V. Needham, 82 S.W.3d 314, 318 (Tex. 2002) (“But if a statute defines a
term, a court is bound to construe that term by its statutory definition only.”) (emphasis added);
see also TGS-NOPEC Geophysical, 340 S.W.3d at 439 (“If a statute … assigns a particular
meaning to a term, we are bound by the statutory usage.”); id. at 438 (“We interpret
administrative rules, like statutes, under traditional principles of statutory construction.”);
Rodriguez, 997 S.W.2d at 254 (“We construe administrative rules, which have the same force as
statutes, in the same manner as statutes.”).
89
30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.3(157) (2014) (emphasis added).
90
Id. § 330.3(174) (emphasis added).

38
recovery facility,” the Court must presume that the agency intended there to be a

meaningful difference between the two terms.91 In short, under the plain language

of the TCEQ rules, the term “transfer station” as used in Rule 330.9(b) means a

transfer station, and nothing more. It does not mean a transfer station and a

material recovery facility.

D. A Loophole Big Enough to Drive a Truck Through: Even if the
Regulations Were Ambiguous, TCEQ’s Interpretation Would Not
Be Entitled to Deference Because it is Plainly Erroneous or
Inconsistent with the Regulation or its Underlying Statutes.

Even if the regulations were ambiguous, the Facility registration must be

reversed because TCEQ’s interpretation of §330.9(b)(3) is plainly erroneous and

inconsistent with the regulation or its underlying statutes.92 TCEQ’s interpretation

of 330.9(b)(3) is plainly erroneous because it leads to an absurd result. Reading

this rule to allow activities beyond the stated “transfer” activities would eviscerate

the Act and TCEQ Rules’ permitting requirement for many MSW storage,

processing, and disposal facilities. Indeed, under TCEQ’s impromptu

interpretation, so long as a facility called itself a “transfer station” and transferred

less than 125 tons per day of MSW, it would be able to perform any other MSW

91
See Moore v. State, 739 S.W.2d 347, 349 (Tex. Crim. App. 1987). Also, there is certainly
nothing in the TCEQ rules that would support any suggestion that the term “transfer station” is
an umbrella term encompassing various kinds of facilities, like, for example, the term “Type V
Facility.”
92
Gulf States, 809 S.W.2d at 207; CenterPoint, 408 S.W.3d at 917 (Tex. App.—Austin 2013,
pet. denied) (holding that if a rule is ambiguous or leaves room for policy determinations, a court
may not defer to an agency’s interpretation that is plainly erroneous or inconsistent with the
regulation or its underlying statutes.).

39
waste management activities at that facility, including long-term storage,

processing activities such as recycling, and even land disposal. This cannot be the

state of law, and is plainly erroneous.

As discussed at length above, TCEQ’s interpretation is inconsistent with its

regulations. Furthermore, the interpretation is also inconsistent with the Act. The

stated purpose of the Act is “to safeguard the health, welfare, and physical property

of the people and to protect the environment by controlling the management of

solid waste.”93 The Act authorizes TCEQ to issue permits governing the

construction, operation, and maintenance of solid waste facilities,94 and the Act

generally requires that a person apply for and obtain a separate permit for each

solid waste facility.95 Furthermore, the Act provides certain specific exceptions to

the general permitting requirement, which are reflected in the TCEQ Rules (as

discussed above). Specifically, the Act allows certain types of facilities to be

authorized by a mere registration, rather than by a permit.96 The TCEQ’s

interpretation is inconsistent with the Act because it would result in registration of

solid waste management activities that should require a permit under the Act.

II. THE TCEQ DENIED AFFECTED PERSONS DUE PROCESS BY
AUTHORIZING THE FACILITY THROUGH REGISTRATION
RATHER THAN A PERMIT.

93
Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.002(a) (West 2010).
94
Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.061 (West 2010).
95
Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.086(a) (West 2010).
96
Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. §§ 361.0861, 361.111 (West 2010).

40
 Circumventing the permitting requirements of the Act and the TCEQ Rules

is not harmless error because it denies affected persons due process in the form of a

contested case hearing.97 CALH, the City, and other affected persons, were

entitled to a contested case hearing prior to authorization of this Facility. This

Facility is actually part of the proposed Landfill that has not been permitted, and

which is the subject of an ongoing contested case hearing. This registration

improperly denied these requestors their opportunity for hearing on the storage and

recycling component of the larger Landfill facility.

No one has disputed CALH or the City’s standing, and each is a party in the

ongoing contested case hearing for the Pintail Landfill at the same location as this

Facility. CALH members and City of Hempstead have property interests that

would be affected by the proposed facility. For example, CALH has members that

reside adjacent to the proposed location and rely on water wells as their sole source

of domestic water, and the City supplies water to its residents from wells located

near the Facility. The legislature has determined that a contested case hearing is

the process that is due to protect the property interests of affected persons and has

codified the requirements in the Health and Safety Code.98 Where there is a

97
Article 1, Section 19 of the Texas Constitution (due process).
98
See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. §§ 361.088, 361.0665, 361.0666, 361.067, 361.079,
361.0791, and 361.081 (relating to various application notice requirements, published notice
requirements, mailed notice requirements, hearing notice requirements, and contested case
hearing requirements for MSW permit applications).

41
statutory right to a hearing and a right to a hearing under applicable rules, denial of

the hearing is a violation of procedural due process.99

CALH and the City’s interests should have been afforded the protection of

the permitting process. The permitting process, unlike the registration process,

triggers statutorily granted due process rights to notice and a contested case

hearing by virtue of the Texas Health and Safety Code.100 Here, the issuance of a

registration when a permit was required denied members of CALH, the City, and

all other affected persons their right to notice and a contested case hearing, as

required under the Health and Safety Code for MSW permit applications.101

III. THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE REVERSED BECAUSE TCEQ
ALLOWED AN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF NOTICES OF
DEFICIENCY WELL BEYOND ITS PUBLICLY PRONOUNCED
POLICY.

The TCEQ failed to follow its publicly stated policy controlling Notice of

Deficiency (“NOD”) procedures. A NOD is sent by TCEQ to notify applicants of

deficiencies in their applications and allows them to submit additional information

to address the deficiencies. TCEQ publicly represented that they employ a limit of

99
County of Dallas v. Wiland, 216 S.W.3d 344, 347 (Tex. 2007) (holding that “the deputies were
discharged without the hearing before the civil service commission promised by system rules to
determine whether just cause existed, and thus they were denied procedural due process.”)
(emphasis added).
100
See Tex. Health & Safety Code §§ 361.088, 361.0665, 361.0666, 361.067, 361.079,
361.0791, and 361.081 (relating to various application notice requirements, published notice
requirements, mailed notice requirements, hearing notice requirements, and contested case
hearing requirements for MSW permit applications).
101
See id.

42
two NOD’s. TCEQ should follow its own public policy pronouncements. Even

TCEQ’s own Public Interest Counsel agrees, stating “the public must have

confidence that the TCEQ applies its stated policies, including the two NOD

policy, to all applicants in a uniform manner.”102

This Registration Application should have been returned to Pintail because

excessive Technical Notices of Deficiency (NOD’s) were allowed in violation of

clearly established TCEQ Policy. During the review, Pintail was afforded at least

six (6) separate NOD’s and two (2) extensions of time to respond to the NOD’s

from the TCEQ.103 This is in direct conflict with the TCEQ’s previous warnings to

Pintail and the TCEQ policies outlined in the MSW registration process

description, which is located in the TCEQ Sunset Evaluation Report. In its First

Technical NOD dated October 27, 2011, the TCEQ flatly warned Pintail that the

TCEQ did not “anticipate granting an extension of time to fulfill this request,” and

that a “third notice of technical deficiency will not be issued.”104 The public

should be entitled to rely on the clear and unambiguous policies and directives of

the TCEQ when the TCEQ evaluates applications that could have catastrophic

effects on the health, safety, and financial well being of affected parties.

102
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 8, Item 61, p. 3–4 (Office of Public Interest Counsel’s Response
to MTO).
103
See R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Index, Items 3, 13, 16, 22, 24, 27, 32, and 39.
104
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 2, Item 13 (NOD Letter and Policy Notice to Pintail).

43
 Instead, Pintail got at least eleven (11) bites at the apple to supply required

information and respond to the numerous concerns outlined by the TCEQ staff

regarding this “transfer station” and recycling facility.105 As stated in the MSW

Registration No. 40259 itself, the registration request was submitted on August 1,

2011, and ten (10) additional revisions were submitted on August 8, 2011, August

29, 2011; November 16, 2011; January 18, 2012; March 15, 2012; May 1, 2012;

May 31, 2012; July 20, 2012; September 14, 2012, and October 18, 2012.

In the initial Technical NOD106 dated October 27, 2011, the TCEQ reviewer

of the Registration Application wrote, “we do not anticipate granting an extension

of time to fulfill this request. Also, please be aware a third notice of technical

deficiency will not be issued.” (emphasis added).107 The reviewer also stated in

the same correspondence that “Failure to submit a satisfactory response to each of

the noted deficiencies may result in the application being returned due to technical

deficiencies.” These statements by staff are consistent with TCEQ policies, as

recently expressed in its TCEQ Sunset Evaluation Report.108 As stated in the

report, which contains a flowchart of the MSW registration review process,

105
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 7, Item 55, p. 6 (MSW Registration No. 40259).
106
Although this Technical NOD was labeled the First Technical NOD, there was actually
correspondence from the TCEQ dated August 15, 2011 that was labeled “Preliminary Review”
asking for information to be added to the original registration request.
107
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 2, Item 13 (NOD Letter and Policy Notice to Pintail).
108
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 8, Item 61, p. 3–4 (citing TCEQ Sunset Self-Evaluation Report,
Sec. VII, P. 248).

44
registration requests are returned to the applicant after an applicant unsuccessfully

resolves the Second NOD.109

The registration review process documents from 2009-2010 and 2010-

Current reveal a consistent TCEQ instruction to its staff, applicable to all

registrants:

“Review the second NOD response. If the application still has
significant deficiencies, prepare a letter for the Section Manager’s
signature returning the application with an explanation why the
application is being returned. If the deficiencies are very minor in
nature, work with the applicant/consultant to resolve them. There are
no third NODs.” (second emphasis added).110

According to the registration procedures, only very minor deficiencies may

be addressed, and there are no third NODs. A consultation between the reviewer

and team leader to determine the next course of actions (i.e., whether the issues are

easily addressed minor issues) is consistent with the stated procedure.

Regardless of these statements and the dissonance with applicable TCEQ

policies, on December 2, 2011, an extension was granted to allow Pintail additional

time to respond to the First NOD.111 Pintail did respond on January 18, 2012, but

the response was again inadequate, as the reviewer sent another request for

additional information on February 17, 2012.112 And, even though it is labeled

109
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 8, Item 58, Ex. 2 at 248.
110
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 8, Item 65, Ex. 1, p. 3 of registration procedures document
(CALH’s Reply to Responses to Motion to Overturn).
111
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 2, Item 16.
112
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 4, Item 22.

45
“First Technical Notice of Deficiency,” the letter is clearly an indication that

Pintail did not submit a satisfactory response to each of the noted deficiencies in

the first technical notice of deficiency. As such, it appears the Registration

Application should have been returned at this time. However, not only was the

Application not returned, Pintail was granted yet another extension to respond to

the Third Technical NOD.113 Despite the statements from TCEQ staff that there

would not be more than two (2) NOD’s, this pattern continued for a total of at least

six (6) NOD’s.114

The registration should have been returned after Pintail’s failure to address

TCEQ’s concerns in the Second NOD, in accordance with the TCEQ’s policy and

the TCEQ staff’s statements. Allowing Pintail to continue to inadequately respond

to more than two (2) Technical NOD’s is a departure from the stated policy, and

should not be allowed by the Commission. For this reason alone, the

Commission’s approval of MSW Registration No. 40259 is marred by abuse of

discretion, unlawful procedure, and unreasonable errors of law. Accordingly,

issuance of the registration should be reversed.

The TCEQ has argued that it is entitled to publicly pronounce its policy

113
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 5, Item 24. Interestingly, this Technical NOD was not given a
number (nor were the two subsequent NODs of June 25, 2012 and August 16, 2012, given a
number), but by our count it is actually the Fourth NOD when you count the “Preliminary
Review”.
114
See R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Index, Items 3, 13, 16, 22, 24, 27, 32, and 39.

46
controlling NOD procedures, yet not follow that policy because it is not

incorporated into TCEQ rules.115 Appellants respectfully disagree. The TCEQ

should be bound to follow its public pronouncements. Without such a

requirement, the public will lose trust in their state environmental regulators. Here,

the Registration Application should have been returned to Pintail after the

unsuccessful resolution of the Second NOD. Instead, Pintail received six (6)

separate NOD’s resulting in eleven (11) different versions of the Registration

Application. The TCEQ’s refusal to follow its own publicly pronounced NOD

policy harmed CALH and its members, harmed the City, and harmed the public of

Texas. Such refusal was an abuse of discretion, unlawful procedure, and an

unreasonable error of law, and accordingly, was invalid, arbitrary, or unreasonable.

For this reason, Appellants respectfully request that registration of this Facility be

reversed by the Court.

115
R.R. at Joint Ex. 1, AR Vol. 7, Item 53, p. 8 (Response to Comment 10).

47
 PRAYER

TCEQ acted in violation of its own rules and policies, and in abrogation of

the due process rights of affected persons, in granting the Registration Application

and issuing Registration No. 40259. Therefore, CALH and the City respectfully

pray that the trial court's Judgment affirming the TCEQ’s action be reversed, and

that Court reverse, or suspend and set aside, the Registration and remand this

matter to TCEQ for further proceedings consistent with this Court’s opinion.

CALH and the City further pray for all other and further relief, both general and

special, at law and in equity, to which they may be justly entitled.

Respectfully submitted,

HANCE SCARBOROUGH, LLP
400 W. 15th Street, Ste. 950
Austin, TX 78701
Telephone: (512) 479-8888
Facsimile: (512) 482-6891

By: _______________________
Terry L. Scarborough
State Bar No. 17716000
Michael L. Woodward
State Bar No. 21979300
mwoodward@hslawmail.com
V. Blayre Pena
State Bar No. 24050372
bpena@hslawmail.com
Wesley P. McGuffey
State Bar No. 24088023
wmcguffey@hslawmail.com

48
 ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS CITIZENS
AGAINST THE LANDFILL IN HEMPSTEAD,
MICHAEL MCCALL, AND WAYNE KNOX

KELLY HART & HALLMAN LLP
301 Congress Avenue, Suite 2000
Austin, Texas 78701
Telephone: (512) 495-6400
Facsimile: (512) 495-6401

By: /s/ Diana L. Nichols
Monica M. Jacobs
State Bar No. 24007433
Monica.Jacobs@kellyhart.com
Diana L. Nichols
State Bar No. 00784682
Diana.Nichols@kellyhart.com

ATTORNEYS FOR THE CITY OF
HEMPSTEAD

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.4, I hereby certify that this
brief contains 8,319 words. This is a computer generated document created in
Microsoft Word, using 14 point typeface for all text, except for footnotes, which
are in 12-point typeface. In making this certificate of compliance, I am relying on
the word count provided by the software used to prepare the document.

Terry L. Scarborough

49
 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a copy of Appellants’ Brief was served on the following

counsel of record on February 25, 2015, via certified mail, return receipt requested,

and/or the electronic filing system:

Nancy Elizabeth Olinger
Nancy.Olinger@texasattorneygeneral.gov
Cynthia Woelk
Cynthia.Woelk@texasattorneygeneral.gov
Daniel C. Wiseman
Daniel.Wiseman@texasattorneygeneral.gov
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS
Environmental Protection Division (MC-066)
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
ATTORNEYS FOR TCEQ

Paul R. Tough
ptough@msmtx.com
Brent W. Ryan
bryan@msmtx.com
MCELROY, SULLIVAN, MILLER, WEBER & OLMSTEAD, LLP
P.O. Box 12127
Austin, TX 78711
ATTORNEYS FOR THE PINTAIL LANDFILL, LLC

Terry L. Scarborough

50
APPENDIX A
 DC BK14248 PG410

Olsp

Disp code: CVD r ClS _ _ _ _......._..........,

CAUSE NO. D-1-GN-13-002918

CITIZENS AGAINST THE § IN THE DISTRICT COURT
LANDFILL IN HEMPSTEAD, §
MICHAEL McCALL, WAYNE §
KNOX, and CITY OF §
HEMPSTEAD, §
Plaintiffs, §
§
v. § TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS
§
TEXAS COMMISSION ON §
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY §
and PINTAIL LANDFILL, LLC, § 201ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT
Defendants. §

FINAL JUDGMENT

On September 3, 2014, this cause came on for hearing on the merits before

the Court. All parties appeared through their counsel of record. The Court, having

considered the pleadings, briefs, and Administrative Record, and having heard the

arguments of counsel, is of the opinion and finds that this Court must affirm the

July 23, 2013 decision of the Executive Director of the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality ("Executive Director") to approve and issue Registration

No. 40259 to Pintail Landfill, LLC.

Page I of2

503
 DC BK14248PG411

According! y,

IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that the Executive Director's July 23,

2013 decision to approve and issue Registration No. 40259 to Pintail Landfill, LLC

be and is in all things AFFIRMED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all relief not expressly granted herein is

DENIED, and this judgment finally disposes of all parties and all claims and is

appealable.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that each party shall bear its/his own costs.

SIGNED this day of

Page2of2

504
APPENDIX B
 TCEQ REGULATORY GUIDANCE
Small Business and Environmental Assistance Division
RG-469 ~ Revised July 2013

Traditional Municipal Solid
aste Disposal: uide
for local overnments
Contents

Traditional Waste Management-Landfills ....................................... 2
Types of Landfills................................................................................................................................. 3
Initial Collection.................................................................................................................................... 4
Transportation ............................,......................................................................................................... 4
Consolidation......................................................................................................................................... 4
Operations............................................................................................................................................... 6
Cleaning Up Your Community .......................................................... 8
Waste from Disposal of Nuisance and Abandoned Buildings ............................................. 8
Special Collection Days...................................................................................................................... 9
Collection Days for Household Hazardous Waste ................................................................... 10
.......... ...... . .................. Agric:µl _tµra~ W.Ci.ste f> ~$tiC:ic:Jgs .'.'.:c •.'.'.'. ,, '.'.'.'. ,_.. ·.~:·:.'.'.'.'."'.'''. ,,,,::,_-_., •• _•• ,, ·-~'::,,. ·:, ,,,,._. ._._.,,, ,,:, ,: , ,., •• , ,_. •• ,,,,: ._,,,,,,_._..,. _11 __
Storm Debris ................................................................................ ., ........................................................ 11
Preventing Illegal Dumping.............................................................................................................. 13
Don't Mess with Texas Water .......................................................................................................... 13
Options for Material Diversion ....................................................................................................... 13
Material .................................................................................................................................................... 14
Optio11 ........ :.............................................................................................................................................. 14
Benefits ...............................................................................................................................,.................... 14
Additional Requirements for MSW Facilities ................................... 14
Supervisor or Manager ...................................................................................................................... 14
Financial Assurance ............................................................................................................................ 15
Water Regulations .............. ;................................................................................................................ 16
Air-Pollution Control ............................................................................................................. ,. .... ., ..... 16
Reports ..................................................................................................................................................... 17
Fees ............................................................................................................................................................ 19
Statewide and Regional Planning ................. "............................................................................... 19
fuspectlons: What to Expect oao-Qt1•0--oo"'"'ci•G<11011-qe11q.cia ...... °' .. "'"'o•o•ooeoaaaoocaaf1ooocaoC1.•a..,C1Q .. a 20
Texas Councils of Governments ....................................................... 2n_

For More fuforma.tion Qi>Cl-i:l ... 'l'c;l•QO<>lllCIC>qCIOOGQOCl&O•aao.oa•oo.gQCIOQCIQfl,-ClaaaQU•a.aoa. .. 11000 ... Q<;i-4•00.;a.a,oo 22
TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY • PO BOX 13087 • AUSTIN, TX 78711-3087
The TCEQ i"s sn £qua[ ~pportunity employer, The agency does nat allow disoiminaliun on the baS;iS of r.ece, col-or, rerigion, national orig.in, se:x-, disability. agE\ s.axual orientation, or\reteran slatus.
h1 compliance wil.!1 thB Americans wiCTl Dis:abif"r:.ies Act., th1s dm;ument may be reqLiesle-11 iri alternate formals by conlactlng the TCEa. at 512·239-0028. fax: 512-239-4468, ar 800-REL!\Y-TX
(TDD), or by writing PO Box: 130S7, Au~n TI\ 7B7ii~30B1. We authorize you lo IJSe or reproduce any D.rlgtnal rnate:r:ial ctmlairied In. this pubacation--ths:t Is, rmjl mElerial W& dicl nof obtairi from
o!hersuL1rces. Plense acknowledg~ tha TCCO. as your source. Pririied on recycled paper.
420
 Traditional Municipal Solid Waste Disposal: A Guide for local Governments TCEQ publication Pub. No. RG-469

Who Should Use This Guide?
This document is intended to help local officials and governments
understand and comply with the rules on landfills and management of
municipal solid waste (MSW), and the associated authorizations, reports,
and fees. This publication is not a substitute for the actual rules.

Authorities and Regulations
Texas has been authorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to
manage its MSW program. Texas statutes are consistent ·with the federal
rules, but MSW in Texas is managed specifically in accordance with Title
30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 330 (30 TAC 330) and Title 5,
Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapters 361and363. Municipal solid waste
is defined in 30 TAC 330.3(88) as:
Solid waste resulting from or incidental to municipal,
community, commercial, institutional, and
recreational activities, including garbage, rubbish,
ashes, street cleanings, dead animals, abandoned
automobiles, and all other solid waste other than
industrial solid waste.
Other rules for MSW in Texas are found in 30 TAC 332 (for composting)
and30 TAC 328 (for recycling). You can obtain the most current, official
copy of state ru1es by contacting the Secretary of State's office, at 512-305-
.· ··· ··· ····· ··· 9623; or visiting our website, at ...
Your local city and county authorities may also have regulations that affect
your facility's v.raste management operations. Contact your local
government to determine if your operations are authorized.
The federal rules for MSW are contained in Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Parts 257 and 258. These rules can be obtained by contactll1g
the U.S. Government Printing Office at 866-512-1800, or by visiting the
GPO website, at .

Traditional Waste Management~landfiUs
The traditional waste-management solution is the landfill. A local
government must determine which kinds of landfill and which procedures
for the collection, transportation, consolidation, and disposal of waste are
appropriate for its community. From collection to disposal in a landfill, each
phase has a number of rules that apply.

Ju!y2013
421
TCEQ publication Pub. No. RG-469 Traditional Municipal Solid Waste Disposal: A Guide for local Governments

Types of landfills
Type I and IV landfills
(30 TAC 330.5)
Type I landfills are the standard and most common landfills for the disposal
of routine MSW in Texas. They-may accept most types of household and
putrescible waste. Type IV landfills may accept brush, construction and
demolition waste, and rubbish, but may not accept household or putrescible
waste. Household waste is defined as:
Any solid waste (including garbage, trash, and
sanitaiywaste in septic tanks) derived from
households (including single and multiple residences,
hotels and motels, bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew
quarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds, and day-use
recreation areas); does not include brush.
[30 TAC 330.3(64)]
Putrescible waste is defined as:
Organic wastes, such as garbage, wastewater treatment
plant sludge, and grease trap waste, that are capable of
being decomposed by microorganisms with sufficient
rapidity as to cause odors or gases or are capable of
providing food for or attracting birds, animals, and disease
vectors. [30 TAC 330.3(119)]
····· · Arid Exemptlandfills ··
(30'TAC 330.5)
In the case of small municipal governments in arid areas of the state, the
TCEQ may authorize arid exempt landfills, which are generally exempt
from regulations on liners and groundwater monitoring in 30 TAC 330,
Subchapters H and J. To operate as an arid exempt landfill, the facility must
first be authorized by the TCEQ in accordance with 30 TAC 330.5(b). To
qualify as such, an arid-exempt (AE) landfill must:
"' Accept less than 20 tons per day, based on an annual average of
authorized waste in either a Type I-AE or Type IV-AE landfill unit (a
discrete area: of land or excavation that receives waste). A facility1-vith
both unit types may have a total waste acceptance of 40 tons per day.
., Serve a community that has no practical alternative for waste
management.
" Be in an area that receives no more than 25 inches of annual average
precipitation based on data from the nearest official recording station for
the most recent 30-year reporting period.

Jufy2013 3 422
 Traditional Municipal Solid Waste Disposal: A Guide for Local Governments TCEQ publication Pub. No. RG-469

Initial Collection
(30 TAC 330, Subchapter C)
Collection of MSW is regulated by 30 TAC 330, Subchapter C. To minimize
odo:rs and nuisance conditions, waste that contains put:rescible material
must be collected at least weekly. All collection vehicles must be builtt
operated, and maintained to prevent loss of waste, whether ljquid or solid;
minimize health and safety hazards; and preclude odors and fly breeding.
Waste collection is usually the largest portion of an MSW budget.
To help local governments increase the efficiency of waste collection
and thereby lower its costs, the EPA prepared the guidance
docmnent Getting More for Less: Improving Collection Efficiency
(EPA 530-R-99-038). EPA publications on waste can be found at
. Some of the principal
methods for cutting costs are changing the frequency of collections,
improving routing, and using automated equipment.

Transportation
(30 TAC 330, Subchapter C)
MSW transporters are regulated by 30 TAC 330, Subchapter C. It is the
transporter's responsibility to ensure that waste is delivered to a facility
that is authorized to accept that type of waste. Transporters must maintain
records for a minimum of three years, which document? that each load of
waste was taken to an authorized MSW facility. In addition, if a discharge of
. .... . ...... ...... ... waste occurs during transport, the waste hauler m:usttakeiuunediate :;icJiqµ .
to contain the waste and deliver it to an authorized facility.

Consolidation
(30 TAC 330, Subchapters A and E)
Consolidation of waste is an interim waste-management solution for
lowering operational costs. Money is saved by storing waste at a facility
before transporting it to its final disposal destination. A few large-volume
trucks then take the waste to the final disposal facility, rather than
nIDnerous small trucks traveling the distance-saving both fuel and labor.
There are various consolidation options, including transfer stations and
citizen collection stations. Depending on size of the population served or the
volume of waste handled, your facility may require authorization from the
TCEQ, ranging from notification to permit. Authorization requirements for
each consolidation option are covered later in this document.

4 July2013
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TCEQ publication Pub. No. RG-469 Traditional Municipal Solid Waste Disposal; A Guide for local Governments

In areas of the state that are underserved by waste-collection services or do·
not have access to proper disposal facilities, funds may be available to study
the feasibility of a waste consolidation facility. Contact your local council of
governments (COG) to determine whether there are grants available for this
kind of study.

Transfer Stations
A transfer station is defined at 30 TAC 330.3(157) as:
A facility used for transferring solid waste from
collection vehicles to long-haul ve4icles (one
transportation unit to another transportation unit). It
is not a storage facility such as one where individual
residents can dispose of their wastes in bulk storage
containers that are serviced by collection vehicles.
Transfer facilities offer an alternative when the landfill is so far away
that it is not economical for each waste-collection vehicle to make
round trips. Transfer stations allow local waste haulers to temporarily store.
waste and then use large-volume trucks to haul waste to the distant landfill.
Though transfer stations save money, they have their uwn operating
expenses. It is important to determine whether a transfer facility would
be cost effective. The EPA's Waste Transfer Station: A Manual for
Decision Making (EPA 530-R-02-002) can help local governments with
cost analysis .
. .Operating a transfer station :typically requires. a registration or a permit...
However, small communities may be able to establish low-volume transfer
stations with just a notification. To qualify for this type of authorization, the
community must control the facility, comply with local ordinances, notify
adjacent landowners, and haul collected waste to a final disposal facility at
least weekly. A low-volume transfer station may store, at most, 40 cubic
yards of waste.
To start a low-volume transfer station, a local government
must submit a Notice ofintent to Operate a Low-Volume Transfer
Station (Form TCEQ-20370). TCEQ forms can be found at
.
Transfer stations that cannot meet the 40-cubic-yard limit vvill have to
obtain either a registration or a permit. To be eligible for registration as a
transfer station, the facility must meet one of the follmv:ing criteria:
" It serves a municipality,;.vith a population of fewer than 50,000.
a It serves a county ·with a population of fewer than 85,000.

July 2013 5
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Traditional Municipal Solid Waste Disposal: A Guide for Local Governme11is TCEQ publication Pub. No. RG-469

., It transfers or proposes to transfer no more than 125 tons per day of
MSW.
"' It is within the permitted boundaries of an MSW Type I or Type IV
facility.
If none of these criteria can be met, a permit is :required.
.All transfer stations must follow the operating procedures outlined
in 30 TAC 330, Subchapter E, which include, but are not limited to,
record.keeping, safety procedures, and maintaining sanitary conditions.
Templates for the preparation of site operating plans fo:r a transfer station
can be found on the TCEQ's website, at <'NWW.tceq.state.tx.us/goto/
msw_sop>. Transfer facilities are also required to submit annual reports on
the volume of waste accepted. See the "Reports'~ section of this document,
under "Additional Requirements."

Citizen Collection Stations
A second waste-consolidation option, used when door-to-door waste pickup
service is not cost effective, is a citizen collection station (CCS). CCSs are
temporary holding facilities where residents can take their household waste
for storage until it can be transported to an MSW disposal facility. The
collection facility should be located in an area that is convenient and easily
accessible. It gives a community the ability to conveniently and legally
dispose of household waste.
CCSs are regulated by 30 TAC 330.n(e) and 330.213. If your local
government would like to establish a citizen collection facility, it must
.-··· siibiiiif:aNonceofintenno- Operate aCitizen's Collectio11 Statimi-('.Form
TCEQ-20429, available at <~Nwvv.tceq.texas.gov/search_forms.html> ). The
containers provided at the facility should be compatible with the type and
quantity of household waste accepted. To prevent illegal dumping, you
should post rules governing the use of the CCS facility (including who may
use it and what may or may not be deposited), collect waste on a scheduled
basis, and-if possible-have an on-site operator supervising the facility.
CCSs must follow the same standards as landfills for safety, prevention of
scavenging, and control of litter and odor.

Operations
(30 TAC 330, Subchapter D)
All registered or permitted MSVv disposal facilities must follow the site
operating plan (SOP) designed and approved specifically for that site. The
SOP describes the day-to-day procedures for facility operations. You can
find a few of the key elements for an SOP below.·

6 July 2013
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TCEQ pubucation Pub. No. RG-469 Traditional Municipal Solid Waste Disposal: A Guide for Local Governments

Unloading
It is the generator's responsibility not to send unauthorized material to a
landfill for disposal, and it is the landfill operator's responsibility to prevent
the disposal of unauthorized waste or disposal in the wrong location. It is
imperative that a trained operator visually screen all collected and unloaded
waste to prevent disposal of unauthorized material. Unloading should be
confined to as small an area as practical, and the facility's SOP should
define the maximum size and number of unloading areas.
The operator must:
"' reject unauthorized waste
.. arrange to have unauthorized material removed by the generator or
transporter
.. maintain the facility's operating records of visual load inspections and
rejected materials
.. list unauthorized materials
a on signs posted at the entrance
a on bills
o on fliers handed out to haulers at the gate

Daily Cover
To control disease and nuisance conditions, it is critical to control odors
with daily cover. Waste must be covered at least daily in Type I and
.'fypel-:i\Ef.)

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Using lam:.Ums
" What waste does. the landfill accept?
" Does the landfill have the available capacity?

General
® What wastes will not be accepted during the collection?
"' How will we prevent dumping of unaccepted w~te?
" If unacceptable waste is found, how vvill we dispose of it?
" What is our plan to prevent and, if necessary, contain spills?
" Is TCEQ authorization required for the collection?

Collection Days for Household Hazardous Waste
(30 TAC 335, Subchapter N)
Often, residents store household hazardous waste (HHW) because they are
unsure of how to properly dispose of it. Although HHW can usually be
legally disposed of in the normal trash, there are better disposal options that
local governments can arrange. For more information, contact the TCEQ's
Pollution Prevention and Education Section at 512-239-3100.

Operational Plan
An HHW collection requires more time to plan than other types of
collection events. The TCEQ requires notification and development of a:n
............. ..................... opera,ti()l1(ll plai:i i11 (lCC()r~aJ1C~ vvitli 30 'fAq 3.35, §11b~J:iap~er ~- .. .

To hold an HHW collection, you must:
" Complete the notification no later than 45 days before the collection date.
" Develop and address in your operational plan all the components
identified in 30 TAC 335, Subchapter N.
"' Make your operational plan readily available upon request by the TCEQ.
" Include the following key components~along with other appropriate
measures-in your operational plan:
e safety measures
"' - training about collection for employees or volunteers
" a determination of the types and amounts of waste expected
.. ar:rangements for the proper disposal of all the wastes collected
Contact the TCEQ's Pollution Prevention and Education Section at
512-239-3100 for a list of companies that conduct HHW collections and
that package, transport, and dispose of hazardous waste. You can also

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arrange for other HHW programs in the area to take the wastes from your
collection. The contact information for these programs is available from the
Pollution Prevention and Education Section or online at
.

Agricultural Waste Pesticides
Improper disposal of waste pesticide can have serious adverse effects on the
environment, such as groundwater contamination. Take special care to
recycle or properly dispose of all pesticides.

Empty Plastic Pesticide Containers
Plastic pesticide containers that have been triple rinsed or pressure washed
and rendered unusable are not considered hazardous waste, and can be
disposed of ill an MSW facility that is permitted to accept this special waste.
Not all landfills choose to accept pesticide containers, however, even if
the containers have been properly rinsed, and the landfills that do accept
them usually charge a fee. Instead of disposing of these containers,
consider recycling them. For more information, see USAg Recycling, at
.

Storm Debris
At one time or another, every local government will be faced -with managing
.. debris caused by tornadoes, hurricanes, .hail, or winds.. Ifimproperly
managed, the cleanup and removal of storm debris can unnecessarily cost
thousands of dollars in transportation charges and disposal fees alone.
Table 1 (under "Options for Material Diversion," below}, lists options for
recycling different materials.
In general, outdoor burning is prohibited in Texas. If your local government
would like an exception, you will need to meet specific requirements and
obtain approval from the appropriate TCEQ regional office before doing
any burning. You -will also need to check local ordinances or other
regulations about outdoor burning. If there is a burn ban in your county, the
TCEQ will not approve any exception to the rule. For additional information
concerning outdoor burning in Texas, :including a copy of the rule, consult
the TCEQ's Outdoor Burning in Texas (Pub. No. RG-049).
Note: It is strictly prohibited to burn any electrical insulation, treated
lumber, plastics, non-wooden construction or demolition materials, heavy
oils, asphaltic materials, potentially explosive materials, chemical wastes, or
items that contain natural or synthetic rubber (such as tires).

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Planning for the Inevitable
Initiate and destgn a plan that fits your specific area. Texas is a big state;
some options may not be practical for all areas. You should develop a plan
for the transport, storage, processing, and disposal of various forms of
storm debris. This should include identification of suitable sites to
temporarily store, segregate, or process large amounts of debris following a
disaster. You should consider requesting that residents set appliances,
household hazardous waste, brush, construction debris, and putrescible
wastes in separate piles for pickup after a storm. Tell contract haulers to
maintain separation of materials during the collection, transport, and
storage of storm debris to maximize your options for recycling waste and
minimize waste-disposal costs. Before designing your plan, you should
consider the following:

Available landfill space
" Where is the closest landfill?
" What is its disposal capacity?
" What types of waste does it accept?

Recycling options
.. What recycling options are available in or near the area?
o What do we need to do to make certain that materials are adaptable for
recycling?
......... " Wl1i~~ specific n1aterials are not recyclable in this area?
labor resources (available workforce)
o Are there labor sources in the city or county?
.. Are there optional labor sources (such as prison or jail inmates) in
the area?
" Is it possible to recruit volunteers from the community?

Avallable equipment (hauling trucks, loaders, chippers, grinders,
storage trailers)
o What equipment is available for cleaning up storm debris?
" Is there access to chippers and grinders?
"' Can we borrow equipment from surrounding communities?
" Can we establish a memorandum of understanding for mutual aid with
neighboring communities?

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Available storage locations
.. Where could source-separated materials (those sorted at their origin) be
temporarily stored?
.. Do storage areas have adequate space for processing source-separated
materials if required?
In an emergency, recycling is not always the most time-efficient way to
manage storm debris, but if you prepare in advance, you will most likely
make after-storm cleanup a more cost-effective, manageable experience.

Preventing Illegal Dumping
Many communities across Texas are facing problems with illegal dumping.
Not only is it offensive to the senses, it can drain local government
resources. The city or county often becomes responsible for the collection
and disposal of the trash left at an illegal dump site. The labor and disposal
costs associated-with these sites can eat away at a local government's
budget. To help combat illegal dumping in your community, see the TCEQ's
Prevent Illegal Dumping: A Guide for Local Governments (RG-455).

Don't Mess with Texas Water
The Don't Mess -with Texas Water program offers local governments
another tool to help prevent illegal dumping. The TCEQ, Texas Department
of Transportation, and participating communities are working together to
.... pla~~ ~igll.~ ()]]_ ~~jor llighway vvater crossings that notify drivers ~fa tali~
free number to call to report illegal dumping.
The TCEQ forwards calls from the toll-free number to the appropriate
law-enforcement agency to handle complaints of illegal dumping in a ·
participating area.
For more information on the program or to find out how your cormnunily
can participate, visit our Web page at .

Options for Material Diversion
Once waste is collected, separating sources of ,,vaste is critical to the success
of any cleanup activity. Depending on your area and the options available,
separating materials at the time of the cleanup can save you hundreds or
even thousands of dollars. For recycling services in your area, visit Earth
911's recycling website at . Below are some ideas
for managing recyclable waste.

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Table 1. Options for Material Diversion
Material Opt.ion Benefits
Chipped wood: Clean, Mulch Prevents soil erosion, controls weeds,
untreated lumber, wooden retains soil moisture, protects plants,
shingles, tree limbs, brush adds nutrients to the soil
Wood shavings, cardboard, Use in Adds nutrients to the soil, prevents
paper compost runoff, protects plants from diseases
and pests, retains soil moisture
Appliances (white goods) Recycle Conserves landfill space and natural
resources
Metal: Signs, poles, sheet Recycle Conserves landfill space and natural
metal, mobile home frames, resources
bicycles, swing sets,
trampolines
Cinder block, concrete, Recycle Conserves landfill space and natural
brick, glass resources
Electronic equipment Recycle Best management practice to prevent
groundwater contamination
Glass Recycle Conserves landfill space and natural
resources
Plastics Recycle Conserves landfill space and natural
resources

Additional Requirements for MSW Facilities

Supervisor or Manager
According to 30 TAC 30, Subchapters A and F, all MSW facilities that
require a permit or regisiTation must employ at least one licensed person to
supervise or manage the facility. The license requirements for the various
types of facilities are as outlined in Table 2.
Unless otherwise specified in their permit, all MSW facilities must have a
supervisor who holds the license level indicated in Table 2. Provisional
licenses are valid for two years and may not be renewed. Any missing
requirements must be completed before the standard license can be
obtained.

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Table 2. Licenses Required for Different Facilities
Level of
license
Type ofMSW Facility Required
All landfill facilitiesa and Type IX landfill mining Class A
facilities
Tyl_)e V storage or processing facilities not Class A
otherwise specified, Type IX energy or material- orClassB
recovery facilities, Type VI demonstration
facilities, and permitted or registered compost
facilities
a Landfill facilities include these types of landfills:
Type!
Typel-AE
Type IV
TypeIV-AE

The following are exempt from the supervisor license requirement:
<> . Type IX beneficial landfill gas-recovery facilities

"' Animal crematories, dual-chamber incinerators, aJ.1d air-curtain
incinerators operating in accordance vv:ith an MSW PBR
"' MSW facilities exempt from permitting or registration
"' Nuisance and abandoned buildings
o demolition waste disposal sites.

-.. the tCkQ will adrrzfriister field ciiiriions to faCilifies that do not have the
required licensed supervisor or manager.

Financial Assurance
(30 TAC 330, Subchapter L, and 30 TAC 37, Subchapter R)
Most MSVV facilities are required to demonstrate financial assurance for
closure, post-closure, and corrective-action costs. They must be able to
show that they are capable of paying the projected costs of closing the
facility and the associated post-closure, as well as the costs of any required
corrective action. The following mechanisms can be used to demonstrate
financial assurance: a trust fund, a surety bond guaranteeing payment or
perlormance, insurance, or a corporate financial test.

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Water Regulations
Wastewater
To protect the waters of the state, all MSW facilities must comply with the
Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES). Any liquids that
the facility produces must be disposed of in a manner that will not cause
surface water or groundwater pollution. You should determine how to
handle. any wastewater that your operation creates, such as vehicle wash
water or water that has come into contact with waste. With the wastewater
system's approval, your wastewater may be discharged to the local sanitary
sewer. To disch:n:ge directly into the waters of Texas, your facility must have
a TPDES permit.

Stormwater
To prevent stormwater from being contaminated with solid waste, landfills
must obtain a stormwater permit. You can get coverage through either the
Multi-Sector General Permit No. TXR.050000 or an individual permit. The
application process for the general permit is much simpler, less expensive,
and less time-consuming than that for an individual permit.
To apply for the general permit, you must:
o develop a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) and
e file the Notice of Intent (Form TCEQ-10382) with the TCEQ.

Templates to help you develop an SWP3 are available online at
·
For assistance on obtaining coverage and meeting the requirements of the
permit, contact the TCEQ's Small Business and Local Government
Assistance Section at 800-447-2827.

Ai!·~Pollution Control
Landfill Air Authorizations
MSW facilities are required to have applicable air authorizations based on
the activities _at the site. There are three categories of air authorizations for
MSW sites: permit by rule (PBR), stand:n:d permit, or a new source review
case-by-case permit.
The simplest, least expensive, and least time-consuming air authorization to
obtain is the PBR106.534, Municipal Solid Waste Landfills and Transfer
Stations. This air authorization is for cell Oandfill-unit) construction and
activities related to waste disposal; it is not intended for other activities. See

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the section "Additional Air Authorizations" to find out if there are activities
at your facility that require other air authorizations. When claiming a PBR
106.534 air authorization, your facility must follow the requirements in 30
TAC 106.534 and 30 TAC 330, Subchapter U.
If a landfill operation cannot meet the requirements of PBR 106.534, then
the MSW air standard permit may be required. Depending on the level of
activity at the landfill, a general operating permit may be required. To
determine what level of permit is required for your facility, see the reference
guide for reviewers of air permits, Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
(MSWLF) and Transfer Stations (PDF), at
.

Additional Air Authorizations
MSW facilities using PBR 106.534 may conduct activities that require
additional air authorizations. The most common PBRs and standard
permits that MSW facilities obtain are:
106.181, Used-Oil Combustion Units
106.183, Boilers, Heaters, and Other Combustion Devices
106.261, Facilities (Emissions and Distance Limitations)
106.433, Surface Coat Facility
106.436, Auto Body Refinishing Facility
106-451, Wet Blast Cleaning
106.{52, Dry Abrasive Cleaning
10 6.{54, Degreasing Units
106-472, Organic and Inorganic Liquid Loading and Unloading
....... 106.492, Flares
106-496, Air Curtain Incinerators
106.512, Stationary Engines and Turbines
Standard Permit for Temporary Rock Crushers
Standard Permit for Electric Generating Units

Reports
(30 TAC 330.675)
The TCEQ requires reports from registered and permitted facilities that
track the amounts and types of waste they store, treat, process, recover,
recycle, or dispose of in the state, enabling the agen_cy to equitably assess
fees. In addition, the state tracks the available disposal capacity for future
waste. It is important that the facility operator submit the required report
by the due date. Late reports are sufficient cause for the TCEQ to revoke a
permit or registration.

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Measuring Waste
To accurately record waste for reporting to the agency, the facility must
measure or weigh waste received at the gate, prior to disposal or
processing. For quarterly reporting, the waste accepted is reported as it was
recorded at the gate,. whether compacted/uncompacted tons or compacted/
uncompacted cubic yards. For annual reporting, the total waste accepted
must be reported in tons; if you use volumetric measurements in your
facility's records, you can convert them to short tons.

Small Community Equivalent Factor
If your landfill or h·ansfer station serves. fewer than 5,000 people, you may
use a population-equivalent factor instead of mail!]:aining records of the
actual amount of waste deposited. Under this system, the amount of waste
is calculated as 1 ton per person a year. The report must document the
population served by the facility and reflect any changes in population since
the previous report.

Quarterly Report:
You must submit a quarterly solid-waste summary report to the TCEQ no
later than 20 days following the end of each fiscal quarter. Table 3 lists the
due dates.
Table 3. Due Dates for Quarterly Reports
Quarterly Report Due Date
1st Qtr (Sep-Nov) Dec20

2nd Qtr (Dec-Feb) Mar20
3rd Qtr (Mar-May) Juu20

4th Qtr (Jun-Aug) Sep20

Annual Report
The operator must submit an annual summary of the yearly totals and
the year-end status of the facility. An operator must file a separate report
for each facility that has a unique permit or registration number. For
more information on how to determine your year-end-status, refer
to instructions and guidance for the MSW Annual Report at
.
Operators of facilities such as transfer stations, shredders, balers, and
methane extractors-also known as facilities not for disposal-must
submit annual reports to the TCEQ. Online reporting is available or you

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can submit a hard-copy report. For more information, go to
.

Fees
(Texas Health and Safety Code :361.013)
A collection fee is required for all solid waste disposed of within the state
and from transporters who are required to register with the state. The
amount may be raised or lowered in accordance with spending levels
authorized by the Texas Legislature. The TCEQ calculates the fee using
information from the facility's quarterly solid-waste summary reports. We
will generate a billing statement quarterly and forward it to the applicable
pe'rmittee or registrant. For additional information, see Municipal Solid
Waste Reporting and Disposal Fee (RG-289).

Statewide and Regional Planning
Each council of governments develops a regional solid waste plan. The
TCEQ aids the COGs in their efforts to ensure proper waste management by
permitting and registering facilities, licensing operators, and requiring all
registered or permitted facility operators to report the types and amounts of
waste processed or disposed of at a facility. COGs can use the information
reported to the TCEQ to monitor capacity in their regions .

.. .COG Permit Review
After the TCEQ conducts an administrative revie1v of each MSW permit
application, the application is forwarded to the appropriate COG for review.
The COG's review considers the compatibility of the proposed facility with
the region's MSW plan, along vvith the viability of the proposed facility and
the need for it.

COG Solid Waste Grants
As part of its waste planning efforts, the TCEQ administers a Regional Solid
v\Taste Grants Program, which supports regional planning of solid-waste
management by the state's 24 regional COGs, as well as a pass-through
grant program administered by the COGs to fund regional and local solid-
waste management projects. The CO Gs also use these funds to invent01y
closed MSW landfills.

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Inspections: What to Expect
To ensure compliance with MSW rules, inspections by a TCEQ
representative are required. We conduct routine inspections on an
established timeline using standardized checklists, and you can request a
copy of the applicable checklist before the inspection. However, if there are
consumer complaints~ operational problems, or :requests for assistance, or if
the facility is an unsatisfactory verformer, we may inspect inore frequently.
Immediately after the inspection, the TCEQ investigator will go over the
findings in an exit interview. Then you will receive from us one of three
mailed letters: a compliance letter, if there were no violations found; a
notice of violation (NOV) ·with a compliance schedule to resolve the
violations; o:r a notice of enforcement, if violations are of a serious enough
nature to warrant automatic enforcement.
We may begin formal enforcement if you have not resolved the violations
after issuance of an NOV and you have not requested a justifiable extension.
If you receive an NOV, be certain to respond in writing within the time
stated in the letter, explaining your actions to resolve any violations, and
including pictures if possible. Send the response "return receipt requested"
to the :regional office of the TCEQ, and keep a copy for your files.
For additional information on the inspection and enforcement process, see
The TCEQ Has Inspected Your Business: What Does This Mean to You?
(RG-344), or contact the Enforcement Division at 512-239-2545, or the·
Small Business and Local Govermnent Assistance Section at 800-447-2827.

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Texas Councils of Governments

Name Abbrev. Website
Alamo Area Council of Governments AACOG wwv,r.aacog:.con1
Ark-Tex Council of Governments ARK-TEX wwvv.atcolf.011<
Brazos Valley Council of Governments BVCOG wwv-1.bvcog.or?;
Capital Area Council of Governments CAP COG \.'/"WW.caDCOl!'.Onr
Central Texas Council of Governments CTCOG www.ctcol!'.org
Coastal Bend Council of Governments CB COG cbcog98.on;:
Concho Valley Council of Governments CVCOG vvww.cvcog.orn:
Deep East Texas Council of Governments DETCOG ·wwvv.detco!!".orn
East Texas Council of GDvernments ETCOG w·wv•.etco!!:.org
Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission GCRPC WWlv.gcrnc.org
Heart of Texas Council of Governments HOTCOG WWllf.hotcog.or.e:
Houston-Galveston Area Council H-GAC v;wv•.h-lfac.com
Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council LRGVDC www.lrgvdc.org
Middle Rio Grande Development Council MRGDC ·wwvv.mrgdc.org
Nortex Rerional Planning Commission NORTEX vvwv•.nortexrpc.org
North Central Texas Council of Government NCTCOG wwvv.nctco!f.dst.tx.us
Panhandle Regional Planning Commission PRPC www.nrnc.cm!:.tx.us
Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission PBRPC www.pbroc.org
Rio Grande Council of Governments RGCOG www.riOCO!!".Ore:
South East Texas Re?;ional Planning Commission SETRPC wwv•.setrnc.ore:
South Plains Association of Governments SPAG www.snai<.om:
South Texas Development Council STDC www.stdc.cog.tx.us
Texoma Council·ofGovernments TEXOMA ...... · wwv,r.texoma:cog.tx.us ··
West Central Texas Council of Governments WCTCOG WVIW.WCtCO!!,'.OU;

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For More Information
There are a variety of good sources available for further information.
Here is a basic list with contact information.
To find a publication or form mentioned in this document:
TCEQ website,

or
For confidential assistance on environmental compliance for small
businesses and local governments:
Small Business and Local Government Assistance Hotline, 800-447-2827
or
To report ...
" A spill (24 hours a day):
Spill Reporting, 800-832-8224

" Federal MSvV programs:
EnvironmentalProtectionAgency, Region 6,
800-887-6063 or

22 July 2013
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APPENDIX C
 -==
Volume 31 Number 112L_ _ _ _ March 24, 2006

415
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a section of the Staff
Office of the Secretary of State AdaAulet
P.O. Box 13824 Leti Benavides
Austin, TX 78711-3824 Dana Blanton
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subadmin@sos.state.tx.us Juanita Ledesma
Diana Muniz

416
but are currently required by §106.496(g)(4)(i) to have separate in this chapter. The commission adopts new §330.9(m)(1 )(E) -
authorization from the executive director at landfills. As a (H) to require owners or operators of mobile treatment units to
streamlining initiative, the commission adopts new §330.7(g) provide the chemical preparations that will be used as part of
to eliminate the need for a separate authorization from the the treatment process, evidence of competency, a description
executive director at MSW facilities. of the management and disposal of process waters generated
during treatment events, and a written contingency plan to de-
The commission also adopts an air PBR in new §330.7(h) for air
scribe how waste will be managed in the event of equipment
emissions at MSW landfill facilities if the owner or operator com-
breakdown. This additional information is necessary to ensure
plies with new Subchapter U, Standard Air Permits for Municipal
that all waste and treatment residues will be properly treated.
Solid Waste Landfill Facilities and Transfer Stations.
The commission adopts new §330.9(m)(1 )(i) to require owners
The commission repeals §330.8, Notification Requirements, and or operators of medical waste mobile treatment units to provide
moves the requirements of this section with changes to new evidence of financial assurance using procedures specified in
§330.11, Notification Required. Subchapter L of this chapter and 30 TAC Chapter 37, Subchap-
ter R, Financial Assurance for Municipal Solid Waste Facilities,
The commission adopts new §330.9, Registration Required, to
to ensure that money is available to provide for the removal of all
list all MSW management activities that are exempt from per-
waste and waste residues if the owner or operator abandons the
mitting requirements but that still require commission approval
medical waste mobile treatment unit. A cost estimate of the cost
by registration. To promote communication and coordination
to remove and dispose of waste and disinfect the waste treat-
with TCEQ's regional offices, the commission requires in new
ment equipment shall be submitted prior to initiating operation or
§330.9(a) that a person shall submit a claim for a registration
in conjunction with the transition from operating under a registra-
by rule in duplicate with one copy sent directly to the TCEQ's
tion to operating under the new registration by rule. The commis-
regional office. The commission moves the requirements
sion changes an incorrect rule reference in new §330.9(m)(4) to
from §330.73(b)(1) and (c)(1) to new §330.9(a); §330.4(d)
refer to the annual fees enumerated in §330.1221 (I). The com-
to new §330.9(b); §330.4(g) to new §330.9(c); §330.4(h) to
mission extends the requirement to notify the executive direc-
new §330.9(d); §330.4(k) to new §330.9(e); §330.4(q) to new
tor of changes to the registration in new §330.9(m)(6) from 15
§330.9(f); §330.4(s) to new §330.9(g); §330.4(t) and §330.72(h)
days to 30 days to allow additional reporting flexibility. Since the
to new §330.9(h); §330.4(u) to new §330.9(i); and §330.402
registrations under the former rules expire on an annual basis,
to new §330.9U). The commission adopts new §330.9(h)(5)
the commission intends to transition these authorizations from a
to state that transporters who only adjust septage pH during
registration to a registration by rule upon expiration of each reg-
transportation are not subject to the registration requirement
istration.
of §330.9(h), but must instead register under §312.142. The
commission adopts this provision to provide clarity about which To reduce the level of agency approvals of low-impact waste
rules apply to transporters who adjust septage pH during trans- management activities and to facilitate treatment of medical
portation. waste throughout Texas, the commission adopts new §330.9(n)
to allow the registration of facilities that will store or process
The commission adopts a solid waste registration by rule for
untreated medical waste that is received from off-site sources,
Type IX facilities that recover landfill gas for beneficial use. New
as described in new §330.1205(b).
§330.9(k) replaces §330.4(n) and §330.70. Since owners or op-
erators of such facilities must receive separate commission au- The commission will now require a solid waste registration for
thorizations for air emissions from these facilities, the commis- owners or operators of new liquid waste transfer facilities that re-
sion adopts the Type IX facility registration by rule to streamline ceive 32,000 gallons per day (gal/day) or less or will be located
the authorization process for these low-impact waste manage- on, or at, other commission authorized facilities. These facilities
ment activities. had been authorized through a notification, but the commission
believes that these facilities are best evaluated through the reg-
The commission adopts a solid waste registration by rule for
istration process. All existing liquid waste transfer facilities will
transporters of untreated medical waste that are not the gen-
be allowed to continue operation as a notification to the com-
erator. The commission adopts this solid waste registration by
mission. The commission replaces §330.4(r) and §330.66(a)(1)
rule to streamline the authorization process for low-impact waste
with new §330.9(0) for new liquid waste transfer facilities that
management activities. The commission replaces §330.1005(b)
receive 32,000 gal/day or less and new §330.11(e)(4) for exist-
with new §330.9(1). Drivers' names and license numbers are no
ing facilities. The commission replaces §330.66(a)(7) with new
longer required as part of the registration by rule. The commis-
§330.9(p) for new liquid waste transfer facilities located on, or at,
sion deletes this requirement since this information does not im-
other commission authorized facilities and new §330.11 (e )(7) for
pact whether the vehicle meets the requirements in this chapter.
existing facilities.
Since the registrations expire on an annual basis, the commis-
sion intends to transition these authorizations from a registration The commission repeals §330.10, Closure, and moves the re-
to a registration by rule upon expiration of the registration. quirements of this section to new §330.21.
The commission adopts a solid waste registration by rule for The commission repeals §330.11, Relationships with Other Gov-
owners or operators of mobile treatment units conducting on-site ernmental Entities. The commission moves the requirements of
treatment of medical waste that are not the generator. The com- §330.11(a) to new Subchapter U, and §330.11(b) - (i) to new
mission replaces §330.1010(b), (d), and (e) with new §330.9(m). §330.23(a) - (h).
The commission adopts the solid waste registration by rule to
The commission adopts new §330.11, Notification Required, to
streamline the authorization process. The commission elimi-
clarify those persons that do not need commission approval for
nates the requirement for drivers' names and license numbers as
certain MSW management activities but who still must notify the
part of the registration by rule since this information does not im-
commission before starting MSW management activity at a lo-
pact whether the mobile treatment unit meets the requirements
cation or property. The notification is a one-time requirement

31TexReg2506 March 24, 2006 Texas Register

417
by the agency and update this population equivalent figure in TAC §1.136. TCE commented that the definition for medical
this definition so that it is more accurate with current studies. waste in §330.3(85) creates ambiguity. TCE recommended that
HCPHES stated that updating this figure will make for more re- for consistency the rule should utilize the definition in 34 TAC
alistic projections of permit applications. for hotel and that the term "related services to the public" is
vague. TCE and HCPHES also commented that exemptions
Response
provided for single or multi-family dwellings, hotels, and other
The amount of household waste disposed per person per day establishments that provide lodging should be removed from
in Texas in fiscal year 2004 was 5.4 pounds per person per the rule. TCE stated that the exemption for farms and ranches
day when adjusted for those waste streams used by the United is intended to, and should be revised, to include only animal
States Environmental Protection Agency in its calculations. The waste.
five pounds per person per day in rule is very close to the cur-
Response
rent disposal rate of household waste. The commission made
no change in response to this comment. The commission revised the definition of medical waste to in-
clude bulk human blood products and bulk human body fluids,
Comment
as stated in 25 TAC §1.136. The reference to 34 TAC is to dis-
HCP HES commented that the definition of small municipal solid tinguish farms and ranches from other types of industrial oper-
waste landfill should clarify that the less than 20 tons of construc- ations. The exemption for single and multi-family dwellings, ho-
tion or demolition waste is based on an annual average, that the tels, and other establishments that provide lodging is consistent
revised definition does not specify a time period which is neces- with other regulatory exemptions for individuals (e.g., household
sary for enforcement purposes. hazardous waste, conditionally exempt small quantity genera-
tors). The exemption for those who provide lodging is intention-
Response
ally broad and makes further regulatory definition unnecessary.
The commission considered this comment and has made some The commission does not agree that the exemption for farms
revision to the definition. Related to enforcement, provisions and ranches is intended to apply only to animal waste and does
have been added to provide for a transition to dispose of the not agree that the exemption should be limited to animal waste.
additional waste in a separate Type IV landfill unit. Without pre- The commission has not changed this part of the definition in re-
scribing a specific time period by which a facility meets the crite- sponse to these comments.
ria for the arid exempt site, per §330.5(b)(4) the TCEQ has the
Comment
flexibility to consider the compliance criteria whenever appropri-
ate. One commenter fully supported the definition of a solid waste
as found in current rule as being supportive of recycling. The
Comment
commenter also felt that the definition would allow the stockpiling
HCPHES sought TCEQ concurrence that the definition of solid of inert material prior to recycling.
waste management unit also includes transfer stations.
Response
Response
Staff concurs with the comment as long as the inert material is
The commission believes that a transfer station is more appropri- being stockpiled prior to recycling and meets other agency re-
ately characterized as a facility which may contain several units quirements for recycling in Chapter 328.
such as a waste pile, a container storage area where dumpsters
Comment
or roll-off containers might be stored, and possibly one or more
tanks for storage of contaminated wash water, for example. The Within the definition of special waste, several commenters ex-
commission has made no change in response to this comment. pressed concern that the segregation and disposal of treated
medical waste identified as a special waste, will be unneces-
Comment
sarily burdensome and costly to health care facilities. APIC and
HCPHES commented that the proposed deletion of the term THA stated that the term "special characteristics or properties"
"transfer" from the definition of processing would change the is vague, making compliance or enforcement impossible. APIC,
meaning of §330.?(a) relating to Permit Required. By this pro- DRMC, and THA stated that there is no scientific evidence that
posed definition change, transfer stations would no longer be treated medical waste poses a greater risk than routine MSW,
required to obtain permits to operate. HCPHES stated that by and requested that language which designates treated medi-
their nature, transfer stations require agency and public review cal waste with special characteristics or properties as a special
of the permitting process unless exempted due to location on an waste be removed.
existing landfill or if they meet registration requirements under
Response
§330.9(b).
The commission believes that treated whole, unencapsulated
Response
hypodermic needles and syringes are a concern for landfill work-
The commission agrees with this comment and has reinserted ers who may be unaware of a waste shipmenfs contents. Addi-
the term "transfer" back into the definition of processing in re- tionally, treated medical waste that is still in intact red bag pack-
sponse to these comments and also to be consistent with THSC, aging may cause unnecessary alarm and concern when acci-
§361.003, Definitions. dently spilled or viewed from a distance. The commission be-
lieves that special handling of those waste streams is neces-
Comment
sary, but acknowledges that categorizing those treated medical
HCPHES commented that the revised definition for medical wastes as special wastes may unnecessarily increase the cost of
waste should be revised to more closely follow the definition disposal. The commission amends the proposal to provide that
of special waste from health care-related facility found in 25 treated medical waste may be managed as routine MSW with

31 TexReg 2548 March 24, 2006 Texas Register

418
APPENDIX D
...-s=- - Guidelines for Utilizing the Source-Separated Recycling
:a:
.......
......
Permit Exemption for Municipal Solid Waste Transfer
.....
• §§ Facilities
lllii1I!! Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
TCEQ Waste Permits Division
June 2006

Introduction

This document provides information for owners and operators of municipal solid waste (MSW)
Type V transfer facilities (transfer stations) seeking to utilize the "source-separated recycling
permit exemption" under Ii.tk._30 Texas Administrative Code (30 TAC), Chapter 330,
Section(§) 330.9 (relating to Registration Required). It explains what the exemption is, what is
needed to qualify, and how owners or operators of facilities may apply for and utilize the exemption.
Several examples are also presented. Terms used in this document have the meanings assigned by
Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 361, and 30 TAC Chapters 33.Q, and·™·

What is the Source-Separated Recycling Permit Exemption?

The source-separated recycling permit exemption, described in allows qualifying
MSW transfer facilities to operate under a registration instead of a permit. It was established by
a rule amendment, published in the April 9, 2004, issue of the Texas Register, volume 29,
pages 3634-3640. This provision to operate under a registration instead of a permit is distinct
from other provisions for registration of a transfer facility based on the population of the area
served, waste acceptance rate, and location within a permitted facility (30 TAC ;:>J.~:.;::Ll_~J

What Are the Basic Eligibility Requirements for the Exemption?

Materials Recovery

30 TAC allows owners and operators of MSW Type V transfer facilities to register their
operations instead of permitting them, provided:

• The transfer facility recovers 10 percent or more by weight or weight equivalent of the
incoming waste stream for reuse or recycling;

• Incoming waste has already been reduced by at least 10 percent through a
source-separation recycling program; or

e The transfer facility owner and/or operator also operate(s) one or more source-separation
recycling programs in the county where the transfer facility is located and those
source-separation recycling programs manage a total weight or weight equivalent of
recyclable materials equal to 10 percent or more by weight or weight equivalent of the total
incoming waste stream to all transfer facilities that the person owns or operates under the
exemption.

Distance to Landfill

The owner or operator of the transfer facility must demonstrate in the registration application that
it will transfer the remaining nonrecyclable waste to a landfill not more than 50 miles from the
facility.

Guidelines for Source-Separated Recycling Permit Exemption (rev. 06/19/06) Page 1 of 5

443
What Other Requirements Apply to a Facility Operating under the Exemption?

Operational Requirements

A Type V transfer facility operating under the exemption must comply with applicable operational
requirements for MSW storage and processing units detail in 30 TAC Chapter 330, Subchapter E.

Documentation (Recordkeeping)

After transfer facility operations commence, documentation of the recycling or recovery of at least
10 percent of waste material from the waste stream (at the transfer facility, and/ or by the
source-separation recycling program(s)), must be annually updated and maintained at the transfer
facility for records inspection. Failure to maintain the standard of at least 10 percent recovery of
materials shall be grounds for revocation of the registration.

Reporting

A Type V transfer facility operating under the exemption must also provide reports in accordance
with 30 TAC §330.671(b)(3).

Recycling and Composting Facilities

All recycling and composting facilities must comply with applicable requirements of 30 TAC
Chapter 328 (Waste Minimization and Recycling) and Chapter 332 (Composting), as well as all
other applicable laws and regulations, including maintaining records to demonstrate that the
materials recovered (including compost derived from those materials) were reused or recycled.

How May Owners or Operators of Facilities Apply for and Utilize the Exemption?

Owners or operators wishing to utilize the exemption must register their facilities in accordance
with 30 TAC Chapter 330, (relating to Permit and Registration Application
Procedures).

An applicant must demonstrate in a registration application the methods that will be used to
measure amounts of waste and recycled materials handled and to assure and document that the
recycling requirement is achieved. The procedures and methods should be contained in the Site
Operating Plan (SOP) or placed in a Recycling Plan as an attachment to the SOP. Owners or
operators of existing registered facilities may modify the facility SOP pursuant to 30 TAC
Chapter 305, §305.70, to include the methods and procedures needed to utilize the exemption,
provided there is no increase in the daily maximum limit of waste acceptance. The modification
may be pursued as a notice modification under §305.70(1). If there is an increase in the daily
maxim um limit of waste acceptance, then the owner or operator must apply for a new registration
pursuant to .:>...c~~.=t.·

Contents of an Application

In addition to the information required by 30 TAC Chapter 330, Subchapter B (relating to Permit
and Registration Application Procedures), and (relating to Municipal Solid Waste
Permit and Registration Modifications), an application must include:

For all facilities:

"' The estimated total amount of waste to be received by the transfer facility in an average
month.

Guidelines for Source-Separated Recycling Permit Exemption (rev. 06/19/06) Page 2 of 5
444
For operations that will recover recyclable materials at the transfer facility:

., A description of the materials that the facility intends to recover from the incoming
waste stream at the transfer facility, and the estimated percentage of those materials in
that waste stream;

., The design features, equipment, and processes that will be employed to recover an
amount of targeted materials equivalent to at least 10 percent of the incoming waste
that has not already been reduced by at least 10 percent through source-separation
recycling programs within the service area of the facility; and

.. The procedures that will be used to measure and document the types and amounts of
materials recovered at the facility.

For operations that will reduce waste at its source through source-separation recycling:

ID The procedures to document the sources of the waste;

e The procedures that will be used to measure the amount of incoming waste that has
already been reduced by at least 10 percent through source-separation recycling
programs within the service area of the facility; and

• The procedures that will be used to measure and document the types, sources, and
amounts of material reused or recycled through the source-separation recycling
programs within the service area of the facility.

For facilities by owners and/or operators that also operate source-separation recycling programs
in the county where the transfer facility is located:

ID The procedures that will be used to identify and document the source-separation
recycling programs operated by the owner or operator of the exempt facility in the same
county as the exempt facility;

• The procedures that will be used to document the types and sources of materials
managed for reuse or recycling by the source-separation recycling programs operated by
the owner or operator of the exempt facility in the same county as the exempt facility;
and

.. The procedures that will be used to measure and document that those source-separation
recycling programs manage a total weight or weight equivalent of recyclable materials
equal to 10 percent or more (by weight or weight equivalent) of the total incoming waste
stream to all transfer facilities to which the exemption is being applied.

Required Recordkeeping

After transfer facility operations commence under the source-separated recycling permit
exemption, documentation of recycling or recovery of 10 percent of waste material from the waste
stream must be annually updated and maintained at the transfer facility for inspection.

A facility must maintain the following documentation for the past calendar year or fiscal year, and
make these records available to agency personnel at all times during its regular business hours:

" Business records showing the total amount of waste incoming to the transfer facility;

Guidelines for Source-Separated Recycling Permit Exemption (rev. 06/19/06) Page 3 of 5
445
 • Business records showing the total amount of waste transferred from the transfer facility to
a disposal facility;

• Business records showing the amount of incoming waste that had previously been reduced
by at least 10 percent through source-separation recycling programs operated within the
service area of the facility;

• Signed, dated statements from the operator(s) of the source-separation recycling
program(s) within the service area of the transfer facility showing the amount of material
recovered from that waste stream for reuse or recycling; and

lit Business records of the operator(s) of the source-separation recycling program(s) showing
the types and amounts of recovered materials transferred to recycling companies or end
users of the material.

Acceptable business records may include a facility's formal business accounts, ledger entries, and
similar records. If requested by agency personnel, original or copied invoices and receipts must
be produced to verify these records. All documentation of amounts of waste and recyclable
materials must be maintained consistently for each material in either short tons or cubic yards. If
this is not possible, standard Environmental Protection Agency volume-to-weight conversion
factors may be applied to determine a facility's compliance with the requirements of its permit
exemption.

Failure to maintain the standard of at least 10 percent recovery of materials shall be grounds for
revocation of the registration.

Examples

Example1. A facility expects to receive 1,600 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) in an average
month from a combination of sources:
• 500 tons of waste per month from residential customers in an area served by a
curbside source-separation recycling program that recycles approximately
20 percent (by weight) of the total waste generated;

• 100 tons of waste per month from a company that conducts its own
source-separation recycling program that recycles approximately 50 percent (by
weight) of the total waste generated by the company; and
lit 1,000 tons of waste per month from other sources, including residential
customers not served by a curbside recycling program, containing the following
estimated percentages (by weight) of recyclable materials:

Yard trimmings 15 %
Clean wood 5%
Appliances & other scrap meta Is 5%

Total targeted recoverable material 25 %
The facility gatehouse personnel will question customers and act as spotters to
identify targeted recyclable materials in incoming loads. Loads containing
significant amounts of targeted materials will be directed to a clearly marked
material recovery area to off-load these materials. Facility staff in this area will
assist customers in the placement of yard trimmings and clean wood in an area
where they will be loaded into containers and taken to a compost facility for

Guidelines for Source-Separated Recycling Permit Exemption (rev. 06/19/06) Page 4 of 5

446
 processing. The finished compost product will be sold to the public or used as
mulch on the landscaped areas of city parks. Air-conditioning units, refrigerators,
and freezers will be placed in a 40 cubic yard roll-off container for transport to a
local secondary metal recycler, after refrigerants have been recovered by trained
personnel in compliance with state and federal law.

The recovery rate for this facility is calculated as follows:

1600 Tons of waste received per month
- 500 Tons of waste per month already reduced by
at least 10 percent by weight through a curbside
recycling program

= 1100 Tons of waste per month
- 100 Tons of waste per month already reduced by
at least 10 percent by weight through a private
recycling program

=1000 Tons of waste per month remaining subject to the
requirement to recover 10 percent or more of the
waste for reuse or recycling

From this remaining quantity, the facility is able to recover the following amounts of
targeted materials:

Yard trimmings 115 tons (11.5 %)
Clean wood 2 tons (0.2 %)
Appliances & other scrap metals 3 tons (0.3 %

Total material recovered 120 tons (12.0 %)

The 120 tons recovered for reuse or recycling represents 120/1000, or 12 percent of
the incoming waste stream that still needed to be reduced by at least 10 percent.
The required records were kept and are available for inspection, enabling the facility
to demonstrate that it met its obligation.

Example 2. A facility expects to receive 5,000 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) in an
average month from a combination of residential and commercial customers.

The owner or operator of this facility also operates a curbside, source-separation
recycling program in the same county in which the transfer facility is located, but
not necessarily within any part of the area served by the exempt transfer station.
The curbside recycling program takes in about 300 tons of glass and plastic bottles,
metals cans, and newspapers that are sold to a recycling company, and 500 tons of
yard trimmings that are taken to a compost facility where they are processed. The
finished compost is used in mulching oflandscape in and around municipal facilities,
given free to customers of the waste service operator, and the rest sold to others.

The 300 + 500 = 800 tons of materials taken in by the curbside recycling program
and sold to a recycler or delivered to a compost facility (and compost used)
represents 800 / 5000, or 16 percent (by weight) of the waste stream incoming to the
exempt transfer facility. The required records were kept and are available for
inspection, enabling the facility to demonstrate that it met its obligation.

Guidelines for Source-Separated Recycling Permit Exemption (rev. 06/19/06) Page 5 of 5

447
APPENDIX E
 .ece ived Ju I 26 2012 . ·Tam
JDl-26-2012 THU 08:48 AN FAX NO, P. 02

ALLISON, BASS & ASSOClA 'rES, L.L..P.
~~aX~.
A. 0, WATSONHOU&E
JAMES I'. ALLISON «12 Wn~r 12'" STim&T
J, fuuc MA.GE)t
~Eli1torY(ii)rJ1i,"JoJ1-lim.111,,wm ~m-~Ul~.tw;;t~~M!J!ro
AUSTIN, Tu.'!Wl 7S701
Ri>DERT 'f. IIA/lll ltiwUX.ll' L. bDDEIT!lR
pJ01dhel'l'fi!@"! 11rnn-!lllUi.£lllll

J1Jly 25, 2012
0 S;5
::i::
;;:;;
VIA FACS.IMJ.LE: 512-239-3939
AND CERTIFIED MAIL
.,,
Ri
S;::
z 0
rno
REVIEWED ("')

• ""',,.,, oSO
G ~:;: ·-~
M
Mr. Zak Covar
JUL 3 0 2012
::0
:;:>; °' t:i'.5~~
~(~'fl,
Executive Directo1·
,.#? U> -i.~;((} I)
~ - zz
12100 l'ark 35 Circle, MC 109
Austin, TX 78753 ts Vl
w ~
"'
RB: Pintail Landfill, L.L.C.
Waller County, Texas
Proposed. TCEQ Permit No. MSW 2377 - Permit Application; &
Proposec) TC:EQ Registration No. 40259 -- Transfer Station.

Dear Mr. Covar:
Enclosed please find Waller County's Request for Determination and Denial of Permit
Application and Registration Application regarding the above referenced matters. Waller
County reqtiests an expedited decision on this ll.equest.
Please contact me if you have any questions.

£t..-----..l 1 ~
Jam es P. Allison
JI'Nafb

cc: Senator Glenn Hegar
 /~---
!
Kecetv( Jul 26 201f . 61am
JUL-'",8-2012 THU 09: 48 AM . FAX NO. P. 03.

Proposed TCEQ P.ermit No. MSW 2377 ·
Proposed TCEQ Registration No. 40Z59 ("'.')
::x: . ·~ 0
IN THE MATTER OF THE §
...,
Ri N.
<....
c::·
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rnO
PINTAIL LANDFILL, L.L.C., FORA .§
n
r-
.= ZQ
O~S:-
NEW TYPE J MUNJClP AL SOLID §
F'"l . r...>
;:o ~ ;;:i;:::rr.
°' 0-l>'
.:gg:\&;
WASTE LANDFJLL AND § ""
(I)
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NEW TYPE V TRANSFER. STATION § -,.,
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WALLER COUNTY'S REQUEST FOR DETERMINATION (':;
!'"I
u:t
.t:::
r-
AND.DENIAL OF PERMIT APPLICATION·
AND REGISTRATION APPLICATION .

Waller County submits its Request for Determination mid Denial. of Pennit Application

and Registration Application concerning the Proposed. Pintail Landfill, L.L.C.'s ("Pintail") New

Type I Municipal Solid WasJe Landfill an.cl New TypeV T1:apsfer Sll!l.fon. Specifically, Waller

County requests that th!' Executive Director offue Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

(''the Commission") determine that Waller Co!lllty adopted an Ordimu.1ce prohibiting the

processing and disposal ofsolid waste in certain areas of the County and that Pintail's

applications for the proposed landfill and transfer station fail to comply with that Ordinance.

Therefore, the Executive Director should deny the roUJlicipal solid waste pennlt application and

the transfer statlon registration application. Waller County would show the Executive Director

the following:

I.
· J.>rohibitiou. on Solid Waste Disposal and Processing

It is policy of the State of Texas to safeguard the health, general welfare, and physical

property of the people and to protect the environme.nt by encouraging the reduction in solid

waste generation and the proper management of solid waste, including disposal. and processing to .

extract usable materials or energy. Tex. Health & Safely Code § 363.002. The Texas

Legislature has found that the improper management of solid waste creates hazards to the publi.c

health, can canse air and water pollution, creates public nuisances, and causes a blight on the
 r:ece i ve-d' Ju I 26 2012 , lam
JUL-26-2012 THU 09:48 AM FAX NO, p, 04

landscape; and thru: there is increasing public opposition to ihe locatio11 of solid waste land

disposal facilities, Id. § 36.3,003, As such, the Comprehensive Mtmioipal Solid Waste

Mm1ageme11t, Resource Recovery, aud Conservation Act ("Comprehensive Solid Waste Act")

authorizes Texas WLlnties lo prohibit the processing imd disposal of solid waste in certain areas.

Jd. § 363.112. The Cotuity Solid Waste Control Act fru1:her authoriws a county to prohibit the

disposal of mun:icipal odndustria1 solid waste in a county. Jd. § 364.012. These statutes are

similar in language and effect. They provide fol' the prohibition of solid waste disposal through

the passage of an ordinmce that specifically designating the areas where such disposal is not

prohibited. Id. §§ 363.l 12(a), 364.012(b). Both statutes expressly provide that the Commission
•'_.!

may not grant an application for a pe.rmit to process or dispose of municipal or solid waste in ao

area in which the processing o.r disposal of such waste is prohibited by a cou11ty ordinance. See

id,§§ 363.ll2(d),364.012(!).

There are limifod J'estrictions on the 00UI1ties' authority to prohibit the processing and

disposal of solid waste. Subsections 363.112(b) and 364.012(0) prescribe that an ordinance
·-; -

prohibiting such activity must be published for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general

circulation in the county, pdor to its enactment. Id. Subsectiou 364.012(d) al._10 prescribes that a

public hearing must be held on a proposed ordinance be;fore it is co11sidered by the

commissioners cot)rt, Jd. Finally, Snbs~ctions 363, J !2(c) and 364.012(e) provide that a cot)Ilty

may not prohibit tbe processing or disposal of a imn:ticipal or i:n:dtisirial solid waste i11 a11 area of

that county for which, "(l) an application for a permit or other authorization under Chapter 361

[of the Health and Safety Code] has been filed with and is pending befor; the commission; or (2)

a permit or autho1jzation Lmder Chapter. 361 has been, issued by tlie cornniission." Id.

On August 26, 2011, the Waller Cotmty Commi.ssioners Court enacted Ordinance No.

2011-00l (the "Ordinance"), exercising the foll authori!]' conferred on the County tinder tbe

Waller Counf.y'i:: Rcquc~tfor D~lotmlnation
o.rlcl RequeRt for Dt:niol of Ptrmil Applii!atlall
!\ncl RegistrfLnon Applic:n.tion
Paa62ofl3
 / {
Kecelvef- Jul 28 2012(~ 01am
JUL-26-2012 THU 09: 49 11M . FAX NO, P. 05 .

Texas Health and Safety Code, Sections 363.112 and 364.012, to prohibit the processing and

disposal of solid waste in certain areas of Waller CoUllty. Prior to its enactment, 1he Ordinance

was published for two consecutive weeks ill n newspaper of general circulation, and a public

hearing was beld on the proposed Ordinance before the Waller County Commissioners Court

considered it. See attached Exhibit A.

The Ordinance prohibits solid waste ·processing and disposal in certain areas of Wall er

County and provldes that the disposal of rmmicipal or solid waste is not prohibited in following

areas:

a) AJ,.y are withill a two (2) mile radius of any privately-owned solid waste
clisposal site holcling a currently or previously valid permit fo(· municipal
or solid waste disposal issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality ("TCEQ") and/or its predecessor agencies, as of the da:te of
adoption for this Ordinance, but not afterwards.
b) This Ordinance shall not apply to any municipal or solid waste disposal
facil:ity owned and/or operated by llllY unit of local govermnent (i.e., City,
Town, or Municipality) within Weller County, Any such municipal
or solid waste facilities are .n.ot in.eluded in the designations of areas
where disposal or municipal or solid waste is oot prohibited, and such
mm1icipal oi: solid waste facilities shall not be considered in calculating
the two (2) mile radius discussed above.

Waller County Ordin.ance No. 2011-001 (attached hereto and incorporated by reference as

Exhibit B.).

At the time that the Ordinance was enacted, there were no privately-owned solid waste

disposal sites in Waller County holding currently valid pem1its for municipal or solid waste

disposal. As such, the Ordinance clicl not .prohibit the processing or disposal of municipal or

solid waste in an area of Waller Cmmiy for which a permit or otller authorization under H.ealth

and Safety Code Chapter 361 (the "Solid Waste Disposal Act") had been isst1ed by the

Commission. Further, the Ordinance did not ]lTOblbit the processing or disposal of solid waste in

an area of the County for whicb an application far a permit or othei: atdhorization under the Solid

W~l!or CaL1nty's RequtSl fOI' Det·ei-nilnadon
and RcqHcl'tl 'for Dt:nikl.l of PernJit Applicu.tion
and Reg!stl'ei.tlon Applic.11.tlon
Pn11;el of13
 tte Facilities. See 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.57.

Subjection 330,57(a) deals with the manner in which applioations for pennits a:re processed.. lt

provides in pertillent part:

(a) Pemtit application. The application for a municipal solid waste facility is divided into
Parts I"IV. Parts I-IV of the application shall be required before the application is
declared admiuisiratively complete in accordance witl1 Chapter 281 of this title (relating
to Applications Processing), The owner or opera.tor shall submit a complete application,
containing Parts I-IV, before a heEJring oan be conducted on the teolmioa! design. merits of
the application. AJ.1 owner or operator applying for a pcnnit may rnques1 a land-use only
determination. If !be executive director detennines that a 1and-use only determ.inatjon is
appropriate. the owner or operator shall submit a partial application co11sistlng of Parts I
and II of the application. The executiye director may process a partial permit application
to the e1'ient necessary to determine laud-use compatibility alone. If the facility Is

Waller County 1s Roquosl for Dtil'imniriotlon
and Request for Donia\ ofP1:irm,!l Ar> Pl faatlon
ant:l Registrn.tion AppJJcatli:m
Peitl'F\ '\ flf11
 Received Jul 28 2012 c Jlam
JDL-28-2012' THU 09:49 AM FAX NO. P. 08

deten:n]ned to be acceptable on the basis of land use the executive director will consider
technicaj tuatters related to the permit application at a later time. When this procedure is
followed, an opportunity for a public. hearing will be offered for each determination in
accordf!Ilce w!tb § 39.419 of this title (relating to Notice of Application and Prelimiuary
Decision). A complete application, consisting of Parts J.JV of the application, shall be
submitted based upon the results of the land·u.se only pnblic hearing ...

Section 330.57 sets oui the parameters for a bifurcated application process. wli~re laod-use may

be addressed before technical matters are even cons.idered. Under this process, ;\ proposed

landfill operator initially stibmits a partial applioa:tion. The Execuli.ve Director is u11der no

obligati011 to consider the partial application. lf tl1e Executive Director detennines that a land-

use only deter.rnlnation is appropriate, he may process parts I and lJ of the applicirtion to the

extent necessary to determine land-use compatibifrly nlone. The proposed operator is not

applying for authoJ:iiy to conduct any activity by submitting a partial application, Rather, it is

merely requesting the Commission to determine whether a municipal solid waste :faciliiy would

be acceptable at a particular location, on the basis of land use, lf !he Execntive Director

determines that the proposed land-use would be acceptable at that location, he may consider

technical matters related to the permit applicati.on for a proposed facility at a later time (i.e., after

Parts ID and fv' are submitted), Every Part of a municipal solid waste facility application (i.e,,

Parts I through IV) must be filed with the Commission befo1·e the application can be declared

admiuistratively complete.

Whether an application can be declared. adminlsi-ratively complete also depends on

whether it contains complete information. The Executive Director detenniues when on

application is administratively complete. Tex. Health & Safely, Code § 361.066(~). The

Commission's rules set out the basic elements af a municipal o·o!id waste application. See 30

Tex. Admin. Code§§ 330.57 - 330.65. Failure to provide complete infoi-mation as required by

those ru.\es may be oause for the ExectJtive Director to return the app!icatio11 witlJout further

\Vall er Cou11ry1s Rcqu~st for Dctc;rmlnation
Wld Requos~ for D(:nh1.1 of Permit. A.ppllC11tlOl1
.and Rcgt!ll:rntion App!icadon
Pa.o6of13
 {~--
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Rece lvef Ju I 26 2D12( 52•m
JUL-26-2012 THU 09: 48 At! ·. FAX NO, P. 09 •

action, Id. § 330.57(d). Submission o:f false information s!Wl constitute grounds for denial of

the pennlt ot registration application. id. If the application is not amended to include the

in:fon:nation faat the Executive Director determines is necessary for administrative completeness,

"the application is considered withdraWil, l1!1less there are e:1.iennating cirOL\mStances. Tex.

Health'& Safety Code § 361.066(b). In other words, the Commission n1akes. a prelilriinary

evahiation of an application to determine whether it contains sufficient infonnation to even merit

a substantive review, If not, it may be involuntarily withdrawn or rejected,

Until an administratively complete application has been filed, the Commission caunot

conduct a substantive or technical review of the infoimation contained in the application. The

Executive Director OElllXIOt aot on m1 applicatiou ucless it meets tho relevant statutory and

administrative criteria. ::rn Tex, Adrnin, Code § 50.33(a). Accordingly, during the technical

review period, the Commission may send the applicant Notices of Deficiency. See e.g., 45 Tex.

Prac., Environmental Law § 10,5 (2d ed.), it is incumbent Llpon the proposed operator to correct

the deficiencies to meet the relevant statutory and administrative criteri.a, O.nly at that point can

the Execlitive Director act on an application. Therefore, an "application" for a permit under 1he

Solid Wfl.Ste Disposal Act is not pen.ding before tl1e Counnission until the Executive Director has

determined that it is both ndministratlveJy aud technically complete.

Pintail's July 22"d subrn.issfoD to tlle Commission incli;decl Parts I and II of an application

for a mmtlcipal solid waste facility, These documents were filed iD support of Pintail's roqu.est

that the Executive Director decide that a land-use only determin.ation was appropriate. The

Commissio.u's staff began to review Pintail's filing. Within a week, the Commission determined

that the partial application lacked the requisite info1mation, and sent a letter to Pintail requesting

additional .it.rfonnation. Agai11 on September 30, 2011, the Commission sent a Jetter io Pintail

Wfl.llcr CoJJnty's R~q\Jt:!lt for Ddorminneio11
1mcl Re.quest f.cl1' Pr:iTii~l of Penn it Aµpl icntion
and Registr.o.tTon Appllc11tlon
Paae7of13
 Received ju I 28 2012 Oc .a•
JUL-26-2012 THU 08:49 AM FAX NO, P. 10

indicating that its partial application contained deficiencies and errors, in at least thil:ty-fo''1r

areas. Notab.ly, the Jetter included the following io.struction to Pintail:

111is application is a permit app!icaP.on fm land-t1se determination. Therefore,
where applicable in the application document, please replace the rerm "Permit
Application" with the "Permit Application for Land-Use Only Detenninatim1.
See Letter from Kenneth Welch dated .Tl!nuary 18, 2012 at pg. 2. 1

More 1han three months later, Pintail responded. At that point, Pintail elected to abandon the

bifurcated approval process, amending i.ts appli.cation to include all four Parts of an application.

The Commission did not issue notice that the Pintall application was administratively complete

until February 2012. Even then, the Cor=.iss.ion's substantive re1~ew of l'intail's application

revealed that it was replete with errors and deficiencies. On April 10, 2012, the Corr.mission

sent its First Noiice of Technical Deficiency to Pintail indicating that its application contairted

deficiencies and errors in at least 241 Bl'eas. Notably, this First Notice identified the following

deficiency in Part! of the pennit application fonn:

Section B of 1he form indicates the proposed facility is not located in an area in
which the governing body of the oot\nty bas prohibited the disposal or processing
of industrial or municipal solid waste. Our searches indicate that the W sller
County, the governing body of 1he county where the proposed facility will be
locsted, has adopted au ordinance in August 2011, rogm·ding designating areas in
the county where MSW disposal is not prohibited. Please revise this section and
provide information abot\! tile mentioned ordinance,

Pintail did not respond until at least May 31, 2012. In response to the above noted deficiency,

Pintail merely set for1h a .conclusory statenient, asserting that the Ordinance does not prohibit its

disposal of solid waste in Waller County because it submitted its partial and incomplete

application forms to the Commission. Bee Letter from Kenneth Welch dated January l 8, 2012. 2

Pintail ignored the fact that the Ordinance is p!'esumed valid and binding under the law of Texas.

1
Availal;lo at; hitp://www .blggsandmnthews.com/files/55/l .0%20%20V o1%201, %20Response%20Ltr%20·
%20Part'/o201.pdf,
'Available at: http://www.bigg•andmathews.com/files/65/01 %20Vol%10l %20Proposcd Transfer Station

The secoud set of documents that Pintail filed with the Commission related to a 'fype V

Registration Application for a proposed transfer station ("Transfer Station") to be located with.in

the boundary of the Proposed Landfill. The Commission received these documents on August 2,

2011. S11ch a registratio.n ls required. for a transfer station located within the boundaries of a

Type I municipal solid waste facility. 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.9(b), As mentioned above,

the Executive Director cannot act on any application unless it meets the relevant statutory and

administrative criteria. 30 Tex. AdJniil. Code § 50.33(a).

As with its pru:<:ial land:fill pennit ~pplication, Pintail's Transfer Station registration

applicl1.tion was grossly deficient. On October 27, 2011, the Conu:nission sent Pintail the First

Notice of Deficiency. Xt identified at least 39 areas where the Transfer Station registration

application was deficient Later in Febrnary of 2012, the Comni.ission sent Pintail a Second

Notice of Deficiency which identi:Ged at least 22 arens Ll'f deficiency. Then in April 201.2, the

Commissio.n sent Pintail its Third Notice of Deficiency, identifying at least thirteen areas of

deficiency. Finally, on. .TL\ne 25, 2012, the Commission sent PintaU its Fourth Notice of

Wall ell' Counzy 1s Rcql1e1:1t for DJnnti11~ ct:nnln nINi~ in prodm\ty le
; 16 D~fJting or formtirly "P<'nniUed privDlc.l)' ~ i:wn1c:d. ,oli!S wr.-to di~oi:al flhci: whl1in Wo.lli:.r Coun1,y,
IJld Ti:::x.r.110: and,
ll:J·
I WS'.EllEAS, ni.i:h d.~ilJAAtitlru will u.11ow W•lb:r C~y lo molliHlr lhe ll3t, coodhicn,
llQd b11:t.1rdJ O.S1t1cilllod wl~I Jni)d wiu.t1:1 dhfO~tll till!! wilho11L.hnvlnc: ltl ullJ\-W fv.ndn It~ f1:crfotrn
$W!Cit'tici.lorn thl'Jl1.1.!ho.vi 1ho e.Jltire urc11 of W11t11ir Co.uni)'; l'fcxmi:: nncl,
I WllEll'&i\&, 1hiJ ORDtNANCB '.UIUI bee11 ·pu\J!lshi:d for1wo come:G\llfvi:: Wee~
f -md 1.p11bU~ htbl:illll ~ hcld.011Allf(!Jl1, 2.011 Md QI\ it1t~V~lil~d cltir.cn& o.fWnikt
]' · CG\!l'll)' WelJl p°i.nnlllreli ~0 I~: o.ad,

r Wl:U!:REAS, Pll r1o.:c.d11ro11, ccntlilionP, 11nd JllllCW141"JUhul und/or
l\ffotddl by tilt! applltt.tbfo &eCricn& orlhi: 1\::x.~ licubh ti.nil Snfety COi.in bnva been followod'by
'I
1.
\h11 Cornm\s:l;;fln~ri; Co\l'C\, pUriaflru to '11101 ORPEJt IT~bfllt:d by Ute Con'tnilii~iontlfl Cour1 on 111lt
l'-, lOU nnd f.ound l11 lhl:i"Mlou1co- or 11~ ComrriJ.11i\1'11'1rn Co1111 Ccr th111 day;
I NOW, TBERJ;!F'Olm,
llll·lT 01\l>h-lNSll B~ TIJE COMMlSS!ONE!tS COU1t1' O>' WALLE~
()OIJNTY. TID(AS:
So0.~on I, U11 Co.TJJrnlulaatil:li Court ndopu 1h11 R~cil~!J nl;>ovr; 11,~ lo fl-ndlnu-~,
j
Stcdon2, }'l)..,Ullllf IO Scc:Lit1m1::lt.il.ll2~for364.0ll of U:le T~x11:s ltci!llth I
mtll So!c:1y Codi!!, t.bt: fD)J(l1.1(j[l~· Aleil.(R) Within l~fo\li:=t County, TDl!.AJ in uihlc\i 1
111uniciptJ cir indu-nrl.U 3l'lnd w.u:1i;: d~,11.l i! nDi proh-ibhc.d;
ti.) /\J1'j DICU WJtbin {I two ('Z.) ml\u rildi~l or ll.0}' pr.ivnlc!i•OWflexl ,13}l(I
!
wan~ di~GJ •he: h.Dldµig" curnmlly or prcv\l:mvly Villi~ pi::nnlt ft1r-'°lhl wu\l!I dls'p~oJ. ~llt:d i
by 1?icTu~\IJ. Cornm\nlitm oo Environmtri.Ut\ QunUiy (i'Cl:!Q) m1Nor iu. rm:rlcu.tf.Or H$:t.t1cli;t; tl1'. i
of !hcD1.ui of Adoptiotl ol lhllt Ortli1"'111ce, bu\ nol llfu:riiii11~d.G. l
b)Thlll OPJ\t1DJ;1::e lhllll no! llpJl1)" 10 any •o!ld ~'11\iro d.i;tpoo.QJ 11,CJJ. o\L'ricd or
Dpcrolcd tiy nny Munkripnil(.f wltb.il) W~lk:r C~\lniy. Suen M»nii:lr11.illly owntd 101ii\ wn(lo:
~ii~ ahllll n111 be i.nd11ili;:d f Pf flll)' purpo~. in!!.j11tlinc, ~'" 11itlcn1}11licn or,.,~ l\lf{!o (l) mile
:ma1u~ ~Wn:mro1.

, c) Tuia Oniintu1011 5hnll h11vi: Jbi> l.im-lrn1li:rt1cl Jllld. rtill p~•~iX~~hiBllh ill!~ &hfary CoUi::imd tn~Y nu1 he nxi:rcia:cd wllbn:rpccl
.,,o Pn:.it.'l tll-wlllah S'ElCl.lon 361.090a! ~11.!d eoc~ llPJllicri.

S~clinn 5, 'J'lru ORDlN !\NCH may bt Mfli:;ndtd frl.lm iimc. to 1imei nl ll1o 'llJ.cr~1ioQ ol'~
· .Mll.)1ri:5ty vale at \he Cl'lmtni~1\ont"r.I Ca1111.

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 ._,ce ived Jul 26 2012 .3am
JUL-26-2012 THU 09:50 At! FAX NO. p' 18

Exhibit B
 --------------

/'",

-Receive(
Ju I 26 201l
JUL-28-2012 THU 09:50 All ·. FAX NO, p, 19 •.

Walle~ County, Tmtss Ordinpncc No. 20il·D01

Ii AN OlIDIN:ANCE l.>ESIGNATING AREAS IN WALLER COl.JNTY, TEXi\s WHERE
MCOOCll'AL OR SOLID WASTE DlS!:'OSAL XS NOT l:'ROHJBITED PURSUANT 'J.'0
' ' TEX:AS HEAL'.111 AND SAFETY CODE s:ii::cr11;>NS 363.Ui AND/OR 364.0ll,

W.IIEJ.l.EAS, the Commissioners Court of Waller County, Texas, (''the Commissioners
Court") h118 the authority to act to protect the Health, Safety, and Welfare of its CitiUXlll and th•·
public o.t lorgc;

.WHEREAS, a majority of the Commissioners Court has detennined that the resources of
the County are .bem seI"l/ed b:J'., and the Health, Safety, and Welfare of the citizens of Wruler
County and the public at llll'(!e will be best protected by, dcsil!D"ting the areas set forth billow es
areas in which municipal or solid waste dispoSal will not be pemiit:ted; ,
,,! a
WIIEltEAS, this Ordinonce was published for two consecutive weeks in newspapor(s)
of genoral circulation, and a ·pµblic' heating was held on Augus( 26, 2011, where nil interested
citizens of Wti.llor CountY wm: permitted to speak; and

WHEREAS, thi• Ordin1111ce complies with .Tei>M Health 1111d Safety Code Sections
363.112 end 364.0lZ;

·NOW, 'IlmREFORE:

BE IT OR.D:ERED llil ':r:a::E COMMISSIONERS COURT OF WALLER COUNn",
TEXAS: .
Section l. The Coromissipners Court ndopts tlle Recitals Above as its findings.

Section2. Unless 1111 area is specificll.!ly designated as an lll'CO. wbare municipal or
solid waste disposal ls not prohibited (disCUllsed· below), di"Posal 'of.
municipal or solid Wa!lte in Wallor County is prohibited. · .

Sectio11 3. Purswµit to Texas Health and Safety Code Sections 363. 112 ondlo~
364.0li, the disposal of municipal or ~oUd WOB!e is not proln'blted in the
following atoa(s) within Waller County, Texas: ·

a) Any area within 11 two (2) mile radius of any privarely·owned solid
wasre disposal sito holding a currently or previously valid pennit
fox municlpal or solid waste disposal issued by the Texas
Commission an Enviroomentlll Quality ("TCEQ") and/or its·
predecessor agencies, as of the date ofadoption of this Orller Poldnda (Pct. 2)
Comminloner Cedillo (Pct. 3)
commiMioner Kitzman (l"ci. 4).
County .Judge Be~kendorfi

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SEP-04-2012 TUE 03' ·o PM FAX NO. P. 02/02

ALLISON, BASS & ASSOCL<\TES, L.L.P.
™ ..............::r" a..i,,, . (il
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A. 0. WATSON HODSE
JAMES P. ALLISON 4112 WEST 12"' STREET
j&lli1mnr0J.111Ti~n11~iw~
AUSTIN, T)C:QS 787111
l11w0i'11"1lllm~1-b~~!<."~rm JANA CLIFT W!LLIAMS
ROBERT T. BASS 1.wimvm~lfflnl!l~QH·hit~~.l'mti
(°512) 4S1-010l
.r:J:1ns&@i~llisou-b»llN.tom
FAX (512) 481)..0~0.2
PHILLIP L. Ll~b1~1t·n·1cR
o,l!•dht-J1J!rWnlHBnt!~hpyA Cllill

September 4, 2012

VIA F ACSL1\1ILE: 512-239-3939
AND CERTIFIED MAIL

Mr. Zak Covar
Executive Director
REVIEWED
Texas Commission on Environmental QL1ality
12100 Park35 Circle, MC 109
SEP 05 2012
Austin, TX 78753 By 6f?
RE: Pintail Lmdfill, L.L,C.
Waller County, Texas
Proposed TCEQ Permit No. MSW 2377 - Permit Application; &
Proposecj TCEQ Registration No. 40259 -- Transfer Station.

Dear Mr. Covar:
On July 25, 2012, Waller County submitted its Request for Detem1ination and Denifll of
Permit Application and Registration Application regarding the above referenced matters. Waller
County requested an expedited decision on this Request. On July 31, 2012, we received a letter from
the Chief Clerk, Bridget C. Bohac, stating that "our comments will be considered by the staff prior to
the final decision on the application."
As previously requested, we seek a determination that the Waller County Ordinance prohibits
the processing aµd disposal of solid waste at tbe proposed Pintail site. Further, we request that YDL!
detem1ine that Pintail failed to submit applications that met the relevant statL~tory and administrative
criteria before the adoption of the county ordinance. Therefore, further considoration of these
applications by the TCEQ is unnecessary as Pintail cannot obtain the requisite permit and
registration, as a matter oflaw. Waller County re-Urges its request for an expedited decision on these
matters.
Thank you for your time and attention to the matter. Please contact me if you have· any
questions. _,
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Sincerely, rn
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. James P. Allison ""
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cc: Senator Glenn Hegar "" L.V
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APPENDIX F
 HANCESCARBOROUGH,LLP
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW Michael L. Woodward
Attorney
woodward@hslawmail.com

October 29, 2012
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REVIEWED C")
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OCT 3 1 2012 n "--< c)~~-f
Ms. Bridget Bohac
Chief Clerk
Office of the Chief Clerk, MC 105
By
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
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P.O. Box 13807 i"T1 1·0 le'
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Austin, TX 78711-3087

RE: Pintail Landfill Transfer Station, Proposed TCEQ Registration No. 40259

Dear Ms. Bohac:

On behalf of Citizens Against the Landfill in Hempstead, please accept our

comments on the above-referenced proposed Pintail Landfill Transfer Station.

I. Introduction

Our firm represents Citizens Against the Landfill in Hempstead ("CALH") in

the above-referenced matters. CALH is an organization with over 400 members

comprised of Waller County landowners, residents, business owners, and many

other affected parties who have legitimate reasons to oppose the above-referenced

registration as well as the larger proposed landfill facility that encompasses the

proposed transfer and recycling facility. Several of CALH's members own land,

reside, and work adjacent to the proposed "transfer station" .and landfill site. We

understand that the application of Pintail Landfill, L.L.C. for TCEQ Type I MSW

Facility Proposed Permit No. 2377 (landfill permit) is also under review by the

111 Congress Avenue, Suite 500 ·Austin, TX 78701- Tel: (512) 479-8888 ·Fax: (512) 482-6891
Other Offices - Washington, D.C.
Page2

TCEQ, which proposes to include the Type V transfer station registration and

recycling center within the landfill facility.

Thousands of comments and hearing requests have already been filed

regarding the landfill permit and this registration. We hereby include and reiterate

all other comments in opposition to the landfill application and transfer station

registration stated in the TCEQ records for both matters, and on behalf of CALH

and its members, we hereby formally request the Type V transfer station

registration (New Municipal Solid Waste Facility Registration Application No.

40259) be denied. In the alternative, we respectfully request that the matter be

consolidated with the consideration of the proposed Pintail Landfill Permit

Application for the MSW facility that is to be located at the same site as the facility

that is the subject of this registration (J\1SW Facility Proposed Permit No. 2377).

As adjacent landowners and neighboring businesses, CALH's members will

be adversely affected by the proposed landfill and transfer station in a manner not

common to members of the general public. Due to their close proximity, these

individuals and families will be adversely impacted by the increased truck traffic

traveling to and from the proposed trash facilities, will be impacted by the nuisance

odors and wind-blown trash emanating from the trash operations, and will face a

real threat to quantity and quality of their drinking water that comes from the

shallow aquifer that lies beneath the proposed facilities. These members rely on

this aquifer as their sole source of drinking water, and the trash facilities are

proposed to be situated on the sandy recharge zone of this aquifer. Additionally,
Page 3

those members of CALH living downstream from the proposed trash facilities on

Clear Creek will be impacted by the pollution and potential flooding caused by the

increased runoff containing contaminants from the trash facilities.

II. Summary

In summary, CALH comments that the proposed Transfer Station must be

permitted, not just registered, under the applicable rules. The registration

application plainly states that the applicant is not just requesting a transfer

station, but rather, is seeking a recycling facility. 1 Therefore, a mere registration is

inadequate and TCEQ should deny the registration application. Even if TCEQ were

to consider the application, a registration for a waste separation/recycling facility

can only be considered after a final decision is rendered on the pending Pintail

MSW landfill application at the same location. Therefore, consideration of the

registration application at this time is premature,. and would violate TCEQ rules.

Additionally, the Applicant failed to supplement its application with the crucial fact

that there is a County Ordinance prohibiting disposal of waste at the proposed

location. The County Ordinance was passed soon afterthe registration application

was filed, and Pintail has failed to satisfy the obligation to supplement its

application to correct this inaccuracy. Finally, this registration application should

have already been returned to the applicant. Even with all the above-referenced

defects, the Applicant has been afforded five (5) separate Technical Notices of

1 "Pintail Landfill, LLC expects to begin a C&D waste recycling and transfer operation prior to
commencement of landfill operations." See Exhibit 1: Registration Application, Part 1 Fmm - Part
I, page I-1.
Page 4

Deficiency (NODs) and two (2) extensions of time to respond to the NO D's from the

TCEQ. This is in direct conflict with the TCEQ's previous warnings to the applicant

and the TCEQ policies outlined in the MSW Registration Application Process

description, which is located in the TCEQ Sunset Evaluation Report. In its First

Technical NOD dated October 27, 2011, the TCEQ flatly warned the applicant that

the TCEQ did not "anticipate granting an extension of time to fulfill this request",

and that a "third notice of technical deficiency will not be issued." How many bites

of the apple does Pintail get to adequately respond to the numerous concerns

outlined by the TCEQ staff regarding this proposed "transfer station" and recycling

facility? For these reasons, and for all other reasons raised by commenters on the

Pintail Transfer Facility Registration Application and the Pintail Landfill

Application, we respectfully request that the TCEQ summarily deny the

registration application. In the alternative, we request that the TCEQ consolidate

this registration request with the consideration of the pending landfill permit

application, and abstain from considering this registration until after a final

decision is rendered on the pending Pintail MSW landfill application at the same

location, in accordance with TCEQ rules.

HI. A Permit (Not a Mere Registration) Is Required to Operate the
Proposed "Transfer Facility," Which Is Actually A Recycling
Processing Facility. Because No Permit Application Was Filed,
TCEQ Should Deny the Registration Application.

30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.7 requires a permit for any activity of storage,

processing, removal, or disposal of any solid waste, except as provided by § 330.9
Page 5

(and a few other sections that do not apply here). A recycling facility may .only be

authorized through registration at a permitted MSVV facility owned by the permitee.

30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.9(c). In other words, a recycling facility reqmres a

separate permit when there is no existing MSW permit.

In this case, the Applicant seeks a registration for a recycling facility when

there is no existing MSW permit. 2 Such an application is illegal under TCEQ rules.

Under the applicable rule, § 330.9(c), the Applicant is required to seek a permit for

a processing facility that performs waste-separation/recycling activities.

Making matters worse, the Applicant seeks to circumvent the required

permitting process by incorporating its unauthorized recycling application into a

registration for a transfer facility.s Transfer facilities, recycling facilities, and

waste-separation/recycling facilities are each different under the rules. 4 Each type

of facility presents different environmental challenges and consequences.

z The registration application states, "A permit application for the Pintail Landfill (Proposed Permit
No. MSW-2377) has been filed with TCEQ and is currently pending. Requests for authorizations to
operate the composting and C&D facilities in conjunction with the Pintail Landfill will be submitted.
However, in order to meet expected demand and to initiate a market for incoming C&D waste
materials, Pintail Landfill, LLC expects to begin a C&D waste recycling and transfer operation prior
to coniniencenient of landfill operations. This registration application, is being subniitted to obtain
authorization for this initial phase C&D waste recycling and transfer operation to be conducted on
the same site on which the Pintail Landfill will eventually be developed. It is anticipated that the
C&D waste recycling and transfer facility will operate for no more than five years pursuant to this
registration and that subsequent C&D waste processing and recycling will be conducted under
further authorizations." See Exhibit 1: Registration Application, Part 1 Form - Part I, page I-1
(emphasis added).
' See id.; see also 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.3(125) (defining "Registration" as "[t]he act of filing
information with the commission for review and approval for specific solid \Vaste management
activities that do not require a permit, as determined by this chapter.")
' 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.3(157) ("Transfer Station--A facility used for transferring solid waste
from collection vehicles to long-haul vehicles (one transportation unit to another transportation
unit). It is not a storage facility ..."); 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.3(173) ('Waste-
separation/recycling facility--A facility, sometimes referred to as a material recovery facility, in
 -------···

Page 6

With these differences in mind, the rules were written in order to protect the

environment--calling for a permit to operate a recycling facility or a waste-

separation/recycling facility, but allowing a registration for smaller transfer

facilities. 5 A transfer station transferring less than 125 tons of waste per day from

collection vehicles directly to long-haul vehicles, may be registered. This type of

transfer operation is not what the Applicant seeks, as described in the application.

There are real-life environmental consequences when the permitting process

is circumvented. The process exists to protect the environment and the public.

Here, it is the members of CALH and the environment that stand to lose if this

registration application is granted. The rules are clear-a permit is required. The

Applicant impermissibly seeks to operate an unpermitted recycling facility under

the registration process. For this reason alone, the TCEQ should summarily deny

the Transfer Station Application, which is illegal under applicable rules.

IV. If TCEQ Considers Applicant's Illegal Registration Application, the
MSW Landfill Application Must Be Considered Before Taking Action
on the Registration Application

As previously discussed, waste separation/recycling facilities require a

separate permit when there is no existing MSW permit. 30 Tex. Admin. Code §

330.7 (requiring a permit); 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.9(c) (allowing registration

which recyclable materials are removed from the waste stream for transport off-site for reuse,
recycling, or other beneficial use."); 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.3(122) ("Recycling--A process by
which materials that have served their intended use or are scrapped, discarded, used,. surplus, or
obsolete are collected, separated, or processed and returned to use in the form ofraw materials in the
production of new products.")
5 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.9(c) (allowing a registration for a waste-separation/recycling facility only
when established at a permitted MSW facility) (emphasis added); see a.lso 30 Tex. Admin. Code §
330.9(b)(3) ("relating to registration for a facility transferring less than 125 tons of municipal solid
waste per day.)
Page 7

when there is an existing MS\V permit). Therefore, the Pintail Registration

Application, which includes recycling activities, cannot be considered without first

making a final determination on Pintail's MSW Application. The TCEQ should

flatly deny the improper recycling registration because no MSW permit exists.

However, if the registration application is to be considered, the TCEQ must at least

refrain from considering it until a final decision is rendered on the pending Pintail

MSW landfill application at the same location.

V. Applicant Failed to Supplement Its Application With the County
Ordinance Prohibiting a Landfill at the Location

Applicant has failed to uphold its duty to supplement its application by

neglecting to inform the TCEQ that a County ordinance exists prohibiting disposal

at the location. The Applicant has a duty to supplement information that is

incorrect. Indeed, the affidavit attached to the application is a statement by the

preparer that the information is "true, accurate, and complete." Furthermore, every

MS'.V permit recognizes this duty with a standard permit condition-"[w]here the

perrnittee becomes aware that it failed to submit any relevant facts in a permit

application, or submitted incorrect information in an application, or in any report to

the executive director, it shall promptly submit such facts or information." 6 This

duty makes sense. Permits should not be granted upon false information.

The registration application was filed on 8/2/2011 and stated that no County

ordinance existed prohibiting disposal at the location. See Exhibit 2: Registration

s 30 Tex. Admin. Code§ 305.125(19).
Page 8

Application Excerpt (Denial that County Ordinance Exists): However, Waller

County Ordinance No. 2011-001 was passed less than a month later, on August 26,

2011. Furthermore, Applicant regularly attends Waller County Commissioners'

meetings and has met with the County Commissioners on multiple occasions. Yet,

Applicant chose not to abide by its duty to supplement its application. Applicant

chose not to disclose the County ordinance that prohibits disposal at its proposed

location.

Under 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.57(d), the application should have been

returned for incomplete information.7 Now, more than one year later, there has still

been no supplement by Applicant. Therefore, the application should be denied

because the assertion that no County ordinance prohibits disposal at the location is

false and Applicant knew better. 8

VI. Applicant Received Five Technical Notices of Deficiency and Two
Extensions to Respond, when Initially Informed there Would be No
Extensions and Only 2 NOD's

In the initial Technical NOD9 dated October 27, 2011, the TCEQ reviewer of

the registration wrote, "we do not anticipate granting an extension of time to fulfill

this request. Also, please be aware a third notice of technical deficiency will not be

issued." The reviewer also stated in the same correspondence that "Failure to

130 Tex. Admin. Code§ 330.57(d) ("Failure of the owner or operator to provide complete information
as required by this chapter may be cause for the executive director to return the application without
further action ..." "Submission of false information shall constitute grounds for denial of the permit or
registration application.")
8Jd.
9 Although this Technical NOD was labeled the First Technical NOD, there was actually
correspondence from the TCEQ dated August 15, 2011 that was labeled "Preliminary Review" asking
for information to be added to the original registration request.
 ---------

Page 9

submit a satisfactory response to each of the noted deficiencies may result in the

application being returned due to technical deficiencies." These statements by staff

are consistent with TCEQ policies, as recently expressed in its TCEQ Sunset

Evaluation Reportrn As stated in the report, which is a flowchart of the MSW

Registration Application Process, applications are returned to the applicant after an

applicant unsuccessfully resolves the Second NOD.

Regardless of these statements and the dissonance with applicable TCEQ

policies, on December 2, 2011, an extension was granted to allow Pintail additional

time to respond to the First NOD. Pintail did respond on January 18, 2012, but the

response was again inadequate, as the reviewer sent another request for additional

information on February 17, 2012. And, even though it is labeled "First Technical

Notice of Deficiency", the letter is clearly an indication that Pintail did not submit a

satisfactory response to each of the noted deficiencies in the first technical notice of

deficiency. As such, it appears the application should have been returned at this

time. However, not only was the registration not returned, Pintail was granted yet

another extension to respond to the Third Technical NOD.11 Despite the statements

from TCEQ staff that there would not be more two (2) NODs, this pattern continued

for a total of six (6) NODs.

10 See Exhibit 4: MSW Registration Application Process, TCEQ Sunset Evaluation Report, October
2009, SFR-089 (contemplating only two (2) Notices of Deficiency (NODs) before retmning an
application for an MSW registration).
11 Interestingly, this Technical NOD was not given a number (nor were the two subsequent NODs of

June 25, 2012 and August 16, 2012, given a number), but by our count it is actually the Fourth NOD
when you count the "Preliminary Review".
---- ----------- - - - - - - - - - -- - - - -

Page 10

The application should have been returned after the Second NOD, in

accordance with the TCEQ's policy and the TCEQ staffs statements. Allow:iJ.1g the

Applicant to continue to inadequately respond to more than two (2) Technical

NOD's is a departure from normal policy, and should not be allowed by the

Commission. For this reason alone, the transfer and recycling facility registration

application should be denied.

VIII. Conclusion

The proposed "Transfer Station" must be permitted, not merely registered,

under the applicable rules. It is not a transfer station, but a recycling facility.

Therefore, a mere registration is inadequate and TCEQ should deny the

registration application. Even if TCEQ were to consider the application, a

registration for a waste separation/recycling facility can only be considered after a

final decision is rendered on the pending Pintail MSW Landfill Application at the

same location. Therefore, consideration of the registration application at this time

is premature, and approval would violate TCEQ rules. Additionally, the Applicant

failed to supplement its application with the crucial fact that there is a County

Ordinance prohibiting disposal of waste at the proposed location. Finally, this

registration application should have already been returned to the applicant. the

Applicant has been afforded five (5) separate Technical Notices of Deficiency

(NODs) and two (2) extensions of time to respond to the NOD's from the TCEQ.

This is in direct conflict with the TCEQ's previous warnings to the applicant and
 -----------------

Page 11

the TCEQ policies outlined in the MS\V Registration Application Process, and

should result in denial of the registration application.

For these reasons, and for all other reasons raised by commenters opposed to

the Pintail Transfer Facility Registration Application and the Pintail Landfill

Application, we respectfully request that the TCEQ summarily deny the

registration application. In the alternative, we request that the TCEQ abstain

from considering this matter until after a final decision is rendered on the pending _

Pintail MSW landfill application at the same location.

Michael L. Woodward

Cc: Mr. Zak Covar, MC 109
Executive Director, TCEQ

Mr. Brent \Vade, MC 123
Deputy Director, TCEQ Office. of Waste

Mr. Earl Lott, MC 126
Director, TCEQ Waste Permits Division

Mr. Blas J. Coy, Jr., MC 103
Public Interest Counsel, TCEQ
Page 12

Exhibit 1
Registration Application Excerpt (Activity Description)
 ----- ··-- ----------

1 GENERAL
30 TAC §330.59(a){1)

Pintail Landfill, LLC intends to develop Pintail Park and Landfill on the east side of State
Highway 6, approximately 1 mile north of US Highway 290 in northern Waller County.
This project is planned to include an industrial park, a municipal solid waste landfill
facility, a green waste composting facility, and a constnuction and demolition {C&D)
waste processing and recycling operation. A permit application for the Pintail Landfill
{Proposed Permit No. MSW-2377) has been filed with TCEQ and is currently pending.
Requests for authorizations to operate the composting and C&D facilities in conjunction
with the Pintail Landfill will be submitted. However, in order to meet expected demand
and to initiate a market for incoming C&D waste materials, Pintail Landfill, LLC expects
to begin a C&D waste recycling and transfer operation prior to commencement of landfill
operations. This registration application is being submitted to obtain authorization for
this initial phase C&D waste recycling and transfer operation to be conducted on the
same site on which the Pintail Landfill will eventually be developed. It is anticipated that
the C&D waste recycling and transfer facility will operate for no more than five years
pursuant to this registration and that subsequent C&D waste processing and recycling
will be conducted under further authorizations.

Pintail Landfill, LLC intends to register and operate a Type V municipal solid waste
transfer station in northwest Waller County off State Highway 6. The Pintail Landfill
Transfer Station will be a Type V municipal solid waste transfer facility that will accept
only construction and demolition wastes. The site entrance will be located about 1 mile
north of the intersection of State Highway 6 and US Highway 290 off of Wendt Road, on
the east side of State Highway 6. The proposed facility is intended to provide transfer
and recycling capabilities for construction and demolition. waste for the City of
Hempstead, Waller County, and the surrounding areas. The facility will be designed to
protect the health and safety of the people in the region.

This application has been prepared consistent with 30 TAC Chapter 330 Municipal Solid
Waste Management Regulations {MSWMR) adopted by the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ), effective March 27, 2006 and May 29, 2008.

It is intended that this registration be processed in accordance with §330.9(b){3), which
allows for a transfer station facility to be registered if the facility will transfer 125 tons per
day or less. The proposed Pintail Landfill Transfer Station will transfer less than 125
tons per day.

Part I of this registration application contains information about the site and the applicant
as required in 30 TAC §§281.5, 305.45, and 330.59. Part II of the registration
application describes the existing conditions and character of the facility and
surrounding area as required in §330.61. Part Ill of the registration application presents
engineering information, detailed investigative reports, the schematic designs of the
facility, and the required plans as required in §330.63. Part IV of the registration

Biggs & Mathews Environmentill 1-1 Pintail Landfill Transfer Station
M:IPROJ\129101\102\PART 1.DOC Rev. O, 8/1/11
Part I
Page 14

Exhibit 2
Registration Application Excerpt (Denial that County Ordinance Exists)
 ---------------

B. Facility Location

Waller Count

Located southeast of the intersection of Highway 6 and Kelley Road in-Walier County, TeX.as approximately one
mile no1ih from Hempstead, Texas.
.

.pi;if permitted to speak; md

WHEREAS, thl$ Ordlrum:ce complies \\1th ·Texas :Health and Safety Code s~~
:l-63., 112 and 364.012;

·NOW, TIIll:REFORE:
BE IT ORDE"'dD BY THE COMMISSIONE...'l!l COURT OF WALLE...ll COUNTY,
TEXAS: .

~on l. The Commissi.pners Court adopts tlieo R.edtals Abovt as its findings.
Section 2. Unless an area is specifically designated as an area where municipal or
solid. waste disposal is not p!l)hibited (discussed: below), disposal of'
municipal or solid waste in Waller Countyis prohibited. ·

S~ol'.\ ~. Pur~t ro Texas Health and Safety Co-;le Section$ 363.112 and/or.
364.012, the dlsposal of nnmicipal or solid_ waste is oot
proliioited in the
following lll'.ea(s} within Waller C:Ounty, Texas: ..
a.) Any lll'ea within a two (2) mile radius of any privately-owned solid
waste disp6sa! $ile holding a currently or previously valid permit
fur municipal m· solid waste disposal issued by the Texas
Corrunissfon on Envirorunerr!al Qualit;t ("TCEQ') and/or its-
i,)redecessor agencies, as of me dale ;;if adoption of this Ordinance,
butnotiriterwards. ·

b} Thia Ordinance sl1all not 11pply ta sny :omllicipal Of rolid· waste
disposal facility owned and/or operated by any unit of local
. '"
•

government (i.e.: Ciiy, Towrt, C>r Municipality} within Waller
County. &y such munipipa! or solid waste tilcilitie$ are not ·
included iii the designations of areas where disposal of municipal
or solid waste is not prohibited, and such municipal qr wlid. was'"'
facilities shall not be considered in calculatlng tho two (2) milll
radius discussed above.

(c) This Ordinance shall be con:;true4 as exercising the full ru:rthoriiy
conforred on the Counfy under Texas Health and Safety' Code
Sections· 363.112 and 364.012, wbjeet only to the. Hmitatlons
imposed on the County's aLrthority by state or federal law.

Section 4. This Ordinance may be l!Illended fr= time to time at the d.iscretlon: of a I
majority vole of the Commissioners Court •

Section 5. This Ordinl!!!Ce shall be recorded in !lie Min~es of Commissi~eri Court
Ir
I
ORDER, PASSED AND ADOPTED nn: thls 10.. ~day of August, 2011...

!.

(Check one}
VOTING: AYE NAY . ABSTAIN.
.i
I
Com.mi&sionar Styers (l"ct.1)
Commissioner Polduda {Pc:t. 2}
"x ' !

Commisifon.er Cedilla (l"c:t. 3) x
<;ommissioner Kitzman (Pel 4).
County Judge Bedrendorff

"
."
i.
I
Page 19

Exhibit 4
MSW Registration Application Process
 --- ......
..........

BRYAN W, SHAW, PH.D., CHAIRMAN

BUDDY GARCIA, COMMISSIONER

CARLOS RUBINSTEIN, CDMMISSfONE:R

MARK R. V_ICKERY, P.G., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

WE AUTHORIZE YOU TO USE OR REPRODUCE ANY ORIGINAL MATERIAL

CONTAINED IN THIS PUBLICATION-THAT IS," ANY MATERIAL WE DID NOT

OBTAIN FROM OTHER SOURCES, PLl='.ASE AOKNQWLEDGE THE TCEQ AS

yr::n.JR SOURCE,

COPIES OF THIS pLJBLiCA110N ARE AVAILABLE FOR FUSLIC USE

THROUGH THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY, OTHER STATE DEPOSITORY

LIBRARIES, AND THE TCEc;J LIBRARY, IN CDMPLIAND_E Wr;rH STATE

OEF'OSITDRY LAW. FOR MORE INFQRMAT!DN ON TCEc;J PUBLICATIONS

CALL 512-239-0028 DR VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT;

WWW, TDE:(¥.ST ATE. TX· LI S/GOTO/P UBLI CATIONS

PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED

BY THE

TEXAS CDMMISS-!ON ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

PD Box 1 308'7
AUSTIN TX 7-87-1 1-3087

'.THO: TCE[) '-"AN ~'OU"-L "'"""'Rn>Nm' EMJ>.COYC"-. TK~ ~~EN.sc"'"'""'TICN ON THE

D~~'" Orn"""' ~oLco. ncL•"•ON, "'''"""~L ""'~'"· ""?'· "'""'"~'LJTY, A<>ff. ··=U~L "~'""'T"""" "" """"
"""" OT-.TIJ~. IN """'"'-'-'NOff ...,,. .. .,,,., ""'""'"""~ '""'"' b•s;.aJt..mU AO"T", TH•~ cooUMDoT .. ,_.,.a< RE"
quc~no" IN ~LTCRNA,TC FC..,., ..T" " ' """'"""""~ THE TCl'.[J AT 5 12-~:0<;-0osB, FM< "I ~-~:o~-4-'1""·
'-BO,HH:LAY-TX •Tooj, c~ ~y v.·~mNG ... c. Bp~ T"''""7. "",,,-"'·TX 7B7' 1 ·:0De7.
 Registration
Application MSW .Registration Application Process
Received by
TCEQ

Notice of
Administrative Preliminarily Response
No . Deficiency (NOD) f - - - - - . i
Review Complete? Recetved
Sent

Prepare Notice
dministrathi
~------j Package.to Chief Y~---< Complete?
> - - - - N o - - - - - > < Return Application
Clerk:

Chief Clerk Malls
Applicant Notice:of
Technical Review Ecd
Opportunity for
Public Meeting to
Publish Notice of
N o - - - - - > l Deficiency (NOD)
Sent
TeclmlCally
Complete?

Response
Received

Technically No
Complete y Complete?
No
Registration
Mailed to Applicant

Contact ELD to Response
request Public Received
Meeting

Final Draft
OPA Conducts
Registration to
Public Meeting
Ch!efClerk Complete?

Informal Response Commissioners'
ta Public Agendei
Comments from
Public Meeting

Executive Diremor Motior:ito Office of
Issues Overturn General Set cm Agamia
equested Council
RTC to Chief Clerk

Mo Ar:tio-n ~ , Decision Stands

Chief Clerk Mails
RTC

VI[ Guidb to Agency ProgramB 248 TCEQ
Office of Permitting and Registration-Municipal Solid Waste Pennittii1g
 MSW Permit
Administrative Notice of DeTicienq' Applicatiori Process
No
ReView (NOD] Sent
Page 1 of2

o ceo ece1 ; ilia yc'u_A_d_m_lc-i,-,,-,-.,-,~
Ap~~';;~~~i:.~~~ent Completeness dministra~ve'';>+--1 R8sponse Received
Complete?
Permit Declarat!on

Return Application-

Certification of Notice Memo.to ELD; Set up
Received
Technical Review public meeting

Technically Notice of Deficiency
No
Complete? {NOD) Sent

Yes

No

No 2"~ NOD Sent

Response Received

Complete?

Abbreviations Used:
ELD- Environmental Law Division
CCO- Chief Clerk's Qffioo
RTC - Response to Comments
SOAH - State Office of Administrative Hearings
OPA- Office of Public Assistance

Explanations:
Agency_ Review Letters - Fish & Wildlife, Historical Commission,
FAA, etc. .

VII. Guide tq Agency Programs 249 TCEQ
Office of J?ermitting and Registration~ Municip'al Solid Waste Pern1itting
 From Pg MSW Permit
1
App!iCation Process
Page 2 of2

Comments
No Permit Issued
Received?

RTC Prepared

Ecd
Mail RTC o·ec;Uned

Referred
to SOAH_

Hearing· ommissloners >---~ Hearing
Commission
Requ,es!ed Agenda Action

No
~----Apµro~m:t--~--~-------Approvect--~----~

. Permit·lssued

VII. Guide_ to Agency Programs . 250 TCEQ
Office cif Permitting_and Registration - l\1unicipal Solid Vi 7a:Ste Permitting
APPENDIX G
TAB 1
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

LexisNexis (R) Texas Annotated Statutes
Copyright © 2014 by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
a member of the LexisNexis Group
All rights reserved.

*** This document is current through the 2013 3rd Called Session ***
*** Federal case annotations: February 18, 2014 postings on Lexis ***
*** State case annotations: February 19, 2014 postings on Lexis ***

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 5. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
SUBTITLE B. SOLID WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, SEWAGE, LITTER, AND WATER
CHAPTER 361. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

GO TO TEXAS CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY

Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.002 (2014)

§ 361.002. Policy; Findings

(a) It is this state's policy and the purpose of this chapter to safeguard the health, welfare, and physical property of
the people and to protect the environment by controlling the management of solid waste, including accounting for haz-
ardous waste that is generated.
(b) The storage, processing, and disposal of hazardous waste at municipal solid waste facilities pose a risk to public
health and the environment, and in order to protect the environment and to provide measures for adequate protection of
public health, it is in the public interest to require hazardous waste to be stored, processed, and disposed of only at per-
mitted hazardous industrial solid waste facilities.

HISTORY: Enacted by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678 (H.B. 2136), § 1, effective September 1, 1989; am. Acts 1990,
71st Leg., 6th C.S., ch. 10 (S.B. 43), art. 2, § 1, effective September 6, 1990.

LexisNexis (R) Notes:

CASE NOTES

1. Substantial evidence in the record supported the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission's finding that a
landfill owner's expansion application was administratively and technically complete because the owner had included
all necessary information in the application, and while some witnesses could not independently verify particular docu-
ments or exhibits, there was nothing in the record that cast doubt upon the information, and the opponents to the appli-
cation did not introduce any contrary exhibits to demonstrate that the limited evidence was altered or falsified. Because
 Page 2
Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.002

the application was determined to be administratively and technically complete prior to the contested case hearing, the
owner was not required to establish at the contested-case hearing that its application complied with each administrative
and technical requirement because it had already done so prior to the hearing. Citizens Against Landfill Location v. Tex.
Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 169 S.W.3d 258, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 3583 (Tex. App. Austin 2005).

2. Substantial evidence in the record supported the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission's finding that a
landfill owner's expansion application was administratively and technically complete because the owner had included
all necessary information in the application, and while some witnesses could not independently verify particular docu-
ments or exhibits, there was nothing in the record that cast doubt upon the information, and the opponents to the appli-
cation did not introduce any contrary exhibits to demonstrate that the limited evidence was altered or falsified. Because
the application was determined to be administratively and technically complete prior to the contested case hearing, the
owner was not required to establish at the contested-case hearing that its application complied with each administrative
and technical requirement because it had already done so prior to the hearing. Citizens Against Landfill Location v. Tex.
Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 169 S.W.3d 258, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 3583 (Tex. App. Austin 2005).

3. Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission was performing its duty under Tex. Health and Safety Code Ann.
§ 361.002(b) of the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act, Tex. Health and Safety Code Ann. §§ 361.001, et seq., by carefully
scrutinizing every aspect of a company's process denying a company's application for hazardous wastes disposal per-
mits. Hunter Indus. Facilities v. Texas Natural Resource Conservation Comm'n, 910 S.W.2d 96, 1995 Tex. App. LEXIS
2515 (Tex. App. Austin 1995).

4. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's findings did not conflict with its decision to grant a landfill permit,
the company complied with rule requirements of the rule, and conclusions that the proposed groundwater-monitoring
system would adequately monitor the groundwater and will protect the groundwater, human health, and the environment
was also arbitrary or capricious. City of Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1108 (Tex.
App. Austin Feb. 10 2012).

5. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) was required to make findings that supported its determina-
tions that the statutory requirements, for purposes of Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.002 and Tex. Gov't Code
Ann. § 2001.141(b), (d), for approving a permit application had been met, and TCEQ made 200 findings supporting its
decision to grant the permit; given this, and that substantial evidence supported a finding that there were no springs near
the proposed landfill, the court would have subjected the order to a hypertechnical standard of review if the court found
the order to be arbitrary and capricious because TCEQ failed to make a negative finding of fact concerning the existence
of springs. City of Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1108 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 10
2012).

6. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's (TCEQ) interpretation of 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.56(f)(4)(A)(iv)
to require an analysis of stormwater discharge impact only at the permit boundary did not conflict with Tex. Health &
Safety Code Ann. § 361.002(a) because it was reasonable, not in conflict with the rule's plain language, and concerned a
matter within the administrative expertise of the TCEQ. Heritage v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality & Williamson
County, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 6460 (Tex. App. Austin July 31 2012).

7. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's (TCEQ) interpretation of 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.56(f)(4)(A)(iv)
to require an analysis of stormwater discharge impact only at the permit boundary did not conflict with Tex. Health &
Safety Code Ann. § 361.002(a) because it was reasonable, not in conflict with the rule's plain language, and concerned a
 Page 3
Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.002

matter within the administrative expertise of the TCEQ. Heritage v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality & Williamson
County, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 6460 (Tex. App. Austin July 31 2012).

8. Substantial evidence in the record supported the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission's finding that a
landfill owner's expansion application was administratively and technically complete because the owner had included
all necessary information in the application, and while some witnesses could not independently verify particular docu-
ments or exhibits, there was nothing in the record that cast doubt upon the information, and the opponents to the appli-
cation did not introduce any contrary exhibits to demonstrate that the limited evidence was altered or falsified. Because
the application was determined to be administratively and technically complete prior to the contested case hearing, the
owner was not required to establish at the contested-case hearing that its application complied with each administrative
and technical requirement because it had already done so prior to the hearing. Citizens Against Landfill Location v. Tex.
Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 169 S.W.3d 258, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 3583 (Tex. App. Austin 2005).

9. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's (TCEQ) interpretation of 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.56(f)(4)(A)(iv)
did not conflict with Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.002(a) because the TCEQ's interpretation of its rule as re-
quiring consideration of discharge impact only at the permit boundary did not conflict with the TCEQ's statutory man-
date to safeguard the health, welfare, and physical property of the people and to protect the environment. Heritage on
the San Gabriel Homeowners Ass?n v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 393 S.W.3d 417, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 10767
(Tex. App. Austin 2012).

10. Group's substantial rights were not prejudiced by the addition of the special provision to the landfill application,
because the appellate court could not see how the group had been harmed by the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality adopting a permit that provided more groundwater monitoring than was required by the administrative rules,
when the permit not only satisfied the rules' requirements that groundwater from the uppermost aquifer be monitored, as
it must, but it also provided for extra monitoring of groundwater that the evidence showed was not in the uppermost
aquifer. City of Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 5243 (Tex. App. Austin June 28
2012).

11. Group's substantial rights were not prejudiced by the addition of the special provision to the landfill application,
because the appellate court could not see how the group had been harmed by the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality adopting a permit that provided more groundwater monitoring than was required by the administrative rules,
when the permit not only satisfied the rules' requirements that groundwater from the uppermost aquifer be monitored, as
it must, but it also provided for extra monitoring of groundwater that the evidence showed was not in the uppermost
aquifer. City of Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 5243 (Tex. App. Austin June 28
2012).

LAW REVIEWS

1. 53 SMU L. Rev. 965, ANNUAL SURVEY OF TEXAS LAW ARTICLE: Environmental Law, Summer, 2000.

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 2
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

LexisNexis (R) Texas Annotated Statutes
Copyright © 2014 by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
a member of the LexisNexis Group
All rights reserved.

*** This document is current through the 2013 3rd Called Session ***
*** Federal case annotations: February 18, 2014 postings on Lexis ***
*** State case annotations: February 19, 2014 postings on Lexis ***

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 5. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
SUBTITLE B. SOLID WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, SEWAGE, LITTER, AND WATER
CHAPTER 361. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT
SUBCHAPTER C. PERMITS

GO TO TEXAS CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY

Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.061 (2014)

§ 361.061. Permits; Solid Waste Facility

Except as provided by Section 361.090 with respect to certain industrial solid waste, the commission may require
and issue permits authorizing and governing the construction, operation, and maintenance of the solid waste facilities
used to store, process, or dispose of solid waste under this chapter.

HISTORY: Enacted by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678 (H.B. 2136), § 1, effective September 1, 1989; am. Acts 1995,
74th Leg., ch. 76 (S.B. 959), § 11.37, effective September 1, 1995.

LexisNexis (R) Notes:

CASE NOTES

1. In company's appeal from a temporary injunction that prevented company from running a non-hazardous solid waste
site until a permit was issued, the court affirmed because Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act (Act), former Tex. Rev. Civ.
Stat. Ann. art. 4477-7, et seq., specifically former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4477-7, §§ 3(a) and 4(e), gave the state
authority to license solid waste disposal sites, and the Solid Waste Disposal Act provided adequate guidelines to the
state to establish rules and regulations to reasonably carry out the express purposes of the Solid Waste Disposal Act,
including the licensing of solid waste disposal sites. Med-safe, Inc. v. State, 752 S.W.2d 638, 1988 Tex. App. LEXIS
1152 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 1988).
 Page 2
Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.061

2. In company's appeal from a temporary injunction that prevented company from running a non-hazardous solid waste
site until a permit was issued, the court affirmed because Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act (Act), former Tex. Rev. Civ.
Stat. Ann. art. 4477-7, et seq., specifically former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4477-7, §§ 3(a) and 4(e), gave the state
authority to license solid waste disposal sites, and the Solid Waste Disposal Act provided adequate guidelines to the
state to establish rules and regulations to reasonably carry out the express purposes of the Solid Waste Disposal Act,
including the licensing of solid waste disposal sites. Med-safe, Inc. v. State, 752 S.W.2d 638, 1988 Tex. App. LEXIS
1152 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 1988).

3. In company's appeal from a temporary injunction that prevented company from running a non-hazardous solid waste
site until a permit was issued, the court affirmed because Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act (Act), former Tex. Rev. Civ.
Stat. Ann. art. 4477-7, et seq., specifically former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4477-7, §§ 3(a) and 4(e), gave the state
authority to license solid waste disposal sites, and the Solid Waste Disposal Act provided adequate guidelines to the
state to establish rules and regulations to reasonably carry out the express purposes of the Solid Waste Disposal Act,
including the licensing of solid waste disposal sites. Med-safe, Inc. v. State, 752 S.W.2d 638, 1988 Tex. App. LEXIS
1152 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 1988).

LAW REVIEWS

1. 53 SMU L. Rev. 965, ANNUAL SURVEY OF TEXAS LAW ARTICLE: Environmental Law, Summer, 2000.

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 3
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

LexisNexis (R) Texas Annotated Statutes
Copyright © 2014 by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
a member of the LexisNexis Group
All rights reserved.

*** This document is current through the 2013 3rd Called Session ***
*** Federal case annotations: February 18, 2014 postings on Lexis ***
*** State case annotations: February 19, 2014 postings on Lexis ***

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 5. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
SUBTITLE B. SOLID WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, SEWAGE, LITTER, AND WATER
CHAPTER 361. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT
SUBCHAPTER C. PERMITS

GO TO TEXAS CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY

Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.086 (2014)

§ 361.086. Separate Permit for Each Facility

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a separate permit is required for each solid waste facility.
(b) A permit under this subchapter may be issued only to the person in whose name the application is made and
only for the facility described by the permit.
(c) A permit may not be transferred without first giving written notice to and receiving written approval of the
agency that issued the permit.
(d) A separate permit is not required for activities authorized by a general permit issued under Section 27.025, Wa-
ter Code.

HISTORY: Enacted by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678 (H.B. 2136), § 1, effective September 1, 1989; am. Acts 2007,
80th Leg., ch. 901 (H.B. 2654), § 5, effective September 1, 2007; am. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., ch. 87 (S.B. 1969), §
27.002(10), effective September 1, 2009.

NOTES:

2007 amendment,
added (d), and added "Except as provided by Subsection (d)," in (a).
2009 amendment,
substituted "Section 27.025" for "Section 27.023" in (d).

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 4
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

LexisNexis (R) Texas Annotated Statutes
Copyright © 2014 by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
a member of the LexisNexis Group
All rights reserved.

*** This document is current through the 2013 3rd Called Session ***
*** Federal case annotations: February 18, 2014 postings on Lexis ***
*** State case annotations: February 19, 2014 postings on Lexis ***

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 5. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
SUBTITLE B. SOLID WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, SEWAGE, LITTER, AND WATER
CHAPTER 361. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT
SUBCHAPTER C. PERMITS

GO TO TEXAS CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY

Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.0861 (2014)

§ 361.0861. Separate Recycling or Recovery Permit Not Required

(a) A permit holder or a municipal solid waste management facility that has or plans to have a recycling, waste sepa-
ration, energy and material recovery, or gas recovery or transfer facility established in conjunction with the permitted
municipal solid waste management facility is not required to obtain for that recycling, waste separation, energy and ma-
terial recovery, or gas recovery or transfer facility a separate permit from the commission or to apply for an amendment
to an existing permit issued by the commission.
(b) A facility to which this section applies must register with the commission in accordance with commission rules
and comply with commission rules adopted under this chapter.
(c) If a permit is otherwise required, the commission shall expedite the permit proceeding if the applicant is seeking
a permit for a solid waste management facility that employs an innovative, high technology method of waste disposition
and recycling.

HISTORY: Enacted by Acts 1990, 71st Leg., 6th C.S., ch. 10 (S.B. 43), art. 2, § 15, effective September 6, 1990; am.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76 (S.B. 959), § 11.50, effective September 1, 1995; am. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 987 (H.B.
2315), § 1, effective September 1, 1995.

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 5
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

LexisNexis (R) Texas Annotated Statutes
Copyright © 2014 by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
a member of the LexisNexis Group
All rights reserved.

*** This document is current through the 2013 3rd Called Session ***
*** Federal case annotations: February 18, 2014 postings on Lexis ***
*** State case annotations: February 19, 2014 postings on Lexis ***

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 5. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
SUBTITLE B. SOLID WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, SEWAGE, LITTER, AND WATER
CHAPTER 361. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT
SUBCHAPTER C. PERMITS

GO TO TEXAS CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY

Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.088 (2014)

§ 361.088. Permit Issuance, Amendment, Extension, and Renewal; Notice and Hearing

(a) The commission may amend, extend, or renew a permit it issues in accordance with reasonable procedures pre-
scribed by the commission.
(b) The procedures prescribed by Section 361.067 for a permit application apply to an application to amend, extend,
or renew a permit.
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (e), before a permit is issued, amended, extended, or renewed, the commis-
sion shall provide an opportunity for a hearing to the applicant and persons affected. The commission may also hold a
hearing on its own motion.
(d) In addition to providing an opportunity for a hearing held under this section, the commission shall hold a public
meeting and give notice as provided by Section 361.0791.
(e) After complying with Sections 5.552--5.555, Water Code, the commission, without providing an opportunity for
a contested case hearing, may act on an application to renew a permit for:
(1) storage of hazardous waste in containers, tanks, or other closed vessels if the waste:
(A) was generated on-site; and
(B) does not include waste generated from other waste transported to the site; and
(2) processing of hazardous waste if:
(A) the waste was generated on-site;
(B) the waste does not include waste generated from other waste transported to the site; and
(C) the processing does not include thermal processing.
(f) Notwithstanding Subsection (e), if the commission determines that an applicant's compliance history under the
method for evaluating compliance history developed by the commission under Section 5.754, Water Code, raises an
 Page 2
Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.088

issue regarding the applicant's ability to comply with a material term of its permit, the commission shall provide an op-
portunity to request a contested case hearing.
(g) The commission shall review a permit issued under this chapter every five years to assess the permit holder's
compliance history.

HISTORY: Enacted by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678 (H.B. 2136), § 1, effective September 1, 1989; am. Acts 1991,
72nd Leg., ch. 296 (S.B. 1099), § 1.14, effective June 7, 1991; am. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76 (S.B. 959), § 11.51,
effective September 1, 1995; am. Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1350 (H.B. 801), § 4, effective September 1, 1999; am. Acts
2001, 77th Leg., ch. 965 (H.B. 2912), §§ 4.05, 16.11, effective September 1, 2001.

NOTES:

1999 Note:
The changes in law made by ch. 1350 apply only to an application to issue, amend, or renew a permit that is declared
to be administratively complete on or after the effective date of this Act. An application to issue, amend, or renew a
permit that was declared to be administratively complete before the effective date of this Act is governed by the former
law, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1350, § 7(b).

LexisNexis (R) Notes:

LAW REVIEWS

1. 62 Tex. B. J. 788, LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: NATURAL RESOURCES, TAX, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS
AREAS, By Charles C. Bailey, September, 1999, Copyright (c) 1999 by State Bar of Texas, Texas Bar Journal.

2. 53 SMU L. Rev. 965, ANNUAL SURVEY OF TEXAS LAW ARTICLE: Environmental Law, Summer, 2000.

3. 53 SMU L. Rev. 1167, ANNUAL SURVEY OF TEXAS LAW ARTICLE: Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law, Summer,
2000.

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 6
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

LexisNexis (R) Texas Annotated Statutes
Copyright © 2014 by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
a member of the LexisNexis Group
All rights reserved.

*** This document is current through the 2013 3rd Called Session ***
*** Federal case annotations: February 18, 2014 postings on Lexis ***
*** State case annotations: February 19, 2014 postings on Lexis ***

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 5. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
SUBTITLE B. SOLID WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, SEWAGE, LITTER, AND WATER
CHAPTER 361. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT
SUBCHAPTER C. PERMITS

GO TO TEXAS CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY

Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.0665 (2014)

§ 361.0665. Notice of Intent to Obtain Municipal Solid Waste Permit

(a) A person who applies for a municipal solid waste permit shall publish notice of intent to obtain a permit under
this chapter at least once in a newspaper of the largest general circulation that is published in the county in which the
facility is located or proposed to be located.
(b) Notice must include:
(1) a description of the location or proposed location of the facility;
(2) a statement that a person who may be affected by the facility or proposed facility is entitled to request a
hearing from the commission;
(3) the manner in which the commission may be contacted for further information; and
(4) any other information that the commission by rule requires.
(c) If a newspaper is not published in the county, the notice must be published in a newspaper of general circulation
in the county in which the facility is located or proposed to be located and in a newspaper of circulation in the immedi-
ate vicinity in which the facility is located or proposed to be located as defined by commission rule.
(d) In addition, the commission shall publish notice in the Texas Register.

HISTORY: Am. Acts 1990, 71st Leg., 6th C.S., ch. 10 (S.B. 43), art. 2, § 13(a), effective September 6, 1990; am. Acts
1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76 (S.B. 959), § 11.41, effective September 1, 1995.

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 7
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

LexisNexis (R) Texas Annotated Statutes
Copyright © 2014 by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
a member of the LexisNexis Group
All rights reserved.

*** This document is current through the 2013 3rd Called Session ***
*** Federal case annotations: February 18, 2014 postings on Lexis ***
*** State case annotations: February 19, 2014 postings on Lexis ***

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 5. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
SUBTITLE B. SOLID WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, SEWAGE, LITTER, AND WATER
CHAPTER 361. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT
SUBCHAPTER C. PERMITS

GO TO TEXAS CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY

Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.0666 (2014)

§ 361.0666. Public Meeting and Notice for Solid Waste Facilities

(a) An applicant for a permit under this chapter for a new facility that accepts municipal solid wastes may hold a
public meeting in the county in which the proposed facility is to be located.
(b) The applicant shall publish notice of the public meeting at least once each week during the three weeks preced-
ing the meeting. The notice must be published in the newspaper of the largest general circulation that is published in the
county in which the proposed facility is to be located. If a newspaper is not published in the county, the notice must be
published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county.
(c) The applicant shall present to the commission an affidavit certifying that the notice was published as required by
Subsection (b). The commission's acceptance of the affidavit raises a presumption that the applicant has complied with
Subsection (b).
(d) The published notice may not be smaller than 96.8 square centimeters or 15 square inches, with the shortest di-
mension not less than 7.5 centimeters or 3 inches. The notice must contain at least the following information:
(1) the permit application number;
(2) the applicant's name;
(3) the proposed location of the facility; and
(4) the location and availability of copies of the application.
(e) The applicant shall pay the cost of the notice required under this section. The commission by rule may establish
a procedure for payment of those costs.

HISTORY: Enacted by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 965 (H.B. 2912), § 2.01, effective September 1, 2001; am. Acts 2005,
79th Leg., ch. 582 (H.B. 1609), § 1, effective September 1, 2005.

NOTES:
 Page 2
Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.0666

Applicability. --
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 582 (H.B. 1609), § 6 provides: "The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
361.0666(a), 361.0791(a) and (b), 361.082(d), and 361.534, Health and Safety Code, apply only to an application that is
filed on or after the effective date of this Act. An application that was filed before the effective date of this Act is gov-
erned by the former law, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose."
2005 amendment,
in (a), substituted "may hold" for "shall hold," and deleted the second sentence, which read: "The meeting must be
held before the 45th day after the date the application is filed."

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 8
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

LexisNexis (R) Texas Annotated Statutes
Copyright © 2014 by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
a member of the LexisNexis Group
All rights reserved.

*** This document is current through the 2013 3rd Called Session ***
*** Federal case annotations: February 18, 2014 postings on Lexis ***
*** State case annotations: February 19, 2014 postings on Lexis ***

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 5. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
SUBTITLE B. SOLID WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, SEWAGE, LITTER, AND WATER
CHAPTER 361. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT
SUBCHAPTER C. PERMITS

GO TO TEXAS CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY

Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.067 (2014)

§ 361.067. Review of Permit Application by Other Governmental Entities

(a) If the commission determines that a permit application submitted to it is administratively complete, it shall mail a
copy of the application or a summary of its contents to:
(1) the mayor and health authority of a municipality in whose territorial limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction the
solid waste facility is located; and
(2) the county judge and the health authority of the county in which the facility is located.
(b) A governmental entity to whom the information is mailed shall have a reasonable time, as prescribed by the
commission, to present comments and recommendations on the permit application before the commission acts on the
application.

HISTORY: Enacted by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678 (H.B. 2136), § 1, effective September 1, 1989; am. Acts 1995,
74th Leg., ch. 76 (S.B. 959), § 11.42, effective September 1, 1995.

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 9
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

LexisNexis (R) Texas Annotated Statutes
Copyright © 2014 by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
a member of the LexisNexis Group
All rights reserved.

*** This document is current through the 2013 3rd Called Session ***
*** Federal case annotations: February 18, 2014 postings on Lexis ***
*** State case annotations: February 19, 2014 postings on Lexis ***

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 5. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
SUBTITLE B. SOLID WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, SEWAGE, LITTER, AND WATER
CHAPTER 361. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT
SUBCHAPTER C. PERMITS

GO TO TEXAS CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY

Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.079 (2014)

§ 361.079. Notice Concerning Receipt of Permit Application; Hearing Procedures

(a) Except as provided by Sections 361.080(b) and 361.081(c), the commission by rule shall establish procedures for
public notice and a public hearing under Section 361.080 or 361.081.
(b) The hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the hearing rules and the applicable provisions of Chapter
2001, Government Code.
(c) To improve the timeliness of notice to the public of a public hearing under Section 361.080 or 361.081, public
notice of receipt of the permit application shall be provided at the time a permit application is submitted to the commis-
sion.

HISTORY: Enacted by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678 (H.B. 2136), § 1, effective September 1, 1989; am. Acts 1990,
71st Leg., 6th C.S., ch. 10 (S.B. 43), art. 2, § 13(b), effective September 6, 1990; am. Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 296
(S.B. 1099), § 1.03, effective June 7, 1991; am. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76 (S.B. 959), §§ 5.95(49), 11.45, effective
September 1, 1995.

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 10
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

LexisNexis (R) Texas Annotated Statutes
Copyright © 2014 by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
a member of the LexisNexis Group
All rights reserved.

*** This document is current through the 2013 3rd Called Session ***
*** Federal case annotations: February 18, 2014 postings on Lexis ***
*** State case annotations: February 19, 2014 postings on Lexis ***

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 5. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
SUBTITLE B. SOLID WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, SEWAGE, LITTER, AND WATER
CHAPTER 361. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT
SUBCHAPTER C. PERMITS

GO TO TEXAS CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY

Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.0791 (2014)

§ 361.0791. Public Meeting and Notice Requirement

(a) Notwithstanding other law, the commission may hold a public meeting on an application for a new hazardous
waste management facility in the county in which the proposed hazardous waste management facility is to be located.
The commission may hold a public meeting on an application for a Class 3 modification or a major amendment to an
existing facility's hazardous waste permit.
(b) Notwithstanding other law, the commission may hold a public meeting on an application for a new municipal
solid waste management facility in the county in which the proposed municipal solid waste management facility is to be
located.
(c) A public meeting held as part of a local review process under Section 361.063 meets the requirement of Subsec-
tion (a) or (b) if notice is provided as required by this section.
(d) A public meeting under this section is not a contested case hearing under Chapter 2001, Government Code.
(e) If a meeting is required under Subsection (a), not less than once each week during the three weeks preceding a
public meeting, the applicant shall publish notice of the meeting in the newspaper of the largest general circulation that
is published in the county in which the proposed facility is to be located or, if no newspaper is published in the county,
in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. The applicant shall provide the commission an affidavit certifying
that the notice was given as required by this section. Acceptance of the affidavit creates a rebuttable presumption that
the applicant has complied with this section.
(f) The published notice may not be smaller than 96.8 square centimeters or 15 square inches with the shortest di-
mension at least 7.6 centimeters or three inches and shall contain, at a minimum, the following information:
(1) the permit application number;
(2) the applicant's name;
(3) the proposed location of the facility; and
(4) the location and availability of copies of the permit application.
 Page 2
Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.0791

(g) The applicant shall pay the cost of notice required to be provided under this section. The commission by rule
may establish procedures for payment of those costs.

HISTORY: Enacted by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 296 (S.B. 1099), § 1.04, effective June 7, 1991; am. Acts 1993, 73rd
Leg., ch. 802 (H.B. 2043), § 3, effective June 18, 1993; am. Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 1044 (S.B. 639), § 3, effective
June 20, 1993; am. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76 (S.B. 959), §§ 5.95(49), 11.46, effective September 1, 1995; am. Acts
2005, 79th Leg., ch. 582 (H.B. 1609), § 2, effective September 1, 2005.

NOTES:

2005 amendment,
substituted "may hold" for "shall hold" in (a) and (b); and rewrote the second sentence in (a), which read: "The com-
mission, on request of a person affected or as otherwise required by commission rule, shall hold a public meeting on an
application for a Class 3 modification or a major amendment to an existing facility's hazardous waste permit."

LexisNexis (R) Notes:

LAW REVIEWS

1. 47 SMU L. Rev. 1131, Environmental Law, Spring, 1994.

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 11
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

LexisNexis (R) Texas Annotated Statutes
Copyright © 2014 by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
a member of the LexisNexis Group
All rights reserved.

*** This document is current through the 2013 3rd Called Session ***
*** Federal case annotations: February 18, 2014 postings on Lexis ***
*** State case annotations: February 19, 2014 postings on Lexis ***

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 5. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
SUBTITLE B. SOLID WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, SEWAGE, LITTER, AND WATER
CHAPTER 361. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT
SUBCHAPTER C. PERMITS

GO TO TEXAS CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY

Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.081 (2014)

§ 361.081. Notice of Hearing Concerning Application for a Solid Waste Facility

(a) The commission shall require the applicant to mail notice to each residential or business address located within
one-half mile of a new solid waste management facility and to each owner of real property located within one-half mile
of a new solid waste management facility listed in the real property appraisal records of the appraisal district in which
the solid waste management facility is sought to be permitted as of the date the commission determines the permit ap-
plication is administratively complete. The notice must be sent by mail and must be deposited with the United States
postal service not more than 45 days or less than 30 days before the date of the hearing.
(b) The applicant must certify to the commission that the mailings were deposited as required by Subsection (a).
Acceptance of the certification creates a rebuttable presumption that the applicant has complied with this section. Sub-
stantial compliance with the notice requirements of Subsection (a) is sufficient for the commission to exercise jurisdic-
tion over an application for a solid waste facility.
(c) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (a), the commission shall hold a public meeting and the applicant
shall give notice concerning the application for a permit for a new hazardous waste management facility as provided by
Section 361.0791.

HISTORY: Enacted by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678 (H.B. 2136), § 1, effective September 1, 1989; am. Acts 1990,
71st Leg., 6th C.S., ch. 10 (S.B. 43), art. 2, § 13(c), effective September 6, 1990; am. Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 296
(S.B. 1099), § 1.06, effective June 7, 1991; am. Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 802 (H.B. 2043), § 4, effective June 18, 1993;
am. Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 1044 (S.B. 639), § 4, effective June 20, 1993; am. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76 (S.B.
959), § 11.47, effective September 1, 1995.

LexisNexis (R) Notes:

LAW REVIEWS
 Page 2
Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.081

1. 47 SMU L. Rev. 1131, Environmental Law, Spring, 1994.

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 12
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

LexisNexis (R) Texas Annotated Statutes
Copyright © 2014 by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
a member of the LexisNexis Group
All rights reserved.

*** This document is current through the 2013 3rd Called Session ***
*** Federal case annotations: February 18, 2014 postings on Lexis ***
*** State case annotations: February 19, 2014 postings on Lexis ***

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 5. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
SUBTITLE B. SOLID WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, SEWAGE, LITTER, AND WATER
CHAPTER 361. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT
SUBCHAPTER C. PERMITS

GO TO TEXAS CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY

Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.089 (2014)

§ 361.089. Permit Denial or Amendment; Notice and Hearing

(a) The commission may, for good cause, deny or amend a permit it issues or has authority to issue for reasons per-
taining to public health, air or water pollution, or land use, or for having a compliance history that is classified as unsat-
isfactory according to commission standards under Sections 5.753 and 5.754, Water Code, and rules adopted and pro-
cedures developed under those sections.
(b) Except as provided by Section 361.110, the commission shall notify each governmental entity listed under Sec-
tion 361.067 and provide an opportunity for a hearing to the permit holder or applicant and persons affected. The com-
mission may also hold a hearing on its own motion.
(c) The commission by rule shall establish procedures for public notice and any public hearing under this section.
(d) Hearings under this section shall be conducted in accordance with the hearing rules adopted by the commission
and the applicable provisions of Chapter 2001, Government Code.
(e) The commission may deny an original or renewal permit if it is found, after notice and hearing, that:
(1) the applicant or permit holder has a compliance history that is classified as unsatisfactory according to com-
mission standards under Sections 5.753 and 5.754, Water Code, and rules adopted and procedures developed under
those sections;
(2) the permit holder or applicant made a false or misleading statement in connection with an original or renewal
application, either in the formal application or in any other written instrument relating to the application submitted to the
commission, its officers, or its employees;
(3) the permit holder or applicant is indebted to the state for fees, payment of penalties, or taxes imposed by this
title or by a rule of the commission; or
(4) the permit holder or applicant is unable to ensure that the management of the hazardous waste management
facility conforms or will conform to this title and the rules of the commission.
(f) Before denying a permit under this section, the commission must find:
 Page 2
Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.089

(1) that the applicant or permit holder has a compliance history that is classified as unsatisfactory according to
commission standards under Sections 5.753 and 5.754, Water Code, and rules adopted and procedures developed under
those sections; or
(2) that the permit holder or applicant is indebted to the state for fees, payment of penalties, or taxes imposed by
this title or by a rule of the commission.
(g) For purposes of this section, the terms "permit holder" and "applicant" include each member of a partnership or
association and, with respect to a corporation, each officer and the owner or owners of a majority of the corporate stock,
provided such partner or owner controls at least 20 percent of the permit holder or applicant and at least 20 percent of
another business which operates a solid waste management facility.

HISTORY: Enacted by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678 (H.B. 2136), § 1, effective September 1, 1989; am. Acts 1991,
72nd Leg., ch. 296 (S.B. 1099), § 1.11, effective June 7, 1991; am. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76 (S.B. 959), §§ 5.95(49),
11.52, effective September 1, 1995; am. Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1072 (S.B. 1876), § 30, effective September 1, 1997;
am. Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 965 (H.B. 2912), § 16.12, effective September 1, 2001; am. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., ch.
1021 (H.B. 2694), § 4.24, effective September 1, 2011.

NOTES:

2011 amendment,
substituted "classified as unsatisfactory according to commission standards" for "in the lowest classification" in (a),
(e)(1), and (f)(1).

LexisNexis (R) Notes:

CASE NOTES

1. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality did not abuse its discretion in approving the expansion of a municipal
solid-waste landfill to increase the height of allowable waste disposal by 50 to 75 feet from its existing height of 720
feet, despite odors affecting the neighbors, because odor was not a specifically delineated factor for
land-use-compatibility determinations in 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.61, .53. Northeast Neighbors Coalition v. Tex.
Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 4064 (Tex. App. Austin Mar. 28 2013).

2. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality did not abuse its discretion in approving the expansion of a municipal
solid-waste landfill to increase the height of allowable waste disposal by 50 to 75 feet from its existing height of 720
feet, despite odors affecting the neighbors, because odor was not a specifically delineated factor for
land-use-compatibility determinations in 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.61, .53. Northeast Neighbors Coalition v. Tex.
Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 4064 (Tex. App. Austin Mar. 28 2013).

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 13
 HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

TITLE 5. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

SUBTITLE B. SOLID WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, SEWAGE, LITTER, AND
WATER

CHAPTER 361. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

SUBCHAPTER K. APPEALS; JOINDER OF PARTIES

Sec. 361.321. APPEALS. (a) A person affected by a
ruling, order, decision, or other act of the commission may
appeal the action by filing a petition in a district court of
Travis County.
(b) A person affected by a ruling, order, decision, or
other act of a county, or of a political subdivision exercising
the authority granted by Section 361.165, may appeal by filing a
petition in a district court with jurisdiction in the county or
political subdivision.
(c) Except as provided by Section 361.322(a), the petition
must be filed not later than the 30th day after the date of the
ruling, order, decision, or other act of the governmental entity
whose action is appealed. Service of citation must be
accomplished not later than the 30th day after the date on which
the petition is filed.
(d) The plaintiff shall pursue the action with reasonable
diligence. The court shall presume that the action has been
abandoned if the plaintiff does not prosecute the action within
one year after it is filed and shall dismiss the suit on a
motion for dismissal made by the governmental entity whose
action is appealed unless the plaintiff, after receiving notice,
can show good and sufficient cause for the delay.
(e) Except as provided by Section 361.322(e), in an appeal
from an action of the commission, a county, or a political
subdivision exercising the authority granted by Section 361.165,
the issue is whether the action is invalid, arbitrary, or
unreasonable.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
Amended by Acts 1990, 71st Leg., 6th C.S., ch. 10, art. 2, Sec.
28, eff. Sept. 6, 1990; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec.
11.71, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
TAB 14
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

LexisNexis (R) Texas Annotated Statutes
Copyright © 2014 by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
a member of the LexisNexis Group
All rights reserved.

*** This document is current through the 2013 3rd Called Session ***
*** Federal case annotations: February 18, 2014 postings on Lexis ***
*** State case annotations: February 19, 2014 postings on Lexis ***

GOVERNMENT CODE
TITLE 10. GENERAL GOVERNMENT
SUBTITLE A. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE AND PRACTICE
CHAPTER 2001. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
SUBCHAPTER G. CONTESTED CASES: JUDICIAL REVIEW

GO TO TEXAS CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY

Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174 (2014)

§ 2001.174. Review Under Substantial Evidence Rule or Undefined Scope of Review

If the law authorizes review of a decision in a contested case under the substantial evidence rule or if the law does
not define the scope of judicial review, a court may not substitute its judgment for the judgment of the state agency on
the weight of the evidence on questions committed to agency discretion but:
(1) may affirm the agency decision in whole or in part; and
(2) shall reverse or remand the case for further proceedings if substantial rights of the appellant have been preju-
diced because the administrative findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions are:
(A) in violation of a constitutional or statutory provision;
(B) in excess of the agency's statutory authority;
(C) made through unlawful procedure;
(D) affected by other error of law;
(E) not reasonably supported by substantial evidence considering the reliable and probative evidence in the
record as a whole; or
(F) arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly unwarranted exercise of discre-
tion.

HISTORY: Enacted by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268 (S.B. 248), § 1, effective September 1, 1993.

LexisNexis (R) Notes:

CASE NOTES
 Page 2
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

1. Texas Railroad Commission's rejection of a gas company's fee assessment against residents of outlying areas was not
supported by substantial evidence because the Commission's order did not satisfy requirements for findings of fact.
CenterPoint Energy Entex v. R.R. Comm'n, 213 S.W.3d 364, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 3518 (Tex. App. Austin 2006).

2. In an appeal arising from a dispute over a highway construction contract between a contractor and the Texas Depart-
ment of Transportation, the decision of the Department's executive director to reject an administrative law judge's
(ALJ's) proposed findings based on credibility was arbitrary and capricious and an abuse of discretion where the ALJ,
not the executive director, heard the testimony and observed the demeanor of the witnesses, and where the executive
director failed to comply with Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 201.112(c) by not providing a written statement for each indi-
vidual change to the ALJ's findings of fact and conclusions of law that explained his rationale for each change, and his
changes to particular findings and conclusions proposed by the ALJ suggested he was acting as the Department's fact-
finder, despite the legislature having delegated that responsibility to the ALJ in § 201.112(b). By failing to comply with
the requirement to provide a written statement containing the reason and legal basis for changing the ALJ's findings and
conclusions, the executive director's decision in his final order raised serious due process concerns, and without know-
ing on what facts the executive director relied to make his finding of credible evidence, there was no rational connection
between the facts and his decision. Jordan Paving Corp. v. Tex. DOT, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 3878 (Tex. App. Austin
June 3 2009).

3. Trial court erred in finding that a notice of an enforcement action hearing before the Texas Alcoholic Beverage
Commission (TABC) was ineffective because evidence that the TABC sent the notice to the licensee at the address in-
dicated in the TABC's records and that it received a signed green card in return was substantial evidence under Tex.
Alco. Bev. Code Ann. § 11.67(b) and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2) for the TABC's finding that the licensee had
actual notice; the agency was entitled to resolve conflicts in the evidence, and, here, the evidence could have supported
a finding either way. The trial court impermissibly substituted its judgment for that of the agency as the agency's resolu-
tion of the issues of any "address problems" and the green card signature was not unreasonable. Tex. Alcoholic Bev.
Comm'n v. Aga Trading, Inc., 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 7842 (Tex. App. Houston 14th Dist. Oct. 8 2009).

4. Substantial evidence in the record supported the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission's finding that a
landfill owner's expansion application was administratively and technically complete because the owner had included
all necessary information in the application, and while some witnesses could not independently verify particular docu-
ments or exhibits, there was nothing in the record that cast doubt upon the information, and the opponents to the appli-
cation did not introduce any contrary exhibits to demonstrate that the limited evidence was altered or falsified. Because
the application was determined to be administratively and technically complete prior to the contested case hearing, the
owner was not required to establish at the contested-case hearing that its application complied with each administrative
and technical requirement because it had already done so prior to the hearing. Citizens Against Landfill Location v. Tex.
Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 169 S.W.3d 258, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 3583 (Tex. App. Austin 2005).

5. Trial court did not err in reversing the county civil service commission's holding that the suspended employee could
be suspended as the constable's failure to show up at a hearing implicated the suspended employee's substantial rights
and prejudiced him; suspended employee was entitled to have an order entered, pursuant to the civil service commis-
sion's own rules, nullifying the entire action against him. Bexar County Civ. Serv. Comm'n v. Casals, 63 S.W.3d 57,
2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 6561 (Tex. App. San Antonio 2001).

6. Substantial evidence existed to support administrative law judge's findings that widow was excluded from receiving
benefits under insurance policy when evidence showed her dead husband was driving truck that overturned, killing
 Page 3
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

himself and a passenger, and, if husband had survived, he would have been charged with manslaughter. Nobles v. Em-
ployees Ret. Sys. of Tex., 53 S.W.3d 483, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 4997 (Tex. App. Austin 2001).

7. Pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(F), the Board of Trustees for the Employees Retirement System of
Texas (ERS) acted arbitrarily and capriciously and abused its discretion in terminating a disability retiree's occupational
disability retirement benefits, resulting in the retiree's substantial rights being prejudiced, because due process and fun-
damental principals of fairness dictated that the Board should have provided meaningful notice to the retiree before ap-
plying its new 80 percent threshold standard in 34 Tex. Admin. Code § 73.17, which construed Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §
814.208(d), to his post disability earnings to terminate his benefits; being advised of the Board's construction of "com-
parable pay" to include its 80 percent threshold standard at the hearing was not sufficient notice to satisfy due process
concerns, and a 2005 letter advising the retiree that his benefits had been terminated similarly was not sufficient, and,
thus, prior to his hearing, the retiree did not have meaningful notice that earning 80 percent of his adjusted final annual
state salary could cause his benefits to be terminated. Patton v. Employees Ret. Sys. of Tex., 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 9901
(Tex. App. Austin Dec. 19 2007).

8. Granting of a certificate of convenience and necessity to the power and light company was proper where the applica-
tion adequately addressed the factors of probable improvement of service or lowering of costs to consumers; further, the
evidence supported that the individuals had notice of ex parte communications and an opportunity to address them, Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. §§ 2001.061, 2001.174. Hammack v. PUC, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 8980 (Tex. App. Austin Oct. 23
2003), opinion withdrawn by, substituted opinion at 131 S.W.3d 713, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 3396 (Tex. App. Austin
2004).

9. In an appeal arising from a dispute over a highway construction contract between a contractor and the Texas Depart-
ment of Transportation, the decision of the Department's executive director to reject an administrative law judge's
(ALJ's) proposed findings based on credibility was arbitrary and capricious and an abuse of discretion where the ALJ,
not the executive director, heard the testimony and observed the demeanor of the witnesses, and where the executive
director failed to comply with Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 201.112(c) by not providing a written statement for each indi-
vidual change to the ALJ's findings of fact and conclusions of law that explained his rationale for each change, and his
changes to particular findings and conclusions proposed by the ALJ suggested he was acting as the Department's fact-
finder, despite the legislature having delegated that responsibility to the ALJ in § 201.112(b). By failing to comply with
the requirement to provide a written statement containing the reason and legal basis for changing the ALJ's findings and
conclusions, the executive director's decision in his final order raised serious due process concerns, and without know-
ing on what facts the executive director relied to make his finding of credible evidence, there was no rational connection
between the facts and his decision. Jordan Paving Corp. v. Tex. DOT, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 3878 (Tex. App. Austin
June 3 2009).

10. By expressly excluding a decision on a disqualification for a foul from appeal, Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 179e, §
3.08(b) makes other decisions on disqualification of racehorses appealable by implication; thus, an owner whose horses
were disqualified for wearing the wrong saddle cloth numbers had a right to an administrative appeal, and his request
for declaratory relief under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 37.004 fell within the ultra vires exception to sovereign
immunity. The trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to make further rulings on the merits until the owner ex-
hausted administrative remedies as provided in Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 179e, §§ 3.02, 3.08 and Tex. Gov't Code
Ann. § 2001.174. Tex. Racing Comm'n v. Marquez, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 6653 (Tex. App. Austin Aug. 19 2011).

11. Agency was in violation of takings clause when it ordered what amounted to a physical taking of appellant's cables
and facilities; the order was beyond the authority of the agency, thus the court was statutorily required under Tex. Gov't
 Page 4
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(B) to reverse or remand the cause in order to prevent the impairment of substantial rights of
the complaining party. Gte S.W., Inc. v. Puc, 10 S.W.3d 7, 1999 Tex. App. LEXIS 5199 (Tex. App. Austin 1999).

12. Texas Railroad Commission's rejection of a gas company's fee assessment against residents of outlying areas was
not supported by substantial evidence because the Commission's order did not satisfy requirements for findings of fact.
CenterPoint Energy Entex v. R.R. Comm'n, 213 S.W.3d 364, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 3518 (Tex. App. Austin 2006).

13. Text of 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.56(d)(4)(J) is clear, but even if the court found that the text of this rule was am-
biguous, the court had to to give serious deference to the agency's reasonable interpretation. City of Jacksboro v. Two
Bush Cmty. Action Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1108 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 10 2012).

14. 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 25.263(l)(3) was held to be invalid as it was inconsistent with the legislature's intent, ex-
pessed in Tex. Util. Code Ann. ch. 39 of the Texas Public Utility Regulatory Act, that utilities could fully recover their
net, verifiable, nonmitigable stranded costs incurred in purchasing power and providing electric generation service, that
existed on the last day of the freeze period (December 31, 2001). A two- or three-year gap in recovery of carrying costs
would not have permitted the companies full recovery of their stranded costs as the legislature envisioned. Centerpoint
Energy, Inc. v. PUC of Tex., 2004 Tex. LEXIS 540, 47 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 672 (Tex. 2004), opinion withdrawn by, substi-
tuted opinion at 143 S.W.3d 81, 2004 Tex. LEXIS 881, 47 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 1156 (Tex. 2004).

15. Enforced suspension of appellee's pharmacist license by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy concurrently with the
suspension of her North Carolina license resulted from the improper application of a "rule" as that term was defined in
the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.003(6). The Board's informally announced re-
ciprocal-sanctions policy was invalid under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2), because it not adopted in accordance
with the APA's rulemaking procedures. Tex. State Bd. of Pharm. v. Witcher, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 5482 (Tex. App.
Austin May 3 2013).

16. Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 1051.703(a) of the Architecture Practice Act did not categorically preclude licensed engi-
neers from preparing comprehensive building plans and specifications for the class of public works projects identified in
that section, nor did Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 1051.601 categorically exempt licensed engineers from the Act's require-
ments. Instead, the enforcement matter at issue depended on whether preparation of the engineers' particular building
plans and specifications was within the scope and practice of engineering as defined by the Engineering Practice Act;
because the record was insufficiently developed to determine that issue as a matter of law, summary disposition was not
appropriate, and therefore the district court did not abuse its discretion in reversing the Board's decision and remanding
the case for further proceedings. Winton v. Tex. Bd. of Architectural Examiners (in re Rogers), 390 S.W.3d 377, 2011
Tex. App. LEXIS 6110 (Tex. App. Austin 2011).

17. Basis of the business owner's declaratory-judgment action was simply that the Texas Department of Licensing and
Regulation (Department) had no authority to regulate eyebrow threading because eyebrow threading did not constitute
the practice of cosmetology, and although she presented several constitutional arguments as to how the Department's
actions affected her individually, she made no broad constitutional challenge to the entire statutory scheme; her consti-
tutional arguments could be asserted under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and because the relief the owner
sought under the Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act would be considered "redundant" of her APA judicial-review
claim, she failed to invoke the district court's subject-matter jurisdiction to grant such relief, and the district court should
have dismissed those claims. Kuntz v. Khan, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 7252 (Tex. App. Austin Aug. 31 2010).

18. Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 expressly authorizes courts reviewing agency decisions to affirm in whole or in
part, and requires courts to reverse or remand for further proceedings when an agency's errors deprive a party of sub-
 Page 5
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

stantial rights; an affirmance in part with a remand necessarily implies that the issues affirmed are resolved and that the
remaining issues will be disposed of in some other way; otherwise, if a remand to an agency necessarily meant that all
issues were subject to being re-litigated, there would be no point in the court affirming any portion of the agency ruling
and no reason for the legislature to have included affirmance in part as an option for the court. Freightliner Corp. v.
Motor Vehicle Bd. of the Tex. DOT, 255 S.W.3d 356, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 3191 (Tex. App. Austin 2008).

19. While Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2) requires a reviewing court to reverse or remand a case for further pro-
ceedings in the face of agency error, it must be read in conjunction with Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(1); reading
these two sections together, a court does not construe Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2) as a limitation on the court's
ability in Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(1) to affirm an agency decision in whole or in part; instead, a reviewing
court may affirm part of an agency's order while also reversing part of that same order. Granek v. Tex. State Bd. of Med.
Examiners, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 2025 (Tex. App. Austin Mar. 19 2008).

20. Remand for further administrative proceedings was proper under the primary jurisdiction doctrine after a trial court
erred in denying a manufacturer's plea to the jurisdiction in a dealership transfer case; however, the remand order could
not require the agency to act. Ford Motor Co. v. Butnaru, 157 S.W.3d 142, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 465 (Tex. App. Austin
2005).

21. Pursuant to Tex. Water Code Ann. §§ 11.021(a), 11.022, 11.121, and 11.046(c), the Texas Commission on Envi-
ronmental Quality incorrectly concluded that the city's effluent remained private groundwater that could be diverted
without an appropriation permit; notwithstanding the city's stated intent not to abandon its effluent, the physical reality
of the city's reuse project was that the effluent was abandoned to the public domain once the city discharged it into the
San Marcos River where it was admittedly commingled and diluted by that state watercourse. City of San Marcos v.
Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 128 S.W.3d 264, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 96 (Tex. App. Austin 2004).

22. In applying Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(D), the parties agreed that the reviewing court based its decision on
an event which occurred after the ALJ rendered her decision. The statute encompassed events occurring after rendition
of the ALJ's decision. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Story, 115 S.W.3d 588, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6040 (Tex. App. Waco
2003).

23. According to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2), if the reviewing court finds any of the six categories of error
listed and determines that such error prejudiced the substantial rights of the party seeking review, the court must reverse
or remand the case for further proceedings; this means that the reviewing court may reverse the administrative law
judge's decision and render judgment in favor of the party seeking review, or reverse the ALJ's decision and remand the
cause for further proceedings. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Story, 115 S.W.3d 588, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6040 (Tex.
App. Waco 2003).

24. Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(D) provides a catchall ground for reversal or remand to provide a remedy for
one who has suffered an adverse administrative determination affected by some legal error other than those described in
the other subcategories; such other error could conceivably occur during the administrative proceedings or afterward.
Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Story, 115 S.W.3d 588, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6040 (Tex. App. Waco 2003).

25. Trial court remanded for reconsideration the penalty of cancelling a bar's mixed beverage and late hours permits
because two of the grounds for revocation of the license were not supported by substantial evidence, the determination
did not require further evidence, and the appellate court found that the agency did not abuse its discretion in denying an
evidentiary hearing pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2). Allen-Burch, Inc. v. Tex. Alcoholic Bev. Comm'n,
104 S.W.3d 345, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 3945 (Tex. App. Dallas 2003).

26. Trial court was not authorized to reverse and vacate the public utilities commission's order where the commission
exceeded its statutory authority in conducting transmission cost of service proceedings; rather, the trial court should
have reversed and remanded the commission's order. PUC of Tex. v. City Pub. Serv. Bd. of San Antonio, 2003 Tex. App.
LEXIS 3475 (Tex. App. Austin Apr. 24 2003), opinion withdrawn by, substituted opinion at 109 S.W.3d 130, 2003 Tex.
App. LEXIS 4933 (Tex. App. Austin 2003).
 Page 6
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

27. Business owner could not bring claims for declaratory relief under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 37.004
against state agency regarding practicing cosmetology without a license as the owner had already sought judicial review
of the agency decision under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174; the remedy would be redundant as the basis for both
claims was that eyebrow threading did not fall within the definition of cosmetology in Tex. Occ. Code Ann. §
1602.002(a), a proper basis for a claim for judicial review under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(A) & (B). Kuntz v.
Khan, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 446 (Tex. App. Austin Jan. 21 2011).

28. Declaratory judgment action against the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy claiming that the Board's stand-
ards and principles were so unconstitutionally vague that they did not sufficiently identify what constituted a violation
was redundant as auditors, who had their professional certificates revoked or suspended, had filed an administrative
appeal under Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 901.556(a). Tex. State Bd. of Pub. Accountancy v. Bass, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 294
(Tex. App. Austin Jan. 14 2011).

29. By refusing to strike the Edwards Aquifer Authority's jury demand and setting landowners' appeal of the Authority's
permitting decision for a jury trial, a trial court failed to apply the law correctly and fundamentally altered the nature of
the judicial review prescribed by statute because the Authority had a clear right to proceed to a final determination
without a jury, pursuant to Tex. Water Code Ann. § 36.253 and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 and Tex. Gov't Code
Ann. § 2001.175(e). In re Edwards Aquifer Auth., 217 S.W.3d 581, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 8934 (Tex. App. San Antonio
2006).

30. Tex. Water Code Ann. § 36.253 expressly incorporates Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 and makes it applicable to
appeals from orders made by groundwater districts. In re Edwards Aquifer Auth., 217 S.W.3d 581, 2006 Tex. App.
LEXIS 8934 (Tex. App. San Antonio 2006).

31. Under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, the appellate court had to reverse when a substantial right had been preju-
diced because the administrative decision was affected by an error of law; the administrative law judge erred in apply-
ing the law to the facts as she found them where no necessity justification existed at the time of the driver's arrest be-
cause his drive back to the scene was not in avoidance of any imminent harm. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Moore, 175
S.W.3d 270, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 4401 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 2004).

32. In a medical license suspension case, the court erred by denying a doctor's motion for rehearing because the doctor
timely filed a motion for rehearing giving the Board fair notice that he was dissatisfied with its conclusions that he
failed to practice medicine in a manner consistent with public health and welfare and failed to treat a patient according
to the generally accepted standard of care. Johnson v. Tex. Med. Bd., 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 845 (Tex. App. Austin Feb.
5 2010).

33. Examiner's recommendations constitute a part of 'the record as a whole" that is the object of judicial review when a
court considers substantial-evidence questions under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, and may be considered in light
of the pertinent evidence; but such recommendations are only entitled to such value as they intrinsically command when
agency decisionmakers depart from them. Exxon Corp. v. Railroad Comm'n, 993 S.W.2d 704, 1999 Tex. App. LEXIS
1818, 142 Oil & Gas Rep. 165 (Tex. App. Austin 1999).

34. Pursuant to the former Texas Administrative Procedure and Texas Register Act, Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. §
19(e)(5), the evidence was sufficient for the Texas Water Commission (Commission) to deny applicant permits to con-
struct and operate a hazardous waste facility, where the applicant proposed to store hazardous slurry in a salt dome cav-
ern, where the applicant could not guarantee that the slurry would maintain proper contact with the cavern walls, where
the salt dome was structurally unstable, and where tow aquifers were located above the salt dome. United Resource Re-
covery, Inc. v. Water Comm'n, 815 S.W.2d 797, 1991 Tex. App. LEXIS 2034 (Tex. App. Austin 1991).
 Page 7
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

35. Trial court's provision of the alcohol permit application number in its judgment and finding that there was no late
hours application did not constitute "judgment" within the meaning of former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13a
(now Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174); the trial court's action did not constitute a substitution of its judgment for that
of the County Judge, who had acted in an administrative capacity in reviewing an application for beer and wine licenses.
Alegria v. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Comm'n., 731 S.W.2d 723, 1987 Tex. App. LEXIS 7422 (Tex. App. Houston 14th
Dist. 1987).

36. Though a suspension hearing for a dentist's license contained some irregularities, especially the in and out presence
of the overseeing board's members who were involved in decision-making regarding the dentist's license, the appeals
court upheld the board's determination to suspend the dentist's license for two years in the absence of a demonstration
that there was no substantial justice and fair play; former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13A, § 19(e) (now Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174) required reversal if there was unlawful procedure resulting in prejudice to substantial
rights. Blankfield v. Texas State Bd. of Dental Exmrs., 1985 Tex. App. LEXIS 6216 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. Feb. 14
1985).

37. Because it was unclear whether Texas law would allow plaintiff landowners' inverse condemnation suit for a regu-
latory groundwater taking, and they had not pursued compensation in state court, their Fifth Amendment takings claim
against defendant water district's directors was not ripe and was dismissed without prejudice. Coates v. Hall, 512 F.
Supp. 2d 770, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17168 (W.D. Tex. 2007).

38. In an appeal concerning a rate supervision order issued by the Texas Commissioner of Insurance, which revoked an
insurer's ability to file and use its insurance rates without prior approval from the Texas Department of Insurance, there
was nothing in the order to suggest that it was not a final, completed agency action, where the only means of challeng-
ing the Commissioner's supervision order was to seek judicial review of the order, and, accordingly, the appellate court
and the district court had jurisdiction to address the insurer's claims under Tex. Ins. Code Ann. ch. 36. Furthermore,
several of the insurer's claims--that the actions for which the Commissioner placed it under supervision were not "rating
practices," that the supervision order was arbitrary and capricious, that the Commissioner acted outside his authority in
issuing the supervision order, and that its due process rights were violated--did not require review of an administrative
record, and all were authorized grounds for reversal or remand of a decision under the Administrative Procedure Act,
Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 2001.051-.178. Texas Dep't of Ins. v. State Farm Lloyds, 260 S.W.3d 233, 2008 Tex. App.
LEXIS 5563 (Tex. App. Austin 2008).

39. Remand for further administrative proceedings was proper under the primary jurisdiction doctrine after a trial court
erred in denying a manufacturer's plea to the jurisdiction in a dealership transfer case; however, the remand order could
not require the agency to act. Ford Motor Co. v. Butnaru, 157 S.W.3d 142, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 465 (Tex. App. Austin
2005).

40. When providing an independent right to judicial review in Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.171 of the Texas Adminis-
trative Procedure Act, the legislature has necessarily understood that state agencies will be sued in court by persons ex-
ercising that right, that contested-case decisions of those agencies will be judicially reviewed under the standards set
forth in Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, and that the challenged administrative decisions will be either affirmed, re-
versed, or remanded as provided by § 2001.174. Therefore, Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.171 provides a limited waiver
of sovereign immunity. Tex. Dep't of Protective & Regulatory Servs. v. Mega Child Care, Inc., 145 S.W.3d 170, 2004
Tex. LEXIS 780, 47 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 1116 (Tex. 2004).

41. Reviewing court has no authority under former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13a § 19(e) or § 19(d)(2) (now
Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174) to retain jurisdiction of an appeal after it has already determined that errors of the
administrative agency have substantially prejudiced the rights of the appellant. Railroad Comm'n. v. Home Transp. Co.,
654 S.W.2d 432, 1983 Tex. LEXIS 326, 26 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 564 (Tex. 1983).
 Page 8
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

42. Though a suspension hearing for a dentist's license contained some irregularities, especially the in and out presence
of the overseeing board's members who were involved in decision-making regarding the dentist's license, the appeals
court upheld the board's determination to suspend the dentist's license for two years in the absence of a demonstration
that there was no substantial justice and fair play; former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13A, § 19(e) (now Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174) required reversal if there was unlawful procedure resulting in prejudice to substantial
rights. Blankfield v. Texas State Bd. of Dental Exmrs., 1985 Tex. App. LEXIS 6216 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. Feb. 14
1985).

43. Because Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 prohibits a court from substituting its judgment for a state agency's
judgment on the weight of the evidence on questions committed to agency discretion, the trial court did not have the
authority to reduce the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's sanction suspending the bar's permit. CJSA, Ltd. v.
Texas Alcoholic Bev. Comm'n, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 1674 (Tex. App. San Antonio Mar. 14 2001).

44. Under the Administrative Procedure Act, specifically Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, a reviewing court acts in an
appellate capacity and may not substitute its judgment for that of the agency. Cash Am. Int'l, Inc. v. Bennett, 35 S.W.3d
12, 2000 Tex. LEXIS 82, 43 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 1047 (Tex. 2000).

45. There is no provision in Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2) for a reviewing court to render a different judgment
from an administrative law judge's (ALJ) decision or to modify an order of the ALJ. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Hud-
son, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1148 (Tex. App. Dallas Feb. 13 2012).

46. Group claimed, for purposes of Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E), that its substantial rights had been preju-
diced by the addition of extra groundwater monitoring wells, but the court did not see how the group was harmed by the
adoption of a permit that provided more monitoring than was required; the company's groundwater-monitoring system
as originally submitted, without additional monitoring, complied with 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.231(a). City of
Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1108 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 10 2012).

47. Court could not see how a group's rights were prejudiced by the addition of extra groundwater-monitoring wells to
monitor a stratum that was not required to be monitored, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has the
authority, under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 2001.060, 2001.062(d), 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 80.259, and case law, to add
special provisions to municipal-solid-waste permits after the evidentiary hearing has concluded so long as the decision
to add the special provisions does not prejudice substantial rights. City of Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action Group,
2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1108 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 10 2012).

48. Record contained evidence regarding groundwater flow that a reasonable mind could accept as supporting the con-
clusion that the flow was north-northeast, and absent prejudice to the group's substantial rights, reversal of the order was
not warranted. City of Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1108 (Tex. App. Austin Feb.
10 2012).

49. Driver's license suspension was proper because the facts established probable cause that the licensee was operating a
motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated for purposes of Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.042; witnesses at an
accident scene reported that a pickup had rear-ended another vehicle and driven away, a license plate at the scene was
matched to the licensee's pickup, which was later found abandoned with front end damage, and according to the licen-
see's wife, the licensee called her to pick him up near the site of the abandoned pickup. After the wife drive the licensee
to the sheriff's office, a trooper and others observed the licensee and detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his
breath. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Allen, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 4268 (Tex. App. Amarillo June 3 2011).

50. There was sufficient evidence for the administrative judge to uphold the suspension of the driver's license, because
the driver was speeding and veering back and forth, an odor of alcohol emanated from inside the car, the driver's eyes
 Page 9
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

were bloodshot and glassy, the driver's speech was slurred, the driver was unable to complete the one-leg-stand test and
he exhibited six clues of intoxication on the walk-and-turn test, and the driver displayed clues of intoxication on the
horizontal gaze nystagmus test and the vertical nystagmus test. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Williams, 303 S.W.3d 356,
2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 9708 (Tex. App. El Paso 2009).

51. Court erred in agreeing with the Texas Department of Insurance that self-funded plans were not insurers under Tex-
as law, because the stop-loss insurance was reinsurance, when the companies did not make coverage decisions with
respect to individuals insured by the plans and had no contractual relationship with the individuals insured by the plans
and could not be sued by them, all losses were handled by the plans and then sent to the companies for indemnification,
and since the stop-loss insurance sold to self-funded plans was reinsurance, 28 Tex. Admin. Code §§ 3.4002 and
3.4004(e)(2)(J) and former Tex. Ins. Code Ann. art. 3.42 did not apply to the companies. Am. Nat'l Ins. Co. v. Tex. Dep't
of Ins., 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 9647 (Tex. App. Austin Dec. 16 2009).

52. For purposes of Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.042, there was substantial evidence to support the administrative law
judge's findings that probable cause existed to stop and arrest a driver, that probable cause existed to believe that he was
operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated, and that he was placed under arrest and was requested to
submit to the taking of a breath specimen and refused to do so; thus, the trial court erred to the extent it substituted its
judgment for the administrative law judge on those matters, for purposes of Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, and the
error prejudiced the Texas Department of Public Safety's substantial rights. The court affirmed the suspension of the
driver's license by the administrative law judge. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Woods, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 6133 (Tex.
App. Austin Aug. 6 2009).

53. Administrative suspension of an operator's license was not subject to reversal based on a clerical error made by an
administrative law judge (ALJ) because it did not affect an operator's substantial rights; the ALJ relied on an improper
date of arrest. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Gonzales, 276 S.W.3d 88, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 7985 (Tex. App. San Antonio
2008).

54. Motorist was incorrect that, because the trial court made no findings or conclusions, its decision had to be affirmed
on any theory finding support in the evidence. Reviewing courts reviewing administrative decisions, like the suspension
of the motorist's license under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.042, had to comply with Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174.
Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Perkins, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 10833 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. Dec. 2 2004).

55. In connection with a hearing to review the suspension of a motorist's driver's license, the motorist failed to object to
the introduction of an officer's report on the ground that the officer was absent, and thus, the motorist waived this issue,
but assuming that a supervisor's report and intoxilyzer record were improperly admitted, the admission of the officer's
report rendered any such error harmless because the primary source of the evidence relevant to and supporting the fac-
tual issues before the administrative law judge was the officer's report. Most of the information in the supervisor's report
and intoxilyzer record was also reported in the officer's report, and thus the motorist was not prejudiced by the error, if
any, pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174. Reisel v. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 8596 (Tex.
App. San Antonio Sept. 29 2004).

56. Trial court did not err in limiting a state medical board of examiner's consideration to the administrative law judge
record on remand; the instructions did not conflict with the provision of Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 of the Ad-
ministrative Procedure Act, Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 2001.001-.902. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Examiners v. Dunn, 2003
Tex. App. LEXIS 9833 (Tex. App. Austin Nov. 20 2003).

57. Because contested-case hearings before the Motor Vehicle Board of the Texas Department of Transportation are
heard under the APA without a specified standard of review, the substantial evidence rule applies under Tex. Gov't Code
Ann. § 2001.174. BMW of N. Am., L.L.C. v. Motor Vehicle Bd., 115 S.W.3d 722, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6923 (Tex. App.
Austin 2003).

58. Under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, an appellate court reviews the legal conclusions of the Motor Vehicle
Board of the Texas Department of Transportation for errors of law, and the court reviews the board's findings of fact for
support by substantial evidence. BMW of N. Am., L.L.C. v. Motor Vehicle Bd., 115 S.W.3d 722, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS
6923 (Tex. App. Austin 2003).
 Page 10
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

59. Appellate review under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(f), ensures that an agency does not act arbitrarily or with-
out regard to the facts. BMW of N. Am., L.L.C. v. Motor Vehicle Bd., 115 S.W.3d 722, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6923 (Tex.
App. Austin 2003).

60. Administrative error will not be grounds for reversal or remand unless the appellant's substantive rights have been
prejudiced under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2).. BMW of N. Am., L.L.C. v. Motor Vehicle Bd., 115 S.W.3d 722,
2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6923 (Tex. App. Austin 2003).

61. When the trial court entertains a suit for judicial review of a department of insurance decision that is brought under
Tex. Ins. Code Ann. §§ 36.201-.05 and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 2001.171,.174, the trial court is authorized to reverse
the case under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(A) and (D), if the agency's findings, inferences, conclusions, or de-
cisions are characterized by abuse of discretion, in violation of a statutory provision, or affected by another error of law.
Serv. Lloyds Ins. Co. v. Montemayor, 108 S.W.3d 454, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 4318 (Tex. App. Austin 2003).

62. To secure a reversal a party needs to show that the agency committed an error of law and relating prejudice to the
appellant's substantial rights under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174; where there is an error of law, it does not neces-
sarily follow that there is also demonstrable prejudice to substantial rights. DOT v. Jones Bros. Dirt & Paving Contrs.,
24 S.W.3d 893, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 4920 (Tex. App. Austin 2000), reversed by 92 S.W.3d 477, 2002 Tex. LEXIS 101,
45 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 937 (Tex. 2002).

63. In reviewing administrative license suspension decisions under the substantial evidence standard in Tex. Transp.
Code Ann. § 524.041 and Tex. Gov't. Code Ann. § 2001.174, the reviewing court may not substitute its judgment for that
of the agency. The issue for the court is not whether the agency's decision was correct, but only whether the record
demonstrates some reasonable basis for the agency's action as shown by a "scintilla" of evidence. Mireles v. Texas Dep't
of Pub. Safety, 9 S.W.3d 128, 1999 Tex. LEXIS 125, 43 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 169 (Tex. 1999).

64. The Administrative Procedure Act (Act), Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, which empowered the Board of Trustees
of the Employees Retirement System of Texas to prepare coverage specifications made under the Act, was construed in
a manner that entitled the trustees' interpretation of policy exclusions to be given judicial respect regarding any uncer-
tainty where the interpretation was reasonable; the finding that an optometrist's "vision therapy treatments" fell within
the policy exclusion of "orthoptics or visual training" was held to be reasonable. McMullen v. Employees Retirement
Sys., 935 S.W.2d 189, 1996 Tex. App. LEXIS 5142 (Tex. App. Austin 1996).

65. Administrative law judge (ALJ) did not err in quashing the driver's subpoena of the arresting officer in the adminis-
trative license suspension proceeding, because the ALJ's application of the 150-mile limit in Tex. R. Civ. P. 176.3 was
not an abuse of discretion; the ALJ was expressly authorized to consider the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Hodge v.
Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 10526 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. Dec. 20 2012).

66. Because coalition members' property was along the creek in close proximity to the dairy in question, discharges into
water would impact them differently from the general public; to the extent the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality's denial of the coalition's hearing request was based on an implied determination that the dairy's contributions of
waste to the creek under the amended permit would have no impact on water quality, the denial was an abuse of discre-
tion. Bosque River Coalition v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 347 S.W.3d 366, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 6043 (Tex. App.
Austin 2011).

67. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's conclusion that a coalition was not an affected person was made
through improper procedure, was affected by error of law, and was an abuse of discretion under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §
2001.174(2)(C), (D), (F); the court reversed. Bosque River Coalition v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 347 S.W.3d 366,
2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 6043 (Tex. App. Austin 2011).

68. When the trial court entertains a suit for judicial review of a department of insurance decision that is brought under
Tex. Ins. Code Ann. §§ 36.201-.05 and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 2001.171,.174, the trial court is authorized to reverse
 Page 11
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

the case under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(A) and (D), if the agency's findings, inferences, conclusions, or de-
cisions are characterized by abuse of discretion, in violation of a statutory provision, or affected by another error of law.
Serv. Lloyds Ins. Co. v. Montemayor, 108 S.W.3d 454, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 4318 (Tex. App. Austin 2003).

69. Since the Texas Legislature had expressed no intent that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) be penalized
for the failure of an officer to submit a report within the five-day deadline of Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.032(c)(4),
the failure of an officer to comply with the statute did not render the report inadmissible at an administrative hearing,
and the judgment that the evidence was insufficient to authorize suspension of the driver's license was reversed and re-
manded because the erroneous exclusion of exhibits prejudiced the DPS's substantial rights since the administrative law
judge denied the DPS the opportunity to satisfy its evidentiary burden at the license suspension hearing. Tex. Dep't of
Pub. Safety v. Kimbrough, 106 S.W.3d 747, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 3566 (Tex. App. Fort Worth 2003).

70. Under the Administrative Procedure Act, specifically Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, a reviewing court acts in an
appellate capacity and may not substitute its judgment for that of the agency. Cash Am. Int'l, Inc. v. Bennett, 35 S.W.3d
12, 2000 Tex. LEXIS 82, 43 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 1047 (Tex. 2000).

71. Public Utility Commission was arbitrary and capricious in deciding not to allow rate-case expenses from earlier
proceedings without prior Commissioner approval where it departed from prior Commission practice without explaining
the reason for its change in position, made findings of fact and conclusions of law without adequate support in the rec-
ord, and failed to give notice before the hearing of its intention to implement a new requirement. Oncor Elec. Delivery
Co. Llc v. PUC of Tex., 406 S.W.3d 253, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 7334 (Tex. App. Austin 2013).

72. Public Utility Commission of Texas' finding that it was appropriate to limit the amount that the telecommunications
provider should refund to the amount of overcharges to the county hospital district and order a partial refund was arbi-
trary and capricious, 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 26.27; l]this imitation prejudiced the substantial rights of the district, Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2). Harris County Hosp. Dist. v. PUC of Tex., 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 5707 (Tex. App. Aus-
tin July 13 2012).

73. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's findings did not conflict with its decision to grant a landfill permit,
the company complied with rule requirements of the rule, and conclusions that the proposed groundwater-monitoring
system would adequately monitor the groundwater and will protect the groundwater, human health, and the environment
was also arbitrary or capricious. City of Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1108 (Tex.
App. Austin Feb. 10 2012).

74. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) was required to make findings that supported its determina-
tions that the statutory requirements, for purposes of Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.002 and Tex. Gov't Code
Ann. § 2001.141(b), (d), for approving a permit application had been met, and TCEQ made 200 findings supporting its
decision to grant the permit; given this, and that substantial evidence supported a finding that there were no springs near
the proposed landfill, the court would have subjected the order to a hypertechnical standard of review if the court found
the order to be arbitrary and capricious because TCEQ failed to make a negative finding of fact concerning the existence
of springs. City of Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1108 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 10
2012).

75. To the extent the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality denied a coalition's hearing request based on the
premise that an amended permit would be more protective of the environment than the current one, the Commission
acted arbitrarily by relying on a factor that was irrelevant to the standing of the coalition's to obtain a hearing. Bosque
River Coalition v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 347 S.W.3d 366, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 6043 (Tex. App. Austin
2011).

76. Because the court did not find that 28 Tex. Admin. Code § 134.1 was vague, the court overruled an operator's claims
that the application or misapplication of § 134.1 to its reimbursement claim caused the final order rejecting its claim to
be arbitrary and based on an error of law, for purposes of Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(D), (F). Vista Healthcare,
Inc. v. Tex. Mut. Ins. Co., 324 S.W.3d 264, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 7046 (Tex. App. Austin 2010).
 Page 12
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

77. In a highway construction contract dispute, although Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 201.112 gave the executive director
of the Texas Department of Transportation broad discretion to make changes to the proposed findings of fact and con-
clusions of law of the administrative law judge (ALJ), the executive director could not ignore the evidence; where the
ALJ, and not the executive director, heard the testimony and observed the demeanor of the witnesses, and in the absence
of independent evidence in the record to support the executive director's credibility choice, the executive director's deci-
sion to reject the ALJ's findings based on credibility was arbitrary and capricious under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §
2001.174. State v. Mid-South Pavers, Inc., 246 S.W.3d 711, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 9905 (Tex. App. Austin 2007).

78. Doctor's due process rights were not violated when the State Board of Medical Examiners revoked his license be-
cause the record failed to show that the presence of two doctors that served on the disciplinary panel unduly influenced
the Board's final decision and there was no record that ex parte communications took place; further, the Board's conclu-
sions were not arbitrary or capricious under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 where there was no evidence that the
Board based its decision on peer review evidence pursuant to Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 151.003(2) or that the doctor was
harmed by such evidence under Tex. R. App. P. 44.1. Chalifoux v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Examiners, 2006 Tex. App.
LEXIS 9598 (Tex. App. Austin Nov. 1 2006).

79. Decision of the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners to revoke a doctor's license was not arbitrary or capricious
under Tex. Gov't Code Ann § 2001.174(2)(F); there was no evidence that the Board considered peer-review evidence in
reaching its final decision, and its conclusions were explicitly based on its findings and the evidence presented at the
hearing. Chalifoux v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Exam'rs, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 4738 (Tex. App. Austin June 2 2006).

80. Professional disciplinary action against a doctor, based on stale allegations of improper touching of a female pa-
tient's breasts, resulted in a due process violation that caused actual prejudice to the doctor's substantial rights, and the
action was therefore arbitrary and capricious under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(A); staleness was not a signifi-
cant concern as to another patient's complaints, however, because contemporaneous documentary evidence of the com-
plaints existed. Granek v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Exam'rs, 172 S.W.3d 761, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6954 (Tex. App. Aus-
tin 2005).

81. Appellate review under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(f), ensures that an agency does not act arbitrarily or with-
out regard to the facts. BMW of N. Am., L.L.C. v. Motor Vehicle Bd., 115 S.W.3d 722, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6923 (Tex.
App. Austin 2003).

82. Trial court was not free to substitute its judgment for the judgment of the prison, through its disciplinary commis-
sion, on the weight of the evidence, and, thus, the disciplinary conviction and fine imposed on the inmate for the dam-
age the inmate caused to state property during a riot had to be upheld because the hearing captain's finding the inmate
committed the damage was not arbitrary or capricious. Warriner v. Tex. Dep't of Crim. Justice - Institutional Div., 2002
Tex. App. LEXIS 6410 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi Aug. 29 2002).

83. Appellate court must reverse an order of the Texas Railroad Commission if the commission's action was arbitrary,
capricious, or an abuse of discretion pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174. An agency decision is arbitrary when
its final order denies parties due process of law or fails to demonstrate a connection between the agency decision and
the factors that are made relevant to that decision by the applicable statutes and regulations; a court reviewing a decision
for arbitrariness should consider all relevant factors and may not substitute its judgment for that of the agency. Occi-
dental Permian, Ltd. v. R.R. Comm'n, 47 S.W.3d 801, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 3583, 149 Oil & Gas Rep. 321 (Tex. App.
Austin 2001).

84. Under the Administrative Procedure Act, specifically Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, a reviewing court acts in an
appellate capacity and may not substitute its judgment for that of the agency. Cash Am. Int'l, Inc. v. Bennett, 35 S.W.3d
12, 2000 Tex. LEXIS 82, 43 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 1047 (Tex. 2000).

85. Under the Texas Administrative Procedures Act, Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2), the trial court has the author-
ity to reverse an agency determination if it finds that the substantive rights of the appellant are prejudiced due to a con-
stitutional or statutory violation, the decision was made unlawfully or affected by an error of law, not supported by sub-
 Page 13
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

stantial evidence, or was found to be arbitrary or capricious. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Breazeale, 1999 Tex. App. LEXIS
7131 (Tex. App. Houston 14th Dist. Sept. 23 1999).

86. Courts are entitled to review agency decisions under the former Administrative Procedure and Texas Register Act,
Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13a § 19 (e), and may reverse an administrative order if it lacks substantial evidence
supporting it or if it is arbitrary and capricious. City of Alvin v. Public Util. Comm'n, 876 S.W.2d 346, 1993 Tex. App.
LEXIS 2381 (Tex. App. Austin 1993).

87. Order of the Texas Railroad Commission, directing appellant company to backfill and compact certain sludge pits
and to dispose of all oil or oil by-products located in them, was not arbitrary and capricious under former Tex. Rev. Civ.
Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13a, § 19(e)(6) because the fact that appellant controlled the pits for 23 years was not legally irrel-
evant, nor was it inherently arbitrary to proceed against only appellant even though other potentially liable parties ex-
isted; while the pits had been conveyed to appellant by a corporation that had disposed of sludge in the pits, and appel-
lant subsequently had released its interest in the pits to another party, the harm caused by the joint tortfeasors was indi-
visible, and thus the Commission could choose to proceed against only one of them. Lone Star Salt Water Disposal Co.
v. Railroad Comm'n, 800 S.W.2d 924, 1990 Tex. App. LEXIS 3123, 115 Oil & Gas Rep. 166 (Tex. App. Austin 1990).

88. Utility commission's failure to set forth findings of fact and conclusions of law in its rate order, as required by the
Administrative Procedure and Texas Register Act, Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 16(b), constituted an arbitrary and ca-
pricious omission. Consumers Water, Inc. v. Public Util. Comm'n., 774 S.W.2d 719, 1989 Tex. App. LEXIS 2127 (Tex.
App. Austin 1989).

89. Trial court erred by reversing dentistry board's order revoking dentist license because the members of the board
were in a better position to determine the relevance and materiality of the State's expert witness than the reviewing
judge unendowed with evaluation evidence or expertise. Board of Dental Exmrs. v. Silagi, 766 S.W.2d 280, 1989 Tex.
App. LEXIS 207 (Tex. App. El Paso 1989).

90. While the Administrative Procedures Act is deferential toward agency decisions and expressly prohibits a reviewing
court from substituting its own judgment for the decision of the state agency on questions committed to agency discre-
tion, questions of law are not left to agency discretion and are therefore subject to de novo review under Tex. Gov't
Code Ann. § 2001.174 DOT v. Jones Bros. Dirt & Paving Contrs., 24 S.W.3d 893, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 4920 (Tex.
App. Austin 2000), reversed by 92 S.W.3d 477, 2002 Tex. LEXIS 101, 45 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 937 (Tex. 2002).

91. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality violated Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.0832(f) and exceeded
its statutory authority by failing to explain in its order why it rejected the administrative law judge's findings that all of
the landfill's operations be conducted during the recommended operating hours, Heritage on the San Gabriel Home-
owners Ass?n v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 393 S.W.3d 417, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 10767 (Tex. App. Austin 2012).

92. Basis of the business owner's declaratory-judgment action was simply that the Texas Department of Licensing and
Regulation (Department) had no authority to regulate eyebrow threading because eyebrow threading did not constitute
the practice of cosmetology, and although she presented several constitutional arguments as to how the Department's
actions affected her individually, she made no broad constitutional challenge to the entire statutory scheme; her consti-
tutional arguments could be asserted under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and because the relief the owner
sought under the Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act would be considered "redundant" of her APA judicial-review
claim, she failed to invoke the district court's subject-matter jurisdiction to grant such relief, and the district court should
have dismissed those claims. Kuntz v. Khan, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 7252 (Tex. App. Austin Aug. 31 2010).

93. Under the administrative rule, the company's programs, including those funded with the settlement money, were
programs implemented under that rule, and the Public Utility Commission, by limiting the company's bonus based on
 Page 14
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

the specific source of funds expended on the programs, adopted an interpretation that was contrary to the rule, such that
the court reversed. Centerpoint Energy Houston Elec., Llc v. PUC of Tex., 408 S.W.3d 910, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS
10363 (Tex. App. Austin 2013).

94. Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation complied with Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.058(e) by specifying
the reason and legal basis for its modifications to the ALJ's findings and conclusions and its decision was supported by
substantial evidence and made through lawful procedure. Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 2001.058(e), .174; the Commission
expressly addressed and made findings in its decisions to the statutory factors in the Occupation Code. Tex. Dep't of
Licensing & Regulation v. Thompson, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 8832 (Tex. App. Austin July 18 2013).

95. In an administrative license suspension proceeding, substantial evidence supported the judge's decision that a troop-
er had reasonable suspicion to stop the driver's vehicle because he was committing a traffic offense by driving a vehicle
whose taillamps failed to illuminate the rear license plate. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Flanagan, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS
1713 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 14 2014).

96. Substantial evidence supported the decision of the Texas Insurance Commissioner revoking an insurance agent's
license, because he engaged in fraudulent acts or practices with regard to the sale of universal leases and unauthorized
annuity transactions. Zaal v. Tex. Dep't of INS., 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 13296 (Tex. App. Austin Oct. 29 2013).

97. Administrative Procedure Act provisions governing substantial-evidence did not authorize monetary relief sought by
a workers' compensation insurance carrier against a health care provider relating to stop-loss reimbursement, and mon-
etary relief had not been awarded incident to reversing and remanding an administrative order. Vista Med. Ctr. Hosp. v.
Tex. Mut. INS. Co., 416 S.W.3d 11, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 12172 (Tex. App. Austin 2013).

98. ALJ's administrative decision was supported by substantial evidence and the record demonstrated some reasonable
basis for the ALJ's action. and the County Court at Law improperly re-weighed the evidence and substituted its judg-
ment for that of the ALJ when the driver appealed from the ALJ's administrative determination. Tex. Dep't of Pub.
Safety v. Castro, 406 S.W.3d 782, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 9107 (Tex. App. El Paso 2013).

99. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission properly suspended the licensee's alcoholic beverage permit and license for
five days, because substantial evidence supported the conclusion that the third party was an employee, agent, or servant
for purposes of establishing a violation of Tex. Alco. Bev. Code Ann. § 104.01(4), when the focus was whether there was
substantial evidence to support the determination that the third party was an employee, agent, or servant for purposes of
establishing a violation. Villatoro v. Tex. Alcoholic Bev. Comm'n, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 6780 (Tex. App. Dallas June 3
2013).

100. Administrative law judge's finding that the deputy had reasonable suspicion to stop the driver was not reasonably
supported by substantial evidence and therefore it erred by suspending the driver's license under Tex. Transp. Code Ann.
§§ 524.022, .041, because the evidence only showed that the driver was observed driving slowly on a highway at 1:40
a.m; the record was silent regarding the deputy's training and experience and was silent as to the characteristics of the
area in which the driver was observed driving. In addition, there was no evidence that the deputy stopped the driver be-
cause he was concerned for her safety, as there was no evidence she was alone in her vehicle, that there were any other
vehicles sharing the roadway with the driver, or that driving slowly was inherently unsafe; the deputy stated in his re-
port that he had reasonable suspicion to contact that driver only because he observed her vehicle traveling 40 m.p.h. in a
65 m.p.h. posted zone. Peters v. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 404 S.W.3d 1, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 2798 (Tex. App. Hou-
ston 1st Dist. 2013).

101. In a case relating to the revocation of a doctor's license, a finding that a kyphoplasty constituted a "spine surgery"
was reasonably supported by substantial evidence where there was testimony from other physicians that the procedure
constituted a surgery. The doctor's performance of this procedure violated an agreed order whereby he was prohibited
 Page 15
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

from being present at or performing "spine surgery." Baker v. Tex. Med. Bd., 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 1259 (Tex. App.
Austin Feb. 6 2013).

102. Trial court erred by reversing the administrative decision allowing the suspension of the driver's license because
substantial evidence supported that decision, as the officer testified multiple times that he saw the driver on the road and
then enter the parking lot and that he saw the driver in the vehicle's driver's seat when it was parked under a light in the
parking lot; when the driver approached the officer, he saw that the driver was intoxicated and therefore had reasonable
suspicion or probable cause to detain the driver and administer field sobriety tests. The officer's report, which bore the
seal and signature of the Texas Department of Public Safety's custodian of records, corroborated the officer's testimony
that the driver did not provide a breath sample on request and that he refused to provide a post-arrest breath sample. Tex.
Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Perez, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 659 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi Jan. 24 2013).

103. Where a subcontractor filed a claim alleging that unforeseen conditions caused it to incur additional costs to com-
plete foundation drilling work on a highway construction contract, substantial evidence under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §
2001.174(2)(E) supported the Texas Department of Transportation's decision that (1) the site conditions were not sig-
nificantly different; (2) the contract provided that casing was required to prevent caving and water intrusion; and there-
fore, (3) the subcontractor was not entitled to damages. Granite Constr. Co. v. Tex. DOT, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 9706
(Tex. App. Austin Nov. 20 2012).

104. Agreed Final Judgment purported to find facts (that the city had met the criteria for issuance of a permit) and to
render judgment granting a permit, and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 did not empower courts to take such action,
which went beyond their limited authority in a substantial-evidence review, and having concluded that there was error
prejudicing substantial rights of the city's, the court's only options were to reverse or remand the case for further pro-
ceedings; accordingly, the district court's Agreed Final Judgment, which had the effect of rendering a specific judgment,
contravened the direct restriction on the special statutory jurisdiction delegated to the court in its substantial-evidence
review, and because the judgment violated the separation-of-powers doctrine of the Texas Constitution, Tex. Const. art.
II, § 1, it was void and its rendition was fundamental error. Save Our Springs Alliance, Inc. v. City of Kyle, 382 S.W.3d
540, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 7548 (Tex. App. Austin 2012).

105. Group's substantial rights were not prejudiced by the addition of the special provision to the landfill application,
because the appellate court could not see how the group had been harmed by the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality adopting a permit that provided more groundwater monitoring than was required by the administrative rules,
when the permit not only satisfied the rules' requirements that groundwater from the uppermost aquifer be monitored, as
it must, but it also provided for extra monitoring of groundwater that the evidence showed was not in the uppermost
aquifer. City of Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 5243 (Tex. App. Austin June 28
2012).

106. Trial court exceeded its authority when it modified an administrative law judge's (ALJ) decision that a driver's li-
cense was suspended for 2 years under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.035(a) and stated that the suspension was for 180
days. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Hudson, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1148 (Tex. App. Dallas Feb. 13 2012).

107. Both the administrative law judge and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality agreed that an aquifer was
a regional one, and the conclusion was supported by substantial evidence. City of Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action
Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1108 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 10 2012).

108. There was sufficient evidence for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to find that a company met the
requirements in its search for springs and there were none in the landfill's vicinity. City of Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty.
Action Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1108 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 10 2012).

109. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) was required to make findings that supported its determina-
tions that the statutory requirements, for purposes of Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.002 and Tex. Gov't Code
Ann. § 2001.141(b), (d), for approving a permit application had been met, and TCEQ made 200 findings supporting its
decision to grant the permit; given this, and that substantial evidence supported a finding that there were no springs near
the proposed landfill, the court would have subjected the order to a hypertechnical standard of review if the court found
the order to be arbitrary and capricious because TCEQ failed to make a negative finding of fact concerning the existence
 Page 16
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

of springs. City of Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1108 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 10
2012).

110. Although a group was correct that a company did not raise adding a special provision to its groundwater monitor-
ing plan until after the proposal for decision had been submitted, and thus the company did not formally introduce the
provision, the court's task was to review the order of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to see if substan-
tial evidence supported the order, considering the evidence in the record as a whole, for purposes of Tex. Gov't Code
Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E); the administrative law judge considered the provision in reaching findings and conclusions,
such that the provision was part of the record as a whole under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.060(1), (2), (5), (6). City of
Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1108 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 10 2012).

111. Even if the court assumed the record contained no evidence regarding a special provision, the court could reverse
on substantial-evidence grounds if a group's substantial rights were prejudiced under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §
2001.174(2), but the group failed to show this. City of Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action Group, 2012 Tex. App.
LEXIS 1108 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 10 2012).

112. Insurance agent's license was properly revoked because the insurance agent's statement to clients that when they
wanted out of a universal lease program, a leasing agent would buy back the timeshare for the amount of the investment
proved to be untrue; substantial evidence under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E) supported the finding that the
insurance agent acted recklessly with respect to the truth or falsity of the representations. Meyer v. Tex. Dep't of Ins.,
2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 9270 (Tex. App. Austin Nov. 23 2011).

113. Legislature granted the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners (Board) the power to protect the public interest by
regulating those physicians who were granted the privilege of practicing medicine, Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 151.003; the
legislature also provided that the Board's decision to revoke a physician's license was subject to the substantial-evidence
standard of review, Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, and the lack of a trial de novo (either a bench or jury trial) for
license-revocation appeals by physicians was rationally related to the legitimate governmental purpose of conservation
of judicial resources. Scally v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Examiners, 351 S.W.3d 434, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 6117 (Tex.
App. Austin 2011).

114. Because a coalition never had the opportunity to develop an evidentiary record before the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality through contested-case or adjudicative processes, substantial-evidence review was inapplicable
and unavailable. Bosque River Coalition v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 347 S.W.3d 366, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS
6043 (Tex. App. Austin 2011).

115. Court's use of the term "substantial-evidence review" in this opinion was intended in the narrower sense to refer
only to a determination of whether the agency order was reasonably supported by substantial evidence considering the
reliable evidence as a whole. Bosque River Coalition v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 347 S.W.3d 366, 2011 Tex. App.
LEXIS 6043 (Tex. App. Austin 2011).

116. Dismissal of the teacher's request for assault leave by the Texas Commissioner of Education was supported by
substantial evidence, because the teacher submitted her request for assault leave under Tex. Educ. Code Ann. §
22.003(b) 720 days after the date of the incident, and reasonable minds could have reached the same conclusion; since
the Texas Education Code did not expressly define the scope of judicial review of decisions made by the Texas Com-
missioner of Education, the substantial-evidence standard applied. Poole v. Karnack Indep. Sch. Dist., 344 S.W.3d 440,
2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 3456 (Tex. App. Austin 2011).

117. Substantial evidence under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 supported the administrative suspension of appellee's
driver's license under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §§ 724.035, 724.042, because he was stopped for speeding, had trouble
maintaining balance, refused to provide a breath or blood specimen, and admitted to ingesting hydrocodone, a con-
trolled substance. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Greathouse, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 2119 (Tex. App. Waco Mar. 23 2011).

118. Although the formal posture was an appeal of a transportation department order determining that its engineer did
not commit gross error in denying a company additional compensation, to which the court applied the substantial evi-
 Page 17
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

dence standard under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, these inquiries turned on pure questions of law that the court
reviewed de novo. Cce, Ltd. v. Tex. DOT, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 1587 (Tex. App. Austin Mar. 2 2011).

119. Where a deputy observed a pickup truck make a right turn so wide that it caused the front driver's side tire to go
onto the grassy area of the road, the deputy had reasonable suspicion to stop appellee's vehicle because he committed a
traffic violation under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §§ 545.051(a), 545.101(a); based on the strong odor of an alcoholic bev-
erage emitting from appellee, his admission that he was drinking beer, and his poor performance on field sobriety tests,
the deputy had probable cause to arrest appellee for driving while intoxicated. Because the requirements of Tex. Transp.
Code Ann. § 524.035(a)(1), (2) were met, the Texas Department of Public Safety's decision to suspend appellee's driv-
er's license was supported by substantial evidence under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v.
Garza, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 9523 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi Dec. 2 2010).

120. Trial court erred in overturning an administrative decision suspending appellee's driver's license based on appel-
lee's refusal to submit a breath specimen; the administrative law judge chose to credit the statements by the arresting
officer in the officer's report over the testimony of appellee, and there was sufficient evidence in the record to support
the findings as reasonable and supported by substantial evidence. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Gutierrez, 2010 Tex. App.
LEXIS 7567 (Tex. App. San Antonio Sept. 15 2010).

121. Suspension of a driver's license for refusal to submit to a breath test under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.035 was
supported by substantial evidence because even if the officer's sworn report was inadmissible under Tex. R. Evid. 803(8)
based on a lack of a signature, the admissible evidence demonstrated the four elements required to uphold the suspen-
sion; that evidence included the DIC-24 form, under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.032, which indicated refusal to sub-
mit to the breath test and was signed by the driver. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Guajardo, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 6000
(Tex. App. Corpus Christi July 29 2010).

122. Substantial evidence supported the suspension of the minor's driver's license, because the minor was properly ad-
vised of the consequences set forth under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.015 and he voluntarily refused to submit a
specimen at the officer's request, and since the officer was not required to give the minor the notice of suspension before
requesting a specimen, any irregularity on the notice of suspension did not affect the voluntariness of the minor's refusal
to submit a specimen for purposes of Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.042. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Henson, 2010 Tex.
App. LEXIS 3478 (Tex. App. Houston 14th Dist. May 11 2010).

123. Motorist argued that at least one half of the license plate was working and that the officer could see the license
plate when he turned on his headlights, and while the court could concede the rear license plate was barely illuminated,
nothing suggested the plate was clearly legible at a distance of 50 feet from the rear under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §
547.322(f); the court does not rewrite the statute to say the plate must be legible if a police officer is driving behind a
suspect with his lights on because the statute's purpose may also be to ensure officers on foot and potential witnesses are
able to see the license plate, and in any event, even had the motorist presented conflicting evidence on this point, the
court would still have been unable to disregard the administrative law judge's factual determinations, for purposes of
Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Eller, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 8473 (Tex. App. Texarkana
Nov. 4 2009).

124. Trial court erred in finding that a notice of an enforcement action hearing before the Texas Alcoholic Beverage
Commission (TABC) was ineffective because evidence that the TABC sent the notice to the licensee at the address in-
dicated in the TABC's records and that it received a signed green card in return was substantial evidence under Tex.
Alco. Bev. Code Ann. § 11.67(b) and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2) for the TABC's finding that the licensee had
actual notice; the agency was entitled to resolve conflicts in the evidence, and, here, the evidence could have supported
a finding either way. The trial court impermissibly substituted its judgment for that of the agency as the agency's resolu-
tion of the issues of any "address problems" and the green card signature was not unreasonable. Tex. Alcoholic Bev.
Comm'n v. Aga Trading, Inc., 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 7842 (Tex. App. Houston 14th Dist. Oct. 8 2009).

125. Driver was parked in his usual parking space behind the building where he worked, he did not have a foot on the
brake and had not turned on the headlights, and the car was in park and the front seat was reclined to better accommo-
date him sleeping, and this would have made it difficult if not impossible for the driver to enable the vehicle's use for its
intended purpose of driving, rather than a source of air conditioning; thus, the driver did not take an action to affect the
 Page 18
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

functioning of his vehicle in a manner that would enable the vehicle's use, such that the finding that probable cause ex-
isted to believe that the driver was operating his vehicle while intoxicated, for purposes of Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §
724.042, was not supported by substantial evidence, for purposes of Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2), and the court
affirmed the reversal of the suspension of the driver's license under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.035. Tex. Dep't of
Pub. Safety v. Allocca, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 7039 (Tex. App. Austin Aug. 31 2009).

126. Final order of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which reconciled an electric utility company's eligible fuel
expenses and revenues for a certain time period, was upheld on appeal as a reasonable remedy within the Commission's
statutory authority; the Commission's final order was found to have reasonably required the utility company to account
for all revenues it collected after December 31, 2001, that were directly attributable to the generation of electricity
through that date, and reasonably required it to reconcile all fuel revenues it received and expenses it incurred after that
date, to serve customers who were not yet switched to a retail electric provider; the Commission reconciliation method-
ology was found to have been proper and reasonably interpreted the Texas Legislature's directive to conduct a final
reconciliation by accounting for all revenues associated with the expenses of providing bundled service during the rec-
onciliation period; a reasonable basis existed for the Commission's decision to discount approximately $ 2.7 million in
fuel costs and that the decision was supported by substantial evidence; and the Commission was found to have properly
delineated and applied its reasonableness or prudence standard of review, which took into account, among other things,
changes in the market. Aep Tex. N. Co. v. Public Util. Comm?n of Tex., 297 S.W.3d 435, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 7064
(Tex. App. Austin 2009).

127. Decision of an ALJ administratively suspending a driver's license was supported by substantial evidence, Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E), including that it took the driver more than 20 seconds to get his door open and exit
the car, he was swaying, had red, bloodshot eyes, had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his mouth, and admitted
coming from a bar where he had had eight or nine drinks. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Dishman, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS
3052 (Tex. App. San Antonio May 6 2009).

128. Under the substantial evidence standard of review, it was determined that driving privileges were properly sus-
pended because there was probable cause to believe that a driver was operating a motor vehicle in a public place under
Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.042(2)(A); the public had unrestricted access to a private road, and it did not matter that
travelers were infrequent or that the road had not been converted to a county road. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Castro,
2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 3198 (Tex. App. San Antonio Apr. 29 2009).

129. Substantial evidence supported the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners' conclusion that the dentist practiced
dentistry in a manner that constituted dishonorable conduct as defined in 22 Tex. Admin. Code Ann. § 108.9(6) where
the dentist offered to show a teenaged patient and her mother the scars on her breasts from surgery. Tex. State Bd. of
Dental Examiners v. Brown, 281 S.W.3d 692, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 2247 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi 2009).

130. Texas State Board of Dental Examiners' conclusion that the dentist practiced dentistry in a manner that constituted
dishonorable conduct as defined in 22 Tex. Admin. Code Ann. § 108.9(6) was supported by the administrative law
judge's findings that the dentist allowed her non-dentist employees to adjust occlusion on a patient's teeth and failed to
keep adequate medical records where a patient's chart contained neither a written review of medical history, a medical
exam, radiographs and findings, a treatment plan, or a written formal consent nor an explanation why that chart was
incomplete. Tex. State Bd. of Dental Examiners v. Brown, 281 S.W.3d 692, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 2247 (Tex. App.
Corpus Christi 2009).

131. Substantial evidence supported the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners' order that the dentist pay restitution to
a patient as she improperly allowed her assistants to perform non-delegable dental work on the patient. The district court
erred when it reversed the Board's restitution order because the Board did not make adjudicative findings contrary to the
ALJ's findings. Tex. State Bd. of Dental Examiners v. Brown, 281 S.W.3d 692, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 2247 (Tex. App.
Corpus Christi 2009).

132. Application approval did not violate both the laws of trespass and the constitutional restrictions against taking
property without just compensation, because approving the application for authority to use a well to inject and dispose
of salt water below the surface neither took property from the adjoining land owners nor authorized a trespass, and evi-
 Page 19
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

dence appeared of record supporting the ruling and the ruling comported with the law. Berkley v. R.R. Comm'n of Tex.,
282 S.W.3d 240, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 2312 (Tex. App. Amarillo 2009).

133. While bloodshot eyes, an odor of alcohol, and unsteady balance were all symptoms of intoxication, those facts did
not, without more, give rise to probable cause to believe the driver was driving while intoxicated. As the rest of the evi-
dence did not support the conclusion that the driver was driving while intoxicated, the administrative law judge's deci-
sion to suspend the driver's operator's license was not reasonably supported by substantial evidence. Tex. Dep't of Pub.
Safety v. Gilfeather, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 1502 (Tex. App. Fort Worth Mar. 5 2009).

134. Trial court erred in reversing an administrative law judge's (ALJ) decision to suspend a motorist's driver's license
pursuant to Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.035, after the motorist refused to give a breath specimen test, because there
was substantial evidence supporting the administrative order as required by Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 524.041 and Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174; a court may not substitute its judgment for that of the ALJ. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v.
Escobedo, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 5651 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi July 29 2008).

135. Judgment suspending driver's license for 180 days was affirmed where the totality of circumstances was substantial
evidence of probable cause for the driver's arrest for driving while intoxicated. The record showed that the driver drove
past a roadblock, that he had a strong alcoholic odor, that he had bloodshot eyes, that he admitted drinking an alcoholic
beverage, that he was extremely argumentative, and that he refused to take field sobriety tests. Gault v. Tex. Dep't of
Pub. Safety, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 5465 (Tex. App. Eastland July 24 2008).

136. Because the Texas Railroad Commission's final order was consistent with the statutes and rules authorizing the
Commission to regulate oil and gas waste, including under Tex. Nat. Res. Code Ann. § 91.101 and Tex. Water Code
Ann. § 26.131(a), and the Commission's final order finding a company's permit violation was supported by substantial
evidence under Tex. Nat. Res. Code Ann. § 85.241 and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, the court affirmed the judg-
ment affirming the Commission's final order. Osage Envtl. v. R.R. Comm'n of Tex., 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 5558, 38 En-
vtl. L. Rep. 20196 (Tex. App. Austin 2008).

137. There was substantial evidence in the record to support the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy's conclusion
that a certificate holder had presented himself as an accountant while his certificate was suspended; the record did not
support the holder's claim that he misunderstood the effect of a 1999 order suspending his certificate to practice public
accountancy; the holder had committed violations in the past, and he was found to be not fit to practice public account-
ancy under Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 901.502(11). Rogers v. State Bd. of Pub. Accountancy, 310 S.W.3d 1, 2008 Tex. App.
LEXIS 2961 (Tex. App. Austin 2008).

138. District court erred in reversing the decision of the administrative law judge (ALJ), which revoked the driver's op-
erating license for two years, because substantial evidence supported the ALJ's reasonable suspicion determination,
when the ALJ was presented with evidence from the officer that the license plate light was not working when he pulled
the driver over and that the license plate was not clearly legible from fifty feet, and there was sufficient evidence to up-
hold the decision of the ALJ that the officer had probable cause to believe that the driver was operating a motor vehicle
in a public place while intoxicated; the officer noticed that the driver's license plate as not properly illuminated, the
driver admitted he had drunk four beers, and evidence presented at the administrative hearing included the officer's re-
port stating that the driver had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Tex.
Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Harris, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 9819 (Tex. App. Texarkana Dec. 18 2007).

139. Revocation of a respiratory care practitioner's certificate for taking a drug from an intravenous bag for personal use
was properly upheld as an administrative law judge's (ALJ) decision was supported by substantial evidence pursuant to
Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(F), affirmative findings as to each 25 Tex. Admin. Code § 123.14(f)(4) factor were
unnecessary, and a negative inference could be drawn from the practitioner's invoking the Fifth Amendment, which was
done improperly as a blanket assertion rather than in response to a particular question. Andrews v. Tex. Dep't of Health,
2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 1129 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 15 2007).

140. Where an officer initiated a traffic stop and smelled alcohol, appellee admitted that she had just left a bar where she
had consumed alcohol; in the license suspension proceeding, the judge's finding that the police had probable cause to
arrest appellee for DWI was supported by substantial evidence under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174; the admission
 Page 20
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

of unqualified testimony from a police officer concerning the horizontal gaze nystagmus test was harmless. Tex. Dep't
of Pub. Safety v. Bishop, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 360 (Tex. App. Austin Jan. 22 2007).

141. Trial court erred in reversing the suspension of a driver's license by an administrative law judge (ALJ) because
substantial evidence supported the ALJ's finding under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.042 that the driver voluntarily
refused to submit to a breath test; although the driver claimed he was misled about the consequences of refusal, the ALJ,
as the sole trier of fact under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, was free to disbelieve the driver. Tex. Dep't of Pub.
Safety v. Patel, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 9720 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi Nov. 9 2006).

142. Trial court did not apply the law properly in setting review of an administrative permitting decision of the Edwards
Aquifer Authority under the substantial evidence de novo rule because Tex. Water Code Ann. § 36.253 required the
Authority's permitting decisions to be reviewed under the substantial evidence rule by a judge sitting without a jury;
judicial review under the substantial evidence rule encompassed the constitutional issues raised by the landowners chal-
lenging the Authority's decision. In re Edwards Aquifer Auth., 217 S.W.3d 581, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 8934 (Tex. App.
San Antonio 2006).

143. Texas Racing Commission's decision to modify the ALJ's conclusion and impose the steward's initial penalty of
disqualifying the horse and the loss of the purse due the use of ipratropium, a prohibited Class 3 drug, was within the
Commission's authority under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.058(e), and the "loss of purse" penalty was expressly au-
thorized by the Texas Racing Act, Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 179e, and the Commission's rules, guidelines, and ze-
ro-drug tolerance policy; further, the burden of proof was correctly placed on the owner and at the appropriate standard
because nothing in the Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 179e states that the burden of proof should be placed on the agency.
Pierce v. Tex. Racing Comm'n, 212 S.W.3d 745, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 9062 (Tex. App. Austin 2006).

144. Trial court did not err in affirming the suspension of the driver's license where although the ALJ found that the
driver had operated a watercraft while intoxicated, this was an obvious clerical error which did not negate the adminis-
trative order, and the decision was supported by substantial evidence, Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174. Goldstein v.
Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 11285 (Tex. App. San Antonio Oct. 11 2006).

145. Trial court's conclusion that the state motor vehicle board's findings of fact that a motor vehicle distributor engaged
in business as a dealer in Texas were not supported by substantial evidence, and that the board's conclusions of law that
the distributor violated statutory prohibitions, were affected by error of law, was upheld where the undisputed facts were
that, in response to a Texas city's solicitation, the distributor sold and delivered two buses to the city in New Mexico
and that, from there, the city paid for the buses to be brought into Texas; there was no evidence that the distributor ever
physically crossed the New Mexico border into Texas related to the transaction, and, under Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ann.
§ 2.401, legal title to the buses passed in New Mexico because the agreement of the parties required the distributor to
deliver the buses in New Mexico. Motor Vehicle Bd. v. Prevost Car (US), Inc., 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 8461 (Tex. App.
Austin Sept. 26 2006).

146. Texas Railroad Commission's findings regarding the gas utility's costs to acquire its predecessor were supported by
substantial evidence as required under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 and Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 105.001; further, the
Commission did not err by including the gas utility's costs in acquiring its predecessor as a known and measurable
change" in its gas rate award because nothing in Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 103.055 prohibited the Commission from ac-
counting for additional expenses as a "known and measurable change" simply because they were known to a utility at
the time of its updated rate request. City of Port Neches v. R.R. Comm'n of Tex., 212 S.W.3d 565, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS
6936 (Tex. App. Austin 2006).

147. "Substantial evidence" under Tex. Gov't Code Ann § 2001.174(2)(E) supported a finding that a doctor violated the
standard of care by discharging a patient from the hospital when she had suffered a postsurgery seizure and had other
preseizure symptoms, and her Dilantin level was 3.9 at the time of her discharge; the doctor admitted the Dilantin level
was sub-therapeutic, and another doctor testified that the treatment fell below the standard of care. Chalifoux v. Tex.
State Bd. of Med. Exam'rs, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 4738 (Tex. App. Austin June 2 2006).

148. "Substantial evidence" under Tex. Gov't Code Ann § 2001.174(2)(E) supported a finding that a doctor violated the
standard of care in assessing the possibility of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak because he had the patient lie down,
 Page 21
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

which minimized the possibility of the patient experiencing the classic symptoms of a CSF leak; his claim that his dis-
charge decision was not based solely on his observation of the patient after she was lying down for two hours was insuf-
ficient to overcome the presumption that the finding was supported by substantial evidence. Chalifoux v. Tex. State Bd.
of Med. Exam'rs, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 4738 (Tex. App. Austin June 2 2006).

149. Texas Railroad Commission's rejection of a gas company's fee assessment against residents of outlying areas was
not supported by substantial evidence because the Commission's order did not satisfy requirements for findings of fact.
CenterPoint Energy Entex v. R.R. Comm'n, 213 S.W.3d 364, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 3518 (Tex. App. Austin 2006).

150. License suspension was reinstated because the Texas Department of Public Safety produced more than a scintilla
of evidence on the factors set forth in Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.042, when the driver was properly stopped for vio-
lation of Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.104(a), and the officer smelled alcohol on the driver's breath, noticed that the
driver's eyes were bloodshot and his speech was slurred. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Shellberg, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS
6644 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi Aug. 18 2005).

151. Trial court did not err in affirming an agency decision that found that no vacancy existed, for purposes of Tex. Nat.
Res. Code Ann. § 51.172(5); the agency was free to consider evidence other than the evidence provided by two surveys,
and substantial evidence supported the ruling pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E) of the Administrative
Procedure Act. Dixon v. Dewhurst, 169 S.W.3d 515, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6100 (Tex. App. Texarkana 2005).

152. Texas State Board of Medical Examiners' conclusion that disciplinary grounds existed for a doctor's improper con-
tact with a female patient was supported by its findings, conclusions and evidence, in accordance with Tex. Gov't Code
Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E), where even though the patient was somewhat confused and inconsistent regarding the details of
her surroundings when the incidents occurred, she testified unequivocally that the doctor touched her breasts despite her
attempts to shield herself with magazines. The administrative law judge heard the patient's testimony firsthand, was able
to observe her and her demeanor, and concluded that she made a credible witness, and the appellate court could not
second-guess such credibility determinations in the guise of a substantial-evidence inquiry. Granek v. Tex. State Bd. of
Med. Examiners, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6232 (Tex. App. Austin Aug. 3 2005), substituted opinion at, opinion withdrawn
by 172 S.W.3d 761, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6954 (Tex. App. Austin 2005).

153. Doctor's failure to attend a patient in the emergency room was properly found to be a failure to practice medicine
in an acceptable professional manner consistent with public health and welfare, in violation of Tex. Occ. Code Ann. §
164.051(a)(6), and unprofessional or dishonorable conduct that was likely to injure the public, in violation of Tex. Occ.
Code Ann. §§ 164.051(a)(1), 164.052(a)(5), where the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners' expert testified that,
based on her review of relevant medical records, the doctor's care and treatment of the patient did not meet the standard
of care and was a professional failure to practice medicine consistent with the public health and welfare, and where,
because patients were considered members of the public, the expert's testimony, which was unchallenged on appeal,
also supported the Board's conclusion that the doctor committed unprofessional conduct that was likely to injure the
public. Furthermore, because the hospital's disciplinary action against the doctor was directed to the same conduct, there
was substantial evidence to support discipline under Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 164.051(a)(7). Granek v. Tex. State Bd. of
Med. Examiners, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6232 (Tex. App. Austin Aug. 3 2005), substituted opinion at, opinion withdrawn
by 172 S.W.3d 761, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6954 (Tex. App. Austin 2005).

154. Appellate court could not modify an order of the Motor Vehicle Board of the Texas Department of Transportation
to include findings of fact and conclusions of law favorable to the dealer in its franchise dispute with a motor home
manufacturer because under Tex. Occ. Code Ann. §§ 2301.001, 2301.151, and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E),
the court could only review the order to determine if they are reasonably supported by substantial evidence. Further, the
order complied with Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 2301.711(a). Buddy Gregg Motor Homes, Inc. v. Motor Vehicle Bd., 179
S.W.3d 589, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 5952 (Tex. App. Austin 2005).

155. Statute governing license suspension appeals is the touchstone in deciding which standard of review should apply:
the statute specifically requires the reviewing court to use the substantial evidence rule. Because a court applying the
substantial evidence standard of review may not substitute its judgment for that of the administrative law judge as to the
weight of the evidence, the equally plausible but opposite inferences construct can not be part of the substantial evi-
dence rule. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Hirschman, 169 S.W.3d 331, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 4579 (Tex. App. Waco 2005).
 Page 22
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

156. At the license suspension hearing, the arresting officer testified that the driver's vehicle was moving erratically, the
officer smelled alcohol coming from the interior of the vehicle, and the driver failed sobriety tests; there was substantial
evidence to support the administrative finding that there was reasonable suspicion to stop and probable cause to arrest
the driver for driving while intoxicated. The trial court erred by reversing the administrative decision to suspend her
driver's license, because she refused to provide a breath sample. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Leath, 2005 Tex. App.
LEXIS 3927 (Tex. App. Amarillo May 18 2005).

157. Substantial evidence in the record supported the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission's finding that a
landfill owner's expansion application was administratively and technically complete because the owner had included
all necessary information in the application, and while some witnesses could not independently verify particular docu-
ments or exhibits, there was nothing in the record that cast doubt upon the information, and the opponents to the appli-
cation did not introduce any contrary exhibits to demonstrate that the limited evidence was altered or falsified. Because
the application was determined to be administratively and technically complete prior to the contested case hearing, the
owner was not required to establish at the contested-case hearing that its application complied with each administrative
and technical requirement because it had already done so prior to the hearing. Citizens Against Landfill Location v. Tex.
Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 169 S.W.3d 258, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 3583 (Tex. App. Austin 2005).

158. Decision of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to use the electric company's original overstated esti-
mate of its transmission system capital costs for a particular interconnection project was not supported by substantial
evidence as required by Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 15.001 of the Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA), Tex. Util. Code
Ann. §§ 11.001-64.158, and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E). The electric company's witness had reduced his
estimate on rebuttal due to the fact that new technology increased the capacity of existing transmission facilities and
eliminated the need to construct certain new projects; therefore no reasonable basis existed for the PUC's use of the
original estimate. Reliant Energy, Inc. v. PUC, 153 S.W.3d 174, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 11280 (Tex. App. Austin 2004).

159. Texas Department of Public Safety properly suspended an individual's driver's license for his refusal to give a
breath specimen after he was arrested for suspicion of DWI. On review, the county court ruled that substantial evidence
existed to affirm the administrative decision suspending his driver's license, and that the individual failed to prove that
the administrative decision prejudiced his substantial rights. Parks v. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS
9365 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. Oct. 21 2004).

160. Substantial evidence pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 supported an order of the Public Utility Com-
mission of Texas that raised the fuel factor component of the price-to-beat for an affiliated retail electric provider
(AREP) because the Commission linked the measurement of the adequacy of the fuel factor to reflect significant
changes in market price and the mechanism to correct inadequacies, and concluded that the New York Mercantile Ex-
change (NYMEX) was sufficient for both tasks, and because the Commission did not err in barring the order's oppo-
nents from presenting relevant evidence under Tex. R. Evid. 401 where evidence regarding the AREP's purchase price
and any windfall profits resulting from the fuel-factor adjustment did not bear on whether the NYMEX index had
changed the requisite amount. Furthermore, the fuel-factor increase did not violate a set limit on the price-to-beat under
Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 39.202 because the adjustments under § 39.202(l) were not limited by § 39.202(p). City of Alvin
v. PUC of Tex., 143 S.W.3d 872, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 7685 (Tex. App. Austin 2004).

161. Court rejected a motorist's claim that field sobriety tests were inadmissible in connection with the administrative
suspension of the motorist's license where, considering the standard of review under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 524.041
and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, the court found that there was more than a scintilla of evidence to support an ad-
ministrative law judge's inference that the officer acted in the following order regardless of the time notations entered on
the officer's report: (1) that the officer stopped the motorist, (2) noticed signs of intoxication, (3) asked the motorist
what and where the motorist had been drinking, (4) administered field sobriety tests, (5) arrested the motorist, and (6)
then read the motorist his Miranda rights. Hesskew v. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 144 S.W.3d 189, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS
6972 (Tex. App. Tyler 2004).

162. The district court's judgment upholding the Board's second order was affirmed (1) suspending the doctor's medical
license until he could show that he was safe and competent to practice medicine, (2) setting forth the minimum terms
and conditions with which the doctor had to comply to make that showing, and (3) imposing an administrative penalty
 Page 23
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

on the doctor where the record revealed ample evidence that the doctor over-administered anesthesia to the patient,
failed to properly monitor her while she was sedated, and failed to properly respond when the patient went into respira-
tory arrest. Berezoski v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Examiners, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 6255 (Tex. App. Austin July 15 2004).

163. Revocation of a doctor's medical license was supported by substantial evidence where there was scientific evidence
that two of the doctor's urine samples tested positive for cocaine, and one expert witness definitively testified that the
tests foreclosed the possibility of ingestion by inadvertent passive exposure. Hinkley v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Exam'rs,
140 S.W.3d 737, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 5078 (Tex. App. Austin 2004).

164. Sufficient evidence supported a two-year administrative license suspension where the driver had prior offenses and
the officer's report indicated that the driver exhibited a number of traits consistent with intoxication. The officer's report
was properly admitted, even though his name was omitted from the introductory portion of the affidavit. Tex. Dep't of
Pub. Safety v. Salinas, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 4257 (Tex. App. San Antonio May 12 2004).

165. Where substantial evidence supported the findings that an insurance licensee wrongfully paid premiums from an-
other business account, paid bonuses or compensation for referring new business, offered to rebate premiums, and paid
unlicensed persons for the services of an agent, revocation of an insurance license was proper. Murphy v. Comm'r of
Ins., 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 10156 (Tex. App. Austin Dec. 4 2003).

166. Substantial evidence supported a decision by the Texas Racing Commission to impose penalties under Tex. Rev.
Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 179e, § 3.07(b) on a horse owner and trainer whose racing horse tested positive for prohibited drug;
although the Commission's rules did not set forth any procedures for handling a urine sample that was inadvertently
returned, the Commission acted reasonably in storing and resending the sample for testing, and the integrity of that
sample had not been compromised. Keeton v. Tex. Racing Comm'n, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6925 (Tex. App. Austin Aug.
14 2003).

167. Because contested-case hearings before the Motor Vehicle Board of the Texas Department of Transportation are
heard under the APA without a specified standard of review, the substantial evidence rule applies under Tex. Gov't Code
Ann. § 2001.174. BMW of N. Am., L.L.C. v. Motor Vehicle Bd., 115 S.W.3d 722, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6923 (Tex. App.
Austin 2003).

168. Under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, an appellate court reviews the legal conclusions of the Motor Vehicle
Board of the Texas Department of Transportation for errors of law, and the court reviews the board's findings of fact for
support by substantial evidence. BMW of N. Am., L.L.C. v. Motor Vehicle Bd., 115 S.W.3d 722, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS
6923 (Tex. App. Austin 2003).

169. Under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(f), the evidentiary test of a decision of the Motor Vehicle Board of the
Texas Department of Transportation is whether the evidence in its entirety is sufficient that reasonable minds could
have reached the conclusion the agency must have reached to justify the disputed action. BMW of N. Am., L.L.C. v. Mo-
tor Vehicle Bd., 115 S.W.3d 722, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6923 (Tex. App. Austin 2003).

170. Appellate review under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(f), ensures that an agency does not act arbitrarily or
without regard to the facts. BMW of N. Am., L.L.C. v. Motor Vehicle Bd., 115 S.W.3d 722, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6923
(Tex. App. Austin 2003).

171. Substantial evidence supported the decision of an administrative law judge to suspend the driver's license of an
individual arrested for operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Her-
nandez, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6333 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi July 24 2003).

172. Public utility commission properly denied an energy corporation's request for a rate increase to recover additional
sums from its share in the construction of a nuclear power plant where the corporation failed to present a prima facie
case that the additional cost of the plant's construction above the adjusted definitive cost estimate was prudent. Entergy
Gulf States, Inc. v. PUC, 112 S.W.3d 208, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 5940 (Tex. App. Austin 2003).
 Page 24
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

173. In reviewing the Texas Commissioner of Insurance's decision denying the applicant a local recording agent's li-
cense under the substantial evidence rule, Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, the Commissioner's consideration of two
25-year-old felony convictions that involved the defrauding of elderly victims through the sale of an unauthorized in-
surance product was not erroneous under Tex. Occ. Code Ann. §§ 53.021,.022 and substantial evidence existed demon-
strating that the applicant failed to make restitution and failed to provide letters of recommendation from prosecutors,
law enforcement, and correctional officers, as required by Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 53.023(a)(6)(A) and (b); thus, there
was ample evidence in the record to support the Commissioner's decision denying the applicant a local recording agent's
license. Smith v. Montemayor, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 5099 (Tex. App. Austin June 19 2003).

174. Pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, the district court's judgment affirming the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality's order granting the landfill operator a permit to build and operate a municipal landfill facility
was proper because there was substantial evidence to support the findings and conclusions that: (1) the operator's
groundwater-monitoring plan was sufficient; (2) a fault with displacement in the Holocene time did not exist within 200
feet of the proposed landfill; (3) the landfill liner's integrity would not be compromised; (4) the operator's floodplain
analysis provided an accurate delineation of the 100-year floodplain; (5) the operator adequately demonstrated the ef-
fects of its proposed project on flood conditions with respect to soil-cover operations; and (6) the project would not sig-
nificantly alter natural drainage. Coalition for Long Point Preservation v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 106 S.W.3d
363, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 3987 (Tex. App. Austin 2003).

175. Under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, when reviewing an administrative decision, the reviewing court must
reverse or remand the case for further proceedings if the appellant's substantial rights are prejudiced because the admin-
istrative decision is not reasonably supported by substantial evidence. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Mitchell, 2003 Tex.
App. LEXIS 3407 (Tex. App. Fort Worth Apr. 17 2003).

176. Texas Government Code, in providing only substantial-evidence review, specifically Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §
2001.174, does not deny equal protection of the laws under U. S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1, and Tex. Const. art. I, § 3.
Pretzer v. Motor Vehicle Bd., 125 S.W.3d 23, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 277 (Tex. App. Austin 2003), affirmed in part and
reversed in part by 138 S.W.3d 908, 2004 Tex. LEXIS 193, 47 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 340 (Tex. 2004).

177. Substantial evidence supported administrative law judge's decision to uphold the driver's suspension of the driver's
license as the evidence showed the driver was driving while intoxicated, that reasonable suspicion supported the deten-
tion of the driver to investigate the accident the driver had been in, that probable cause existed to arrest the driver for
driving while intoxicated, and that the suspension of his license was warranted. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Celedon,
2002 Tex. App. LEXIS 6409 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi Aug. 29 2002).

178. Since statute making an inmate liable for intentional damage to state property did not specify a judicial standard of
review, the "substantial evidence" standard of review applied and dictated that disciplinary conviction and fine imposed
on inmate for property damage inmate caused during riot be supported by evidence that amounted to "only more than a
mere scintilla" in order to uphold the prison's disciplinary action against the inmate. Warriner v. Tex. Dep't of Crim.
Justice - Institutional Div., 2002 Tex. App. LEXIS 6410 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi Aug. 29 2002).

179. Trial court did not err in reversing the county civil service commission's holding that the suspended employee
could be suspended as the constable's failure to show up at a hearing implicated the suspended employee's substantial
rights and prejudiced him; suspended employee was entitled to have an order entered, pursuant to the civil service
commission's own rules, nullifying the entire action against him. Bexar County Civ. Serv. Comm'n v. Casals, 63 S.W.3d
57, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 6561 (Tex. App. San Antonio 2001).

180. Substantial evidence existed to support administrative law judge's findings that widow was excluded from receiv-
ing benefits under insurance policy when evidence showed her dead husband was driving truck that overturned, killing
himself and a passenger, and, if husband had survived, he would have been charged with manslaughter. Nobles v. Em-
ployees Ret. Sys. of Tex., 53 S.W.3d 483, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 4997 (Tex. App. Austin 2001).

181. Motor vehicle board's decision to grant a new franchisee's application for an auto-dealer license was based on sub-
stantial evidence within the meaning of Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E) where the evidence supported the ele-
 Page 25
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

ments of good cause under former Tex. Rev. Stat. Ann. art. 4413(36), § 4.06(c). Graff Chevrolet Co. v. Texas Motor
Vehicle Bd., 60 S.W.3d 154, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 3896 (Tex. App. Austin 2001).

182. Under the substantial evidence rule of Tex. Govt. Code Ann. § 2001.174, the court erred in reversing a license sus-
pension decision by the Texas Department of Public Safety; the administrative law judge did not err in finding, pursuant
to Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 524.035(a)(2), that the officer had probable cause to arrest defendant for driving while in-
toxicated. State Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Boeck, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 2785 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi Apr. 26 2001).

183. Because a regional groundwater district was not a state agency with statewide jurisdiction, the Administrative Pro-
cedures Act did not apply, except that the substantial evidence rule contained in Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 was
made applicable under Tex. Water Code Ann. § 36.253 for purposes of judicial review of district actions. S. Plains
Lamesa R.R. v. High Plains Underground Water Conservation Dist. No. 1, 52 S.W.3d 770, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 2497
(Tex. App. Amarillo 2001).

184. Final orders of the Railroad Commission are deemed to be prima facie valid and subject to review under the sub-
stantial evidence rule. An appellate court reviews the Commission's legal conclusions for errors of law and its findings
of fact for support by substantial evidence. Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174. H. G. Sledge, Inc. v. Prospective Inv. &
Trading Co., Ltd., 36 S.W.3d 597, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 7557, 151 Oil & Gas Rep. 265 (Tex. App. Austin 2000).

185. Under the substantial evidence standard of review applied to final orders of the Railroad Commission pursuant to
Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, the proper test is whether the evidence in its entirety is sufficient that reasonable
minds could have reached the conclusion that the Commission must have reached to justify the disputed action. The
issue is whether the Commission acted arbitrarily and without regard to the facts. H. G. Sledge, Inc. v. Prospective Inv.
& Trading Co., Ltd., 36 S.W.3d 597, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 7557, 151 Oil & Gas Rep. 265 (Tex. App. Austin 2000).

186. Reviewing court may not substitute its judgment for that of a state agency on questions committed to agency dis-
cretion. H. G. Sledge, Inc. v. Prospective Inv. & Trading Co., Ltd., 36 S.W.3d 597, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 7557, 151 Oil
& Gas Rep. 265 (Tex. App. Austin 2000).

187. Party appealing an agency's decision bears the burden of showing a lack of substantial evidence. The evidence in
the record may actually weigh by a preponderance against the agency's decision, yet satisfy the substantial evidence
standard. H. G. Sledge, Inc. v. Prospective Inv. & Trading Co., Ltd., 36 S.W.3d 597, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 7557, 151
Oil & Gas Rep. 265 (Tex. App. Austin 2000).

188. When applying the substantial evidence standard of review under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E), a court
may not substitute its judgment for the agency; the issue is not whether the agency's decision was correct, but only
whether the record demonstrates some reasonable basis for the agency's action. Substantial evidence requires more than
a mere scintilla of evidence; the evidence may preponderate against the agency's decision and still be substantial evi-
dence Texas Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Favela, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 6638 (Tex. App. Austin Oct. 5 2000).

189. Under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. 2001.174 a reviewing court must reverse and remand for further administrative pro-
ceedings if substantial rights of the appellant have been prejudiced because the administrative findings, inferences, con-
clusions, or decisions are not reasonably supported by substantial evidence considering the reliable and probative evi-
dence in the record as a whole. Central Power & Light Co. v. PUC of Texas, 36 S.W.3d 547, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS
4905 (Tex. App. Austin 2000).

190. Under the Texas Administrative Procedures Act, Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2), the trial court has the au-
thority to reverse an agency determination if it finds that the substantive rights of the appellant are prejudiced due to a
constitutional or statutory violation, the decision was made unlawfully or affected by an error of law, not supported by
substantial evidence, or was found to be arbitrary or capricious. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Breazeale, 1999 Tex. App. LEX-
IS 7131 (Tex. App. Houston 14th Dist. Sept. 23 1999).

191. The standard of review of an agency decision is set out in Tex. Gov't. Code Ann. § 2001.174; a court may reverse
the agency's decision only if the substantial rights of the appellant had been prejudiced; here, a railroad commission
could reasonably have concluded that a well operator received actual notice of the hearing and that his failure to appear
 Page 26
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

was due to conscious indifference rather than accident or mistake. Anderson v. Railroad Comm'n, 963 S.W.2d 217, 1998
Tex. App. LEXIS 1329, 139 Oil & Gas Rep. 382 (Tex. App. Austin 1998).

192. Where death benefits were denied by the Board of Trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas on the
basis that the death was not accidental and was caused by the decedent's intentional act, the decision was reviewed on
the basis of the substantial evidence standard pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 and Tex. Ins. Code Ann. art.
3.50-2, § 4B(d). Butler v. Group Life & Health Ins. Co., 962 S.W.2d 296, 1998 Tex. App. LEXIS 858 (Tex. App. Austin
1998).

193. Where a decedent dry-fired a gun several times, someone then replaced the clip in the gun without the decedent's
knowledge, and the decedent fired the gun again, killing himself, the decision of the Board of Trustees of the Employ-
ees Retirement System of Texas that decedent's death was not accidental and denying the beneficiary recovery under the
insurance policy was not supported by substantial evidence as required under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174. Butler
v. Group Life & Health Ins. Co., 962 S.W.2d 296, 1998 Tex. App. LEXIS 858 (Tex. App. Austin 1998).

194. Substantial evidence was before the Board of Trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas to support its
finding that air travel or flight caused decedent's runway accident and that this was a risk contemplated by the aviation
exclusion in the accidental death benefits provision of the public employees life insurance plan; the standard of judicial
review of the board's order was that provided for cases of "substantial evidence" review under the terms of the Admin-
istrative Procedures Act, specifically Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174, and because its order was supported by substantial
evidence and was not arbitrary or capricious, the district court erred in not affirming the decision of the board to deny
accidental death benefits to decedent's spouse. Board of Trustees v. Benge, 942 S.W.2d 742, 1997 Tex. App. LEXIS 1519
(Tex. App. Austin 1997).

195. The Administrative Procedure Act (Act), Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, which empowered the Board of Trus-
tees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas to prepare coverage specifications made under the Act, was con-
strued in a manner that entitled the trustees' interpretation of policy exclusions to be given judicial respect regarding any
uncertainty where the interpretation was reasonable; the finding that an optometrist's "vision therapy treatments" fell
within the policy exclusion of "orthoptics or visual training" was held to be reasonable. McMullen v. Employees Re-
tirement Sys., 935 S.W.2d 189, 1996 Tex. App. LEXIS 5142 (Tex. App. Austin 1996).

196. Under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E) the court was not required to reverse the Texas Department of Ag-
riculture order imposing administrative penalties on an aerial crop-dusting service because the service's substantial
rights were not prejudiced where the agency decision finding that the service had violated a regulation by spraying an
automobile with pesticide was reasonably supported by substantial evidence. Lauderdale v. Department of Agric., 923
S.W.2d 834, 1996 Tex. App. LEXIS 2221 (Tex. App. Austin 1996).

197. A decision of the Texas Railroad Commission was upheld on appeal where the decision was supported by substan-
tial evidence because, under the substantial evidence standard of review pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174, the
review of a decision of a state agency that fell within the agency's authority required the court to give significant defer-
ence to the agency in its field of expertise and did not allow the court to substitute its judgment for that of the agency.
Railroad Comm'n v. Torch Operating Co., 912 S.W.2d 790, 1995 Tex. LEXIS 162, 39 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 165, 131 Oil &
Gas Rep. 128 (Tex. 1995).

198. Appellate court review is governed by 2001.174(2)(E) of the Administrative Procedure Act ("APA"), Tex. Gov't
Code Ann. § 2001.174, under which appellate courts review for substantial evidence questions committed to an agency's
discretion and challenged by the parties on appeal; in conducting a substantial evidence review, appellate courts deter-
mine whether the evidence as a whole is such that reasonable minds could have reached the same conclusion as the
agency in the disputed action. Texas Educ. Agency v. Goodrich Indep. Sch. Dist., 898 S.W.2d 954, 1995 Tex. App. LEX-
IS 1038 (Tex. App. Austin 1995).

199. Although there was evidence that doctor charged more than other doctors for the services rendered or that doctor
charged for services that other doctors would not charge for, the evidence was insufficient to support a finding of fla-
grant or persistent overcharging; the court held that doctor's evidence that he sent an enormous amount of time with the
 Page 27
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

patients because of their complicated cases showed that the charges were not excessive and was not refuted. Texas Bd.
of Med. Exmnrs. v. Birenbaum, 891 S.W.2d 333, 1995 Tex. App. LEXIS 44 (Tex. App. Austin 1995).

200. In reviewing the findings of the hearings examiner, both the trial court and the appellate court must employ the
substantial evidence standard; an appellant bears the burden to prove that the findings, inferences, conclusions, and de-
cisions of the administrative agency are not supported by substantial evidence, and in making the determination, the trial
and appellate courts must review all the evidence presented; to sustain the burden under this standard, the appellant
must show that no substantial evidence existed at the time of the hearing to support the order, and the court may not
substitute its judgment for the agency's as to the weight of evidence on questions committed to the discretion of the
agency but may reverse the decision if the administrative findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions 1) violate con-
stitutional or statutory provisions, 2) exceed the statutory authority of the agency, 3) rely on unlawful procedure, 4) are
affected by other error of law, 5) are not reasonably supported by substantial evidence in view of the reliable and proba-
tive evidence in the record as a whole, or 6) are arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly
unwarranted exercise of discretion; substantial evidence is more than a scintilla, but may be less than a preponderance,
and if reasonable minds could have reached the conclusion of the administrator, the court must uphold the decision. Fox
v. Medina, 848 S.W.2d 866, 1993 Tex. App. LEXIS 479 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi 1993).

201. Where a stipulation and evidence was introduced both for and against a rate increase, sufficient evidence supported
the Public Utilities Commission's finding under former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13a, § 19(e)(5). Abilene v.
Public Utility Com., 1993 Tex. App. LEXIS 349 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 3 1993), opinion withdrawn by, substituted
opinion at 854 S.W.2d 932, 1993 Tex. App. LEXIS 1310 (Tex. App. Austin 1993).

202. Texas Motor Vehicle Commission's (commission) final order in favor of franchisee concerning a franchise agree-
ment of a motorcycle dealership was properly reversed because the commission did not have statutory authority to ad-
judicate claims between franchisors and franchisees or to order payment by the franchisor to the franchisee. Kawasaki
Motors Corp. v. Texas Motor Vehicle Com., 1993 Tex. App. LEXIS 44 (Tex. App. Austin Jan. 13 1993), opinion with-
drawn by, substituted opinion at 855 S.W.2d 792, 1993 Tex. App. LEXIS 1292 (Tex. App. Austin 1993).

203. Substantial evidence existed, under former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13a, § 19(e)(5), in the form of ex-
pert witness testimony, to support appellant's commission's order denying appellee's request for an amendment to the
allocation formula of the field rules of an oil field. V-f Petro. v. A.K. Guthrie Operating Co., 792 S.W.2d 508, 1990 Tex.
App. LEXIS 1868, 118 Oil & Gas Rep. 341 (Tex. App. Austin 1990).

204. Where the Texas State Board of Pharmacy revoked a pharmacist license held by an individual and his pharmacy,
the revocation was improper; the Board's conclusions of law were not fairly supported by its findings of underlying fact,
as there was no evidence that filled prescriptions did not have a therapeutic purpose. State Bd. of Pharmacy v. Seely,
764 S.W.2d 806, 1988 Tex. App. LEXIS 3416 (Tex. App. Austin 1988).

205. Substantial evidence test under the Administrative Procedure and Texas Register Act, former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat.
Ann. art. 6252-13a (now Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174) must be applied to judicial review of decisions of the Texas
State Board of Dental Examiners to determine if there was some reasonable basis for petitioner' s action; on review the
appellate court erroneously disregarded this test when it applied a test based on due process consideration. Texas State
Bd. of Dental Exmrs. v. Sizemore, 759 S.W.2d 114, 1988 Tex. LEXIS 80, 31 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 537 (Tex. 1988).

206. Pursuant to Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13a, § 19(e) (now Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174), a reviewing
court is only allowed to reverse a Texas Board of Medical Examiners decision in the absence of substantial evidence
and only if the absence had prejudiced the substantial rights of the physician. Balla v. Texas State Bd. of Med. Exmrs.,
693 S.W.2d 715, 1985 Tex. App. LEXIS 6827 (Tex. App. Dallas 1985).

207. The Texas Administrative Procedure and Texas Register Act, former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13a, §
19(e)(5) (now Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174), authorizes a reviewing court to test an agency's findings, inferences,
conclusions, and decisions to determine whether they are reasonably supported by substantial evidence in view of the
reliable and probative evidence in the record as a whole; in applying the test, a court is prohibited from substituting its
judgment for that of the agency as to the weight of the evidence on questions committed to agency discretion; a review-
ing court may reverse an agency decision because of the absence of substantial evidence only if such absence has preju-
 Page 28
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

diced substantial rights of the litigant. Texas Health Facilities Comm'n. v. Charter Med., 665 S.W.2d 446, 1984 Tex.
LEXIS 319, 27 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 234 (Tex. 1984).

208. Trial court's order sustaining a determination by the Texas Real Estate Commission suspending a real estate bro-
ker's license for breach of an alleged promise to a buyer to pay for the fencing of a lot if purchased was reversed where
the record did not support the requisite elements of fraud by substantial evidence as required by the Administrative
Procedure and Texas Register Act, former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13a, § 19(e)(5) and ordinary breach of
contract did not constitute fraud. Texas Real Estate Comm'n. v. Hinde, 627 S.W.2d 537, 1982 Tex. App. LEXIS 3818
(Tex. App. Fort Worth 1982).

209. Where respondent cancelled several permits to sell alcoholic beverages because petitioner had been intoxicated on
the licensed premises, the trial court abused its discretion when it set aside respondent's administrative decisions when
respondent's decision was supported by substantial evidence as required by former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art.
6252-13a, § 19. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Comm'n. v. Lancaster, 1979 Tex. App. LEXIS 3891 (Tex. Civ. App. San An-
tonio Nov. 1 1979).

210. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's conclusion that a coalition was not an affected person was made
through improper procedure, was affected by error of law, and was an abuse of discretion under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §
2001.174(2)(C), (D), (F); the court reversed. Bosque River Coalition v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 347 S.W.3d 366,
2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 6043 (Tex. App. Austin 2011).

211. Agreed Final Judgment purported to find facts (that the city had met the criteria for issuance of a permit) and to
render judgment granting a permit, and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 did not empower courts to take such action,
which went beyond their limited authority in a substantial-evidence review, and having concluded that there was error
prejudicing substantial rights of the city's, the court's only options were to reverse or remand the case for further pro-
ceedings; accordingly, the district court's Agreed Final Judgment, which had the effect of rendering a specific judgment,
contravened the direct restriction on the special statutory jurisdiction delegated to the court in its substantial-evidence
review, and because the judgment violated the separation-of-powers doctrine of the Texas Constitution, Tex. Const. art.
II, § 1, it was void and its rendition was fundamental error. Save Our Springs Alliance, Inc. v. City of Kyle, 382 S.W.3d
540, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 7548 (Tex. App. Austin 2012).

212. Although appellee acknowledged that appellant owned 100 percent of the leasehold oil and gas estate, and that he
had the right "to inject saltwater under the tract produced from the tract" to benefit that lease tract, resolution of appel-
lant's complaint turned on construction of the deeds in appellee's chain of title--specifically, the parameters of the "sur-
face estate" conveyed through those instruments. Thus, it was the sort of issue that was beyond the Texas Railroad
Commission's jurisdiction under 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 3.9. Rosenthal v. R.R. Comm'n, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 6522
(Tex. App. Austin Aug. 20 2009).

213. Remand for further administrative proceedings was proper under the primary jurisdiction doctrine after a trial court
erred in denying a manufacturer's plea to the jurisdiction in a dealership transfer case; however, the remand order could
not require the agency to act. Ford Motor Co. v. Butnaru, 157 S.W.3d 142, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 465 (Tex. App. Austin
2005).

214. Redundant remedies doctrine did not bar challenges to licensing regulations by unlicensed individuals in the busi-
ness of eyebrow threading, even if some of them could seek substantive relief through the administrative process, be-
cause there was no administrative action pending against one of the individuals. Patel v. Tex. Dep't of Licensing And
Regulation, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 6187 (Tex. App. Austin July 25 2012).
 Page 29
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

215. Where one of the pooled unit's property owners sought to dissolve the gas pooling unit as moot, but, on appeal,
failed to provide a party, who was originally an intervenor but was a party under the definition provided for in Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.003(4), with service of a copy of the petition for judicial review, the complaining owner did not
meet a necessary condition on which its right to seek judicial review of the Texas Railroad Commission's order de-
pended and, thus, the complaining owner did not prove its right to the relief it sought from the trial court; pursuant to
Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, the trial court had no choice but to affirm the order of the Commission denying the
complaining owner's request to dissolve the pooling unit and it did affirm that order. Helton v. R.R. Comm'n, 126
S.W.3d 111, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 4832, 164 Oil & Gas Rep. 1057 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 2003).

216. Business owner could not bring claims for declaratory relief under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 37.004
against state agency regarding practicing cosmetology without a license as the owner had already sought judicial review
of the agency decision under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174; the remedy would be redundant as the basis for both
claims was that eyebrow threading did not fall within the definition of cosmetology in Tex. Occ. Code Ann. §
1602.002(a), a proper basis for a claim for judicial review under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(A) & (B). Kuntz v.
Khan, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 446 (Tex. App. Austin Jan. 21 2011).

217. Declaratory judgment action against the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy claiming that the Board's stand-
ards and principles were so unconstitutionally vague that they did not sufficiently identify what constituted a violation
was redundant as auditors, who had their professional certificates revoked or suspended, had filed an administrative
appeal under Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 901.556(a). Tex. State Bd. of Pub. Accountancy v. Bass, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 294
(Tex. App. Austin Jan. 14 2011).

218. In a case where a power agency sought judicial review of a final order from the Public Utility Commission of Tex-
as under Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 15.001 and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, declaratory relief on the ground of juris-
diction was redundant and unnecessary since the issue was already raised. Tex. Mun. Power Agency v. PUC of Tex., 260
S.W.3d 647, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 5555 (Tex. App. Austin 2008).

219. By refusing to strike the Edwards Aquifer Authority's jury demand and setting landowners' appeal of the Authori-
ty's permitting decision for a jury trial, a trial court failed to apply the law correctly and fundamentally altered the nature
of the judicial review prescribed by statute because the Authority had a clear right to proceed to a final determination
without a jury, pursuant to Tex. Water Code Ann. § 36.253 and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 and Tex. Gov't Code
Ann. § 2001.175(e). In re Edwards Aquifer Auth., 217 S.W.3d 581, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 8934 (Tex. App. San Antonio
2006).

220. In a suit involving a utility rate increase, although Tex. R. App. P. 54(a) precluded appellate court from considering
a late-filed statement of facts, it did not require affirming a judgment as a matter of course because the statement of
facts was not mandatory for appeal under Tex. R. App. P. 50(a); the appellate court was obligated to address every issue
under Tex. R. App. P. 90(a), and some issues did not require reference to a statement of facts; and while an appellate
court generally could not determine whether an agency finding was supported by "substantial evidence" without re-
viewing the administrative record pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E), that would not preclude the ap-
pellate court from addressing issues, such as those involving legal error, that did not require a statement of facts. Office
of Pub. Util. Counsel v. Pub. Util. Comm'n, 878 S.W.2d 598, 1994 Tex. LEXIS 125, 37 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 1168 (Tex. 1994).
 Page 30
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

221. In employing a substantial evidence standard of review, the appellate court determined trial court erred in reversing
the decision of the ALJ suspending the driver's privileges to drive; the prosecutor's decisions to dismiss the criminal
charges did not amount to an acquittal. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Nielsen, 102 S.W.3d 313, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS
2427 (Tex. App. Beaumont 2003).

222. Where a driver was asked to provide a breath sample to the investigating officer, and attempted to do so, but her
attempts were unsuccessful solely due to her intoxication, under Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 8.04(a), the driver could not
successfully argue that the initial stop of her car was not supported by reasonable suspicion, under Tex. Gov't Code Ann.
§ 2001.174(2)(D) and 1 Tex. Admin. Code § 159.37(a), because substantial evidence supported the findings that rea-
sonable suspicion existed for the police officer to stop her for driving under the influence when the sole basis of the call
of another motorist following the driver. Malkowsky v. Texas Dep't of Pub. Safety, 53 S.W.3d 873, 2001 Tex. App.
LEXIS 5554 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 2001).

223. In a suit involving a utility rate increase, although Tex. R. App. P. 54(a) precluded appellate court from considering
a late-filed statement of facts, it did not require affirming a judgment as a matter of course because the statement of
facts was not mandatory for appeal under Tex. R. App. P. 50(a); the appellate court was obligated to address every issue
under Tex. R. App. P. 90(a), and some issues did not require reference to a statement of facts; and while an appellate
court generally could not determine whether an agency finding was supported by "substantial evidence" without re-
viewing the administrative record pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E), that would not preclude the ap-
pellate court from addressing issues, such as those involving legal error, that did not require a statement of facts. Office
of Pub. Util. Counsel v. Pub. Util. Comm'n, 878 S.W.2d 598, 1994 Tex. LEXIS 125, 37 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 1168 (Tex. 1994).

224. Administrative law judge's (ALJ) suspension of a driver's license was supported by substantial evidence where the
arresting officer surmised in his sworn report that the driver had been driving while intoxicated because he emitted a
strong odor of alcohol, had glassy eyes and slurred speech, and his movements were slowed and staggered, and where
the record revealed that the driver admitted to drinking a few beers before the accident. That gave the officer reasonable
suspicion to investigate the driver further, and the officer's reasonable suspicion evolved into probable cause when he
observed five out of the six points of the horizontal gaze nystagmus test and the driver refused to provide a breath
specimen. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Burrer, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 3534 (Tex. App. San Antonio May 11 2005).

225. Professional disciplinary action against a doctor, based on stale allegations of improper touching of a female pa-
tient's breasts, resulted in a due process violation that caused actual prejudice to the doctor's substantial rights, and the
action was therefore arbitrary and capricious under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(A); staleness was not a signifi-
cant concern as to another patient's complaints, however, because contemporaneous documentary evidence of the com-
plaints existed. Granek v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Exam'rs, 172 S.W.3d 761, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6954 (Tex. App. Aus-
tin 2005).

226. Medical board did not deny a physician due process regarding a disciplinary hearing that took place six years after
the incidents at issue because under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(A), because he failed to establish actual preju-
dice, and neither party cited any Texas case addressing the degree or nature of delay in an agency disciplinary action
that would give rise to constitutionally significant prejudice. Witness's reliance on notes established actual prejudice.
Granek v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Examiners, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 3396 (Tex. App. Austin May 5 2005), opinion with-
drawn by, substituted opinion at 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6232 (Tex. App. Austin Aug. 3, 2005).

227. In a case in which a water conservancy association contested the approval of Amendment 1318C, which resulted in
the issuance by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) of Certificate of Adjudication No. 14-1318C,
the association failed to establish the violation of a constitutionally protected property right by an arbitrary use of power
by TCEQ. Therefore, the association's point of error asserting that its due process rights were violated was overruled.
 Page 31
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

Concho River Basin Water Conservancy Ass'n v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 14622 (Tex.
App. Amarillo Dec. 3 2013).

228. Texas Government Code, in providing only substantial-evidence review, specifically Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §
2001.174, does not deny equal protection of the laws under U. S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1, and Tex. Const. art. I, § 3.
Pretzer v. Motor Vehicle Bd., 125 S.W.3d 23, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 277 (Tex. App. Austin 2003), affirmed in part and
reversed in part by 138 S.W.3d 908, 2004 Tex. LEXIS 193, 47 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 340 (Tex. 2004).

229. At the license suspension hearing, the arresting officer testified that the driver's vehicle was moving erratically, the
officer smelled alcohol coming from the interior of the vehicle, and the driver failed sobriety tests; there was substantial
evidence to support the administrative finding that there was reasonable suspicion to stop and probable cause to arrest
the driver for driving while intoxicated. The trial court erred by reversing the administrative decision to suspend her
driver's license, because she refused to provide a breath sample. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Leath, 2005 Tex. App.
LEXIS 3927 (Tex. App. Amarillo May 18 2005).

230. Administrative law judge's (ALJ) suspension of a driver's license was supported by substantial evidence where the
arresting officer surmised in his sworn report that the driver had been driving while intoxicated because he emitted a
strong odor of alcohol, had glassy eyes and slurred speech, and his movements were slowed and staggered, and where
the record revealed that the driver admitted to drinking a few beers before the accident. That gave the officer reasonable
suspicion to investigate the driver further, and the officer's reasonable suspicion evolved into probable cause when he
observed five out of the six points of the horizontal gaze nystagmus test and the driver refused to provide a breath
specimen. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Burrer, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 3534 (Tex. App. San Antonio May 11 2005).

231. Substantial evidence supported the decision of an administrative law judge to suspend the driver's license of an
individual arrested for operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Her-
nandez, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6333 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi July 24 2003).

232. Under the substantial evidence rule of Tex. Govt. Code Ann. § 2001.174, the court erred in reversing a license sus-
pension decision by the Texas Department of Public Safety; the administrative law judge did not err in finding, pursuant
to Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 524.035(a)(2), that the officer had probable cause to arrest defendant for driving while in-
toxicated. State Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Boeck, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 2785 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi Apr. 26 2001).

233. The holder of a driver's license that was suspended following his arrest for driving while intoxicated was not enti-
tled to have the suspension lifted by a trial court on the basis of breath test results that were admitted into evidence by
an administrative law judge even after the Department of Public Safety failed to timely respond to the holder's discovery
request for the breath test documentation; while recognizing that the request had been directed to the wrong address, the
court stated that the requirements imposed by Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2) for reversal of the suspension were
not met and that the holder failed to show that the suspension violated his substantive rights, given that he was free to
request a continuance after receiving the documentation only two days before the suspension hearing. Department of
Pub. Safety v. Cantu, 944 S.W.2d 493, 1997 Tex. App. LEXIS 1984 (Tex. App. Houston 14th Dist. 1997).

234. Texas Department of Public Safety properly suspended an individual's driver's license for his refusal to give a
breath specimen after he was arrested for suspicion of DWI. On review, the county court ruled that substantial evidence
existed to affirm the administrative decision suspending his driver's license, and that the individual failed to prove that
the administrative decision prejudiced his substantial rights. Parks v. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS
9365 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. Oct. 21 2004).
 Page 32
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

235. There was substantial evidence to support an administrative law judge's decision authorizing the suspension of a
driver's license under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 524.012(b)(1) because there was a reasonable suspicion to stop a vehi-
cle based on a failure to stop at a red light, there was probable cause to arrest due to an odor of alcohol and signs of in-
toxication, and the driver's blood alcohol was above the legal limit. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Caruana, 2012 Tex.
App. LEXIS 7125 (Tex. App. Austin Aug. 23 2012).

236. Substantial evidence, under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E), supported an administrative law judge's (ALJ)
determination that a police officer had reasonable suspicion to stop a driver, under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §
524.035(a), because (1) the officer could have reasonably concluded that the driver had committed a traffic offense each
time she traveled onto the shoulder, under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.058(a); (2) the officer could have reasonably
concluded that the driver's conduct in driving on the shoulder three times negated application of any of the seven statu-
tory reasons permitting a one-time driving on the shoulder; and (3) conflicting evidence existed before the ALJ. Tex.
Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Riley, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 6049 (Tex. App. Fort Worth Aug. 7 2008).

237. In an administrative license suspension proceeding, substantial evidence supported the judge's decision that a
trooper had reasonable suspicion to stop the driver's vehicle because he was committing a traffic offense by driving a
vehicle whose taillamps failed to illuminate the rear license plate. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Flanagan, 2014 Tex. App.
LEXIS 1713 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 14 2014).

238. The holder of a driver's license that was suspended following his arrest for driving while intoxicated was not enti-
tled to have the suspension lifted by a trial court on the basis of breath test results that were admitted into evidence by
an administrative law judge even after the Department of Public Safety failed to timely respond to the holder's discovery
request for the breath test documentation; while recognizing that the request had been directed to the wrong address, the
court stated that the requirements imposed by Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2) for reversal of the suspension were
not met and that the holder failed to show that the suspension violated his substantive rights, given that he was free to
request a continuance after receiving the documentation only two days before the suspension hearing. Department of
Pub. Safety v. Cantu, 944 S.W.2d 493, 1997 Tex. App. LEXIS 1984 (Tex. App. Houston 14th Dist. 1997).

239. Under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, the appellate court had to reverse when a substantial right had been prej-
udiced because the administrative decision was affected by an error of law; the administrative law judge erred in apply-
ing the law to the facts as she found them where no necessity justification existed at the time of the driver's arrest be-
cause his drive back to the scene was not in avoidance of any imminent harm. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Moore, 175
S.W.3d 270, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 4401 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 2004).

240. Where one of the pooled unit's property owners sought to dissolve the gas pooling unit as moot, but, on appeal,
failed to provide a party, who was originally an intervenor but was a party under the definition provided for in Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.003(4), with service of a copy of the petition for judicial review, the complaining owner did not
meet a necessary condition on which its right to seek judicial review of the Texas Railroad Commission's order de-
pended and, thus, the complaining owner did not prove its right to the relief it sought from the trial court; pursuant to
Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, the trial court had no choice but to affirm the order of the Commission denying the
complaining owner's request to dissolve the pooling unit and it did affirm that order. Helton v. R.R. Comm'n, 126
S.W.3d 111, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 4832, 164 Oil & Gas Rep. 1057 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 2003).

241. Final orders of the Railroad Commission are deemed to be prima facie valid and subject to review under the sub-
stantial evidence rule. An appellate court reviews the Commission's legal conclusions for errors of law and its findings
 Page 33
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

of fact for support by substantial evidence. Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174. H. G. Sledge, Inc. v. Prospective Inv. &
Trading Co., Ltd., 36 S.W.3d 597, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 7557, 151 Oil & Gas Rep. 265 (Tex. App. Austin 2000).

242. Under the substantial evidence standard of review applied to final orders of the Railroad Commission pursuant to
Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, the proper test is whether the evidence in its entirety is sufficient that reasonable
minds could have reached the conclusion that the Commission must have reached to justify the disputed action. The
issue is whether the Commission acted arbitrarily and without regard to the facts. H. G. Sledge, Inc. v. Prospective Inv.
& Trading Co., Ltd., 36 S.W.3d 597, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 7557, 151 Oil & Gas Rep. 265 (Tex. App. Austin 2000).

243. Decision of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to use the electric company's original overstated esti-
mate of its transmission system capital costs for a particular interconnection project was not supported by substantial
evidence as required by Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 15.001 of the Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA), Tex. Util. Code
Ann. §§ 11.001-64.158, and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E). The electric company's witness had reduced his
estimate on rebuttal due to the fact that new technology increased the capacity of existing transmission facilities and
eliminated the need to construct certain new projects; therefore no reasonable basis existed for the PUC's use of the
original estimate. Reliant Energy, Inc. v. PUC, 153 S.W.3d 174, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 11280 (Tex. App. Austin 2004).

244. Substantial evidence pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 supported an order of the Public Utility Com-
mission of Texas that raised the fuel factor component of the price-to-beat for an affiliated retail electric provider
(AREP) because the Commission linked the measurement of the adequacy of the fuel factor to reflect significant
changes in market price and the mechanism to correct inadequacies, and concluded that the New York Mercantile Ex-
change (NYMEX) was sufficient for both tasks, and because the Commission did not err in barring the order's oppo-
nents from presenting relevant evidence under Tex. R. Evid. 401 where evidence regarding the AREP's purchase price
and any windfall profits resulting from the fuel-factor adjustment did not bear on whether the NYMEX index had
changed the requisite amount. Furthermore, the fuel-factor increase did not violate a set limit on the price-to-beat under
Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 39.202 because the adjustments under § 39.202(l) were not limited by § 39.202(p). City of Alvin
v. PUC of Tex., 143 S.W.3d 872, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 7685 (Tex. App. Austin 2004).

245. Granting of a certificate of convenience and necessity to the power and light company was proper where the appli-
cation adequately addressed the factors of probable improvement of service or lowering of costs to consumers; further,
the evidence supported that the individuals had notice of ex parte communications and an opportunity to address them,
Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 2001.061, 2001.174. Hammack v. PUC, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 8980 (Tex. App. Austin Oct. 23
2003), opinion withdrawn by, substituted opinion at 131 S.W.3d 713, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 3396 (Tex. App. Austin
2004).

246. There are two requirements that the Texas Public Utility Commission must meet in order to consider a
non-unanimous settlement stipulation (NUS) as part of its final order; first, the commission must afford any
non-stipulating party the opportunity to be heard on the merits of the stipulation and, second, the commission must
make an independent finding, on the merits, that the terms of the stipulation are fair, just and reasonable, and are sup-
ported by evidence in the record; the second requirement reflects the rule that an agency's decision, whether or not
based on an NUS, must be supported by substantial evidence. City of Somerville v. Public Util. Comm'n, 865 S.W.2d
557, 1993 Tex. App. LEXIS 2992 (Tex. App. Austin 1993), vacated by 865 S.W.2d 557, 1993 Tex. App. LEXIS 3265
(Tex. App. Austin 1993), overruled by Public Util. Comm'n v. GTE-Southwest, 901 S.W.2d 401, 1995 Tex. LEXIS 45, 38
Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 485 (Tex. 1995).

247. In an action involving a grant of an amended certificate of convenience and necessity, the trial court upheld de-
fendant's grant to the applicant when the applicant was under no duty to present evidence that it studied alternative
routes and thus plaintiff was not prejudiced within the meaning of former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13a, §
19(e). Frost v. Public Util. Comm'n, 672 S.W.2d 883, 1984 Tex. App. LEXIS 5627 (Tex. App. Austin 1984).
 Page 34
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

248. Public Utility Commission of Texas' finding that it was appropriate to limit the amount that the telecommunica-
tions provider should refund to the amount of overcharges to the county hospital district and order a partial refund was
arbitrary and capricious, 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 26.27; l]this imitation prejudiced the substantial rights of the district,
Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2). Harris County Hosp. Dist. v. PUC of Tex., 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 5707 (Tex. App.
Austin July 13 2012).

249. In a case where a power agency sought judicial review of a final order from the Public Utility Commission of Tex-
as under Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 15.001 and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, declaratory relief on the ground of juris-
diction was redundant and unnecessary since the issue was already raised. Tex. Mun. Power Agency v. PUC of Tex., 260
S.W.3d 647, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 5555 (Tex. App. Austin 2008).

250. Substantial evidence supported the Public Utility Commission's findings and conclusions that the contract reflected
a conveyance of capacity because it could have reasonably determined that the electric company had paid not only for
the variable "energy" costs of the power it took but the public service company's fixed costs of making its generation
assets available. In addition, the Commission's application of the Former Fuel Rule § 23.23(b)(2)(B)(iv), 16 Tex. Ad-
min. Code § 23.23 (1995), repealed by 24 Tex. Reg. 4998 (1999) (current version at 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 25.236
(2010)), to those facts to conclude that the electric company's purchases had a "capacity" component was reasonable
and not plainly erroneous or inconsistent with the rule. City of El Paso v. Puc of Tex., 344 S.W.3d 609, 2011 Tex. App.
LEXIS 5040 (Tex. App. Austin 2011).

251. Texas Railroad Commission's adoption of a non-publicly traded gas utility's rate adjustment mechanism did not
violate the procedural requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act because the substantive aspects of the adjust-
ment mechanism were fully reviewed in a contested-case hearing, during which witnesses were permitted to, and did,
present testimony both in favor of and opposed to the adjustment mechanism. Moreover, there was testimony regarding
additional procedural requirements recommended for inclusion in the adjustment mechanism, and all parties had the
opportunity to present additional testimony in that regard or to challenge the testimony provided. State Agencies & In-
sts. of Higher Educ. v. R.R. Comm'n of Tex., 421 S.W.3d 690, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 566 (Tex. App. Austin 2014).

252. 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 25.263(l)(3) was held to be invalid as it was inconsistent with the legislature's intent, ex-
pessed in Tex. Util. Code Ann. ch. 39 of the Texas Public Utility Regulatory Act, that utilities could fully recover their
net, verifiable, nonmitigable stranded costs incurred in purchasing power and providing electric generation service, that
existed on the last day of the freeze period (December 31, 2001). A two- or three-year gap in recovery of carrying costs
would not have permitted the companies full recovery of their stranded costs as the legislature envisioned. Centerpoint
Energy, Inc. v. PUC of Tex., 2004 Tex. LEXIS 540, 47 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 672 (Tex. 2004), opinion withdrawn by, substi-
tuted opinion at 143 S.W.3d 81, 2004 Tex. LEXIS 881, 47 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 1156 (Tex. 2004).

253. Granting of a certificate of convenience and necessity to the power and light company was proper where the appli-
cation adequately addressed the factors of probable improvement of service or lowering of costs to consumers; further,
the evidence supported that the individuals had notice of ex parte communications and an opportunity to address them,
Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 2001.061, 2001.174. Hammack v. PUC, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 8980 (Tex. App. Austin Oct. 23
2003), opinion withdrawn by, substituted opinion at 131 S.W.3d 713, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 3396 (Tex. App. Austin
2004).

254. Final order of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which reconciled an electric utility company's eligible fuel
expenses and revenues for a certain time period, was upheld on appeal as a reasonable remedy within the Commission's
statutory authority; the Commission's final order was found to have reasonably required the utility company to account
for all revenues it collected after December 31, 2001, that were directly attributable to the generation of electricity
 Page 35
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

through that date, and reasonably required it to reconcile all fuel revenues it received and expenses it incurred after that
date, to serve customers who were not yet switched to a retail electric provider; the Commission reconciliation method-
ology was found to have been proper and reasonably interpreted the Texas Legislature's directive to conduct a final
reconciliation by accounting for all revenues associated with the expenses of providing bundled service during the rec-
onciliation period; a reasonable basis existed for the Commission's decision to discount approximately $ 2.7 million in
fuel costs and that the decision was supported by substantial evidence; and the Commission was found to have properly
delineated and applied its reasonableness or prudence standard of review, which took into account, among other things,
changes in the market. Aep Tex. N. Co. v. Public Util. Comm?n of Tex., 297 S.W.3d 435, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 7064
(Tex. App. Austin 2009).

255. Where one of the pooled unit's property owners sought to dissolve the gas pooling unit as moot, but, on appeal,
failed to provide a party, who was originally an intervenor but was a party under the definition provided for in Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.003(4), with service of a copy of the petition for judicial review, the complaining owner did not
meet a necessary condition on which its right to seek judicial review of the Texas Railroad Commission's order de-
pended and, thus, the complaining owner did not prove its right to the relief it sought from the trial court; pursuant to
Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, the trial court had no choice but to affirm the order of the Commission denying the
complaining owner's request to dissolve the pooling unit and it did affirm that order. Helton v. R.R. Comm'n, 126
S.W.3d 111, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 4832, 164 Oil & Gas Rep. 1057 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 2003).

256. Substantial evidence supported the Public Utility Commission's findings and conclusions that the contract reflected
a conveyance of capacity because it could have reasonably determined that the electric company had paid not only for
the variable "energy" costs of the power it took but the public service company's fixed costs of making its generation
assets available. In addition, the Commission's application of the Former Fuel Rule § 23.23(b)(2)(B)(iv), 16 Tex. Ad-
min. Code § 23.23 (1995), repealed by 24 Tex. Reg. 4998 (1999) (current version at 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 25.236
(2010)), to those facts to conclude that the electric company's purchases had a "capacity" component was reasonable
and not plainly erroneous or inconsistent with the rule. City of El Paso v. Puc of Tex., 344 S.W.3d 609, 2011 Tex. App.
LEXIS 5040 (Tex. App. Austin 2011).

257. Public utility commission properly determined that a utility company could recover costs incurred before the
commencement of commercial operations at a wind farm in a fuel reconciliation proceeding, where a prior settlement
order was ambiguous as to the recovery of those costs. Substantial evidence supporting the determination included tes-
timony from a company expert that pre-commercial wind-energy costs should be treated the same as other purchased
power costs that were included in reconcilable fuel expense. Cities of Abilene, San Angelo, & Vernon v. PUC, 146
S.W.3d 742, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 8453 (Tex. App. Austin 2004).

258. Railroad commission's decision to base a gas corporation's rates on a statewide basis was reasonable and based on
substantial evidence, given the factors analyzed, despite a city's evidence based on its distribution system. City of Dallas
v. R.R. Comm'n of Tex., 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 8479 (Tex. App. Austin Nov. 6 2008).

259. Public Utility Commission was arbitrary and capricious in deciding not to allow rate-case expenses from earlier
proceedings without prior Commissioner approval where it departed from prior Commission practice without explaining
the reason for its change in position, made findings of fact and conclusions of law without adequate support in the rec-
ord, and failed to give notice before the hearing of its intention to implement a new requirement. Oncor Elec. Delivery
Co. Llc v. PUC of Tex., 406 S.W.3d 253, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 7334 (Tex. App. Austin 2013).

260. Texas Railroad Commission's findings regarding the gas utility's costs to acquire its predecessor were supported by
substantial evidence as required under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 and Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 105.001; further, the
 Page 36
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

Commission did not err by including the gas utility's costs in acquiring its predecessor as a known and measurable
change" in its gas rate award because nothing in Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 103.055 prohibited the Commission from ac-
counting for additional expenses as a "known and measurable change" simply because they were known to a utility at
the time of its updated rate request. City of Port Neches v. R.R. Comm'n of Tex., 212 S.W.3d 565, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS
6936 (Tex. App. Austin 2006).

261. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality did not err in issuing an air quality permit to an applicant seeking to
build a pulverized coal power plant because although opponents of the permit argued that an application had to be de-
nied or that an offset had to be obtained when any downwind contribution was made to a national ambient air quality
standards (NAAQS) ozone exceedance, both the federal and state interpretation of the "cause or contribute to" standard
for a violation of NAAQS will tolerate some insignificant level of contribution to a downwind NAAQS ozone exceed-
ance. Moreover, the Commission's decision of whether the applicant's proposed facility would have a significant impact
on particular nonattainment areas applied only to the present case and did not create a rule or policy of general applica-
bility that any downwind impact on a nonattainment area that was less than what was measurable by monitor would be
deemed insignificant. Blue Skies Alliance v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 596 (Tex. App. Am-
arillo Jan. 29 2009).

262. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality did not err under Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 382.0518(b)(1)
in excluding as not relevant evidence that the best available control technology (BACT) analysis for an air quality per-
mit applicant's coal-fueled power plant should have included consideration of integrated gasification combined cycle
(IGCC) where the Commission had appropriately drawn the line between what constituted a control technology that
could be applied to the applicant's proposed plant and what constituted a redesign of the proposed plant. An IGCC pro-
cess was significantly different from the pulverized coal power plant proposed by the applicant, and because an oppo-
nent of the application had offered no evidence that IGCC was a process that could be applied to the proposed pulver-
ized coal power plant, it had failed to meet its burden. Blue Skies Alliance v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 2009 Tex.
App. LEXIS 596 (Tex. App. Amarillo Jan. 29 2009).

263. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality did not err in issuing an air quality permit to an applicant seeking to
build a pulverized coal power plant because although opponents of the permit argued that an application had to be de-
nied or that an offset had to be obtained when any downwind contribution was made to a national ambient air quality
standards (NAAQS) ozone exceedance, both the federal and state interpretation of the "cause or contribute to" standard
for a violation of NAAQS will tolerate some insignificant level of contribution to a downwind NAAQS ozone exceed-
ance. Moreover, the Commission's decision of whether the applicant's proposed facility would have a significant impact
on particular nonattainment areas applied only to the present case and did not create a rule or policy of general applica-
bility that any downwind impact on a nonattainment area that was less than what was measurable by monitor would be
deemed insignificant. Blue Skies Alliance v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 596 (Tex. App. Am-
arillo Jan. 29 2009).

264. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality properly approved an application for an air quality permit necessary
for an applicant to build a pulverized coal power plant where far more than substantial evidence supported its finding
that the proposed plant would not significantly contribute to the national ambient air quality standards ozone nonattain-
ment of the areas at issue because, among other things, there was no record evidence identified by an opponent of the
application of what, if any, impact the applicant's less than 0.03 ppb ozone contribution would have on the ozone non-
attainment areas, and the opponent also failed to identify any evidence of the extent to which a less than 0.03 ppb ozone
increase in an ozone nonattainment area would adversely impact the health of residents of the nonattainment area. The
Commission's decision of whether the applicant's proposed facility would have a significant impact on the nonattain-
ment areas at issue applied only to the present case and did not create a rule or policy of general applicability that any
downwind impact on a nonattainment area that was less than what was measurable by monitor would be deemed insig-
 Page 37
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

nificant. Blue Skies Alliance v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 283 S.W.3d 525, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 2534 (Tex. App.
Amarillo 2009).

265. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality properly approved an application for an air quality permit necessary
for an applicant to build a pulverized coal power plant where far more than substantial evidence supported its finding
that the proposed plant would not significantly contribute to the national ambient air quality standards ozone nonattain-
ment of the areas at issue because, among other things, there was no record evidence identified by an opponent of the
application of what, if any, impact the applicant's less than 0.03 ppb ozone contribution would have on the ozone non-
attainment areas, and the opponent also failed to identify any evidence of the extent to which a less than 0.03 ppb ozone
increase in an ozone nonattainment area would adversely impact the health of residents of the nonattainment area. The
Commission's decision of whether the applicant's proposed facility would have a significant impact on the nonattain-
ment areas at issue applied only to the present case and did not create a rule or policy of general applicability that any
downwind impact on a nonattainment area that was less than what was measurable by monitor would be deemed insig-
nificant. Blue Skies Alliance v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 283 S.W.3d 525, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 2534 (Tex. App.
Amarillo 2009).

266. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality did not err under Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 382.0518(b)(1)
in excluding as not relevant evidence that the best available control technology (BACT) analysis for an air quality per-
mit applicant's coal-fueled power plant should have included consideration of integrated gasification combined cycle
(IGCC) where the Commission had appropriately drawn the line between what constituted a control technology that
could be applied to the applicant's proposed plant and what constituted a redesign of the proposed plant. An IGCC pro-
cess was significantly different from the pulverized coal power plant proposed by the applicant, and because an oppo-
nent of the application had offered no evidence that IGCC was a process that could be applied to the proposed pulver-
ized coal power plant, it had failed to meet its burden. Blue Skies Alliance v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 2009 Tex.
App. LEXIS 596 (Tex. App. Amarillo Jan. 29 2009).

267. Pursuant to the former Texas Administrative Procedure and Texas Register Act, Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. §
19(e)(5), the evidence was sufficient for the Texas Water Commission (Commission) to deny applicant permits to con-
struct and operate a hazardous waste facility, where the applicant proposed to store hazardous slurry in a salt dome cav-
ern, where the applicant could not guarantee that the slurry would maintain proper contact with the cavern walls, where
the salt dome was structurally unstable, and where tow aquifers were located above the salt dome. United Resource Re-
covery, Inc. v. Water Comm'n, 815 S.W.2d 797, 1991 Tex. App. LEXIS 2034 (Tex. App. Austin 1991).

268. Because Tex. Health and Safety Code Ann. § 361.0832 of the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act, Tex. Health and
Safety Code Ann. §§ 361.001-.754, provides standards detailing when the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Com-
mission (commission) may properly overturn the findings, conclusions, and ultimate findings of a hearing examiner,
Tex. Gov't. Code Ann. § 2001.174(2) of the Texas Administrative Procedures Act governs the court's review of the
commission's decision. Hunter Indus. Facilities v. Texas Natural Resource Conservation Comm'n, 910 S.W.2d 96, 1995
Tex. App. LEXIS 2515 (Tex. App. Austin 1995).

269. Order of the Texas Railroad Commission, directing appellant company to backfill and compact certain sludge pits
and to dispose of all oil or oil by-products located in them, was not arbitrary and capricious under former Tex. Rev. Civ.
Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13a, § 19(e)(6) because the fact that appellant controlled the pits for 23 years was not legally irrel-
evant, nor was it inherently arbitrary to proceed against only appellant even though other potentially liable parties ex-
isted; while the pits had been conveyed to appellant by a corporation that had disposed of sludge in the pits, and appel-
lant subsequently had released its interest in the pits to another party, the harm caused by the joint tortfeasors was indi-
 Page 38
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

visible, and thus the Commission could choose to proceed against only one of them. Lone Star Salt Water Disposal Co.
v. Railroad Comm'n, 800 S.W.2d 924, 1990 Tex. App. LEXIS 3123, 115 Oil & Gas Rep. 166 (Tex. App. Austin 1990).

270. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality did not abuse its discretion in approving the expansion of a munici-
pal solid-waste landfill to increase the height of allowable waste disposal by 50 to 75 feet from its existing height of 720
feet, despite odors affecting the neighbors, because odor was not a specifically delineated factor for
land-use-compatibility determinations in 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.61, .53. Northeast Neighbors Coalition v. Tex.
Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 4064 (Tex. App. Austin Mar. 28 2013).

271. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) violated Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.0832 when
it expanded a landfill's operating hours and overturned an administrative law judge's (ALJ) findings with no explanation
of its reasoning or grounds for so deciding. The appellate court was unable to substitute its judgment for that of the
TCEQ by affirming the ALJ's decision; rather, the options were to reverse or to remand the case to the agency for fur-
ther proceedings. Heritage v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality & Williamson County, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 6460 (Tex.
App. Austin July 31 2012).

272. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) violated Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.0832 when
it expanded a landfill's operating hours and overturned an administrative law judge's (ALJ) findings with no explanation
of its reasoning or grounds for so deciding. The appellate court was unable to substitute its judgment for that of the
TCEQ by affirming the ALJ's decision; rather, the options were to reverse or to remand the case to the agency for fur-
ther proceedings. Heritage v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality & Williamson County, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 6460 (Tex.
App. Austin July 31 2012).

273. Substantial evidence in the record supported the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission's finding that a
landfill owner's expansion application was administratively and technically complete because the owner had included
all necessary information in the application, and while some witnesses could not independently verify particular docu-
ments or exhibits, there was nothing in the record that cast doubt upon the information, and the opponents to the appli-
cation did not introduce any contrary exhibits to demonstrate that the limited evidence was altered or falsified. Because
the application was determined to be administratively and technically complete prior to the contested case hearing, the
owner was not required to establish at the contested-case hearing that its application complied with each administrative
and technical requirement because it had already done so prior to the hearing. Citizens Against Landfill Location v. Tex.
Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 169 S.W.3d 258, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 3583 (Tex. App. Austin 2005).

274. Pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, the district court's judgment affirming the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality's order granting the landfill operator a permit to build and operate a municipal landfill facility
was proper because there was substantial evidence to support the findings and conclusions that: (1) the operator's
groundwater-monitoring plan was sufficient; (2) a fault with displacement in the Holocene time did not exist within 200
feet of the proposed landfill; (3) the landfill liner's integrity would not be compromised; (4) the operator's floodplain
analysis provided an accurate delineation of the 100-year floodplain; (5) the operator adequately demonstrated the ef-
fects of its proposed project on flood conditions with respect to soil-cover operations; and (6) the project would not sig-
nificantly alter natural drainage. Coalition for Long Point Preservation v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 106 S.W.3d
363, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 3987 (Tex. App. Austin 2003).

275. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality did not abuse its discretion in approving the expansion of a munici-
pal solid-waste landfill to increase the height of allowable waste disposal by 50 to 75 feet from its existing height of 720
feet, despite odors affecting the neighbors, because odor was not a specifically delineated factor for
land-use-compatibility determinations in 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 330.61, .53. Northeast Neighbors Coalition v. Tex.
Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 4064 (Tex. App. Austin Mar. 28 2013).
 Page 39
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

276. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality violated Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 361.0832(f) and exceed-
ed its statutory authority by failing to explain in its order why it rejected the administrative law judge's findings that all
of the landfill's operations be conducted during the recommended operating hours, Heritage on the San Gabriel Home-
owners Ass?n v. Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 393 S.W.3d 417, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 10767 (Tex. App. Austin 2012).

277. Group's substantial rights were not prejudiced by the addition of the special provision to the landfill application,
because the appellate court could not see how the group had been harmed by the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality adopting a permit that provided more groundwater monitoring than was required by the administrative rules,
when the permit not only satisfied the rules' requirements that groundwater from the uppermost aquifer be monitored, as
it must, but it also provided for extra monitoring of groundwater that the evidence showed was not in the uppermost
aquifer. City of Jacksboro v. Two Bush Cmty. Action Group, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 5243 (Tex. App. Austin June 28
2012).

278. Texas Racing Commission's decision to modify the ALJ's conclusion and impose the steward's initial penalty of
disqualifying the horse and the loss of the purse due the use of ipratropium, a prohibited Class 3 drug, was within the
Commission's authority under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.058(e), and the "loss of purse" penalty was expressly au-
thorized by the Texas Racing Act, Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 179e, and the Commission's rules, guidelines, and ze-
ro-drug tolerance policy; further, the burden of proof was correctly placed on the owner and at the appropriate standard
because nothing in the Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 179e states that the burden of proof should be placed on the agency.
Pierce v. Tex. Racing Comm'n, 212 S.W.3d 745, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 9062 (Tex. App. Austin 2006).

279. Party appealing an agency's decision bears the burden of showing a lack of substantial evidence. The evidence in
the record may actually weigh by a preponderance against the agency's decision, yet satisfy the substantial evidence
standard. H. G. Sledge, Inc. v. Prospective Inv. & Trading Co., Ltd., 36 S.W.3d 597, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 7557, 151
Oil & Gas Rep. 265 (Tex. App. Austin 2000).

280. Under the Texas Administrative Procedures Act, Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2), the trial court has the au-
thority to reverse an agency determination if it finds that the substantive rights of the appellant are prejudiced due to a
constitutional or statutory violation, the decision was made unlawfully or affected by an error of law, not supported by
substantial evidence, or was found to be arbitrary or capricious. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Breazeale, 1999 Tex. App. LEX-
IS 7131 (Tex. App. Houston 14th Dist. Sept. 23 1999).

281. Where the Railroad Commission of Texas and a motor carrier challenged a ruling which denied the commission an
opportunity to correct defects in an order, the order could be corrected; the Texas constitution's prohibition against ret-
roactive laws did not apply to procedural or remedial statutes. Railroad Com. v. Merchants Fast Motor Lines, Inc., 545
S.W.2d 198, 1976 Tex. App. LEXIS 3326 (Tex. Civ. App. Austin 1976), reversed by 573 S.W.2d 502, 1978 Tex. LEXIS
409, 22 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 54 (Tex. 1978).

282. Texas Government Code, in providing only substantial-evidence review, specifically Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §
2001.174, does not deny equal protection of the laws under U. S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1, and Tex. Const. art. I, § 3.
Pretzer v. Motor Vehicle Bd., 125 S.W.3d 23, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 277 (Tex. App. Austin 2003), affirmed in part and
reversed in part by 138 S.W.3d 908, 2004 Tex. LEXIS 193, 47 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 340 (Tex. 2004).

283. When providing an independent right to judicial review in Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.171 of the Texas Adminis-
trative Procedure Act, the legislature has necessarily understood that state agencies will be sued in court by persons ex-
 Page 40
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

ercising that right, that contested-case decisions of those agencies will be judicially reviewed under the standards set
forth in Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, and that the challenged administrative decisions will be either affirmed, re-
versed, or remanded as provided by § 2001.174. Therefore, Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.171 provides a limited waiver
of sovereign immunity. Tex. Dep't of Protective & Regulatory Servs. v. Mega Child Care, Inc., 145 S.W.3d 170, 2004
Tex. LEXIS 780, 47 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 1116 (Tex. 2004).

284. By expressly excluding a decision on a disqualification for a foul from appeal, Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 179e,
§ 3.08(b) makes other decisions on disqualification of racehorses appealable by implication; thus, an owner whose
horses were disqualified for wearing the wrong saddle cloth numbers had a right to an administrative appeal, and his
request for declaratory relief under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 37.004 fell within the ultra vires exception to
sovereign immunity. The trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to make further rulings on the merits until the
owner exhausted administrative remedies as provided in Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 179e, §§ 3.02, 3.08 and Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174. Tex. Racing Comm'n v. Marquez, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 6653 (Tex. App. Austin Aug. 19
2011).

285. Substantial evidence supported a decision by the Texas Racing Commission to impose penalties under Tex. Rev.
Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 179e, § 3.07(b) on a horse owner and trainer whose racing horse tested positive for prohibited drug;
although the Commission's rules did not set forth any procedures for handling a urine sample that was inadvertently
returned, the Commission acted reasonably in storing and resending the sample for testing, and the integrity of that
sample had not been compromised. Keeton v. Tex. Racing Comm'n, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6925 (Tex. App. Austin Aug.
14 2003).

286. Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation complied with Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.058(e) by specifying
the reason and legal basis for its modifications to the ALJ's findings and conclusions and its decision was supported by
substantial evidence and made through lawful procedure. Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 2001.058(e), .174; the Commission
expressly addressed and made findings in its decisions to the statutory factors in the Occupation Code. Tex. Dep't of
Licensing & Regulation v. Thompson, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 8832 (Tex. App. Austin July 18 2013).

287. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission properly suspended the licensee's alcoholic beverage permit and license
for five days, because substantial evidence supported the conclusion that the third party was an employee, agent, or
servant for purposes of establishing a violation of Tex. Alco. Bev. Code Ann. § 104.01(4), when the focus was whether
there was substantial evidence to support the determination that the third party was an employee, agent, or servant for
purposes of establishing a violation. Villatoro v. Tex. Alcoholic Bev. Comm'n, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 6780 (Tex. App.
Dallas June 3 2013).

288. Enforced suspension of appellee's pharmacist license by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy concurrently with the
suspension of her North Carolina license resulted from the improper application of a "rule" as that term was defined in
the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.003(6). The Board's informally announced re-
ciprocal-sanctions policy was invalid under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2), because it not adopted in accordance
with the APA's rulemaking procedures. Tex. State Bd. of Pharm. v. Witcher, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 5482 (Tex. App.
Austin May 3 2013).

289. Substantial rights of a business were not prejudiced, for purposes of Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2), by a re-
hearing on the cancellation of its liquor license: a rehearing was not essential to due process in administrative proceed-
ings, and different treatment from other violators was insufficient to establish discrimination. Melmat, Inc. v. Tex. Al-
coholic Bev. Comm'n, 362 S.W.3d 211, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1550 (Tex. App. Dallas 2012).

290. Order canceling a business's mixed beverage, late hours, and beverage cartage permits and denying its application
to renew its food and beverage certificate did not prejudice the business's rights within the meaning of Tex. Gov't Code
Ann § 2001.174. Making false statements on the application was not a minor violation as to which the penalty was un-
reasonable. Melmat, Inc. v. Tex. Alcoholic Bev. Comm'n, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1553 (Tex. App. Dallas Feb. 29 2012).
 Page 41
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

291. In a medical license suspension case, the court erred by denying a doctor's motion for rehearing because the doctor
timely filed a motion for rehearing giving the Board fair notice that he was dissatisfied with its conclusions that he
failed to practice medicine in a manner consistent with public health and welfare and failed to treat a patient according
to the generally accepted standard of care. Johnson v. Tex. Med. Bd., 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 845 (Tex. App. Austin Feb.
5 2010).

292. There was substantial evidence in the record to support the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy's conclusion
that a certificate holder had presented himself as an accountant while his certificate was suspended; the record did not
support the holder's claim that he misunderstood the effect of a 1999 order suspending his certificate to practice public
accountancy; the holder had committed violations in the past, and he was found to be not fit to practice public account-
ancy under Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 901.502(11). Rogers v. State Bd. of Pub. Accountancy, 310 S.W.3d 1, 2008 Tex. App.
LEXIS 2961 (Tex. App. Austin 2008).

293. Trial court's conclusion that the state motor vehicle board's findings of fact that a motor vehicle distributor engaged
in business as a dealer in Texas were not supported by substantial evidence, and that the board's conclusions of law that
the distributor violated statutory prohibitions, were affected by error of law, was upheld where the undisputed facts were
that, in response to a Texas city's solicitation, the distributor sold and delivered two buses to the city in New Mexico
and that, from there, the city paid for the buses to be brought into Texas; there was no evidence that the distributor ever
physically crossed the New Mexico border into Texas related to the transaction, and, under Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ann.
§ 2.401, legal title to the buses passed in New Mexico because the agreement of the parties required the distributor to
deliver the buses in New Mexico. Motor Vehicle Bd. v. Prevost Car (US), Inc., 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 8461 (Tex. App.
Austin Sept. 26 2006).

294. Trial court erred by concluding that cancellation of a permittee's mixed beverage permits was an inappropriate
penalty for a single violation where, in addition to the permittee's selling of an alcoholic beverage to a patron who ex-
hibited obvious signs of intoxication, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission had assessed administrative penalties
against the permittee for seven separate violations of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code (ABC); because the repeated
violations evidenced a disregard for the provisions of the ABC and the sanctions imposed by the Commission, the
Commission had not acted arbitrarily or capriciously or abused its discretion by canceling the permittee's mixed bever-
age and late night permits. Tex. Alcoholic Bev. Comm'n v. Quintana, 225 S.W.3d 200, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 9988 (Tex.
App. El Paso 2005).

295. Texas State Board of Medical Examiners' conclusion that disciplinary grounds existed for a doctor's improper con-
tact with a female patient was supported by its findings, conclusions and evidence, in accordance with Tex. Gov't Code
Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E), where even though the patient was somewhat confused and inconsistent regarding the details of
her surroundings when the incidents occurred, she testified unequivocally that the doctor touched her breasts despite her
attempts to shield herself with magazines. The administrative law judge heard the patient's testimony firsthand, was able
to observe her and her demeanor, and concluded that she made a credible witness, and the appellate court could not
second-guess such credibility determinations in the guise of a substantial-evidence inquiry. Granek v. Tex. State Bd. of
Med. Examiners, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6232 (Tex. App. Austin Aug. 3 2005), substituted opinion at, opinion withdrawn
by 172 S.W.3d 761, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6954 (Tex. App. Austin 2005).

296. Doctor's failure to attend a patient in the emergency room was properly found to be a failure to practice medicine
in an acceptable professional manner consistent with public health and welfare, in violation of Tex. Occ. Code Ann. §
164.051(a)(6), and unprofessional or dishonorable conduct that was likely to injure the public, in violation of Tex. Occ.
Code Ann. §§ 164.051(a)(1), 164.052(a)(5), where the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners' expert testified that,
based on her review of relevant medical records, the doctor's care and treatment of the patient did not meet the standard
of care and was a professional failure to practice medicine consistent with the public health and welfare, and where,
because patients were considered members of the public, the expert's testimony, which was unchallenged on appeal,
also supported the Board's conclusion that the doctor committed unprofessional conduct that was likely to injure the
public. Furthermore, because the hospital's disciplinary action against the doctor was directed to the same conduct, there
was substantial evidence to support discipline under Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 164.051(a)(7). Granek v. Tex. State Bd. of
Med. Examiners, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6232 (Tex. App. Austin Aug. 3 2005), substituted opinion at, opinion withdrawn
by 172 S.W.3d 761, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6954 (Tex. App. Austin 2005).
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Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

297. Revocation of a doctor's medical license was supported by substantial evidence where there was scientific evidence
that two of the doctor's urine samples tested positive for cocaine, and one expert witness definitively testified that the
tests foreclosed the possibility of ingestion by inadvertent passive exposure. Hinkley v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Exam'rs,
140 S.W.3d 737, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 5078 (Tex. App. Austin 2004).

298. Trial court remanded for reconsideration the penalty of cancelling a bar's mixed beverage and late hours permits
because two of the grounds for revocation of the license were not supported by substantial evidence, the determination
did not require further evidence, and the appellate court found that the agency did not abuse its discretion in denying an
evidentiary hearing pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2). Allen-Burch, Inc. v. Tex. Alcoholic Bev. Comm'n,
104 S.W.3d 345, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 3945 (Tex. App. Dallas 2003).

299. Contrary to the trial court's findings, the officer's testimony, that the driver admitted to drinking, had slurred
speech, blood shot eyes, an odor of intoxication, and unsteadiness, was sufficient to support the ALJ findings, and the
appellate court ordered the suspension of the driver's license to be reinstated. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Gutierrez,
2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 2989 (Tex. App. San Antonio Apr. 9 2003).

300. Motor vehicle board's decision to grant a new franchisee's application for an auto-dealer license was based on sub-
stantial evidence within the meaning of Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E) where the evidence supported the ele-
ments of good cause under former Tex. Rev. Stat. Ann. art. 4413(36), § 4.06(c). Graff Chevrolet Co. v. Texas Motor
Vehicle Bd., 60 S.W.3d 154, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 3896 (Tex. App. Austin 2001).

301. Texas State Board of Medical Examiner's decision to revoke doctor's license to practice was an abuse of discretion
under the Administrative Procedure and Texas Register Act, former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13a (now Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174), because it was not based on unlawful procedure. Board of Med. Exmnrs. v. Nacol, 696
S.W.2d 687, 1985 Tex. App. LEXIS 7359 (Tex. App. Beaumont 1985).

302. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission exceeded its authority under former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art.
6252-13a, § 19(e) (now Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174) when it declined to renew a liquor license pursuant to Tex.
Alco. Bev. Code Ann. § 11.46(3), (8) and (10) where the record failed to show that the retailer posed a threat to the gen-
eral welfare or would continue to conduct itself contrary to the law. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Comm'n v. Wines of
Germany & World, Inc., 691 S.W.2d 817, 1985 Tex. App. LEXIS 6940 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 1985).

303. Though a suspension hearing for a dentist's license contained some irregularities, especially the in and out presence
of the overseeing board's members who were involved in decision-making regarding the dentist's license, the appeals
court upheld the board's determination to suspend the dentist's license for two years in the absence of a demonstration
that there was no substantial justice and fair play; former Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 6252-13A, § 19(e) (now Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174) required reversal if there was unlawful procedure resulting in prejudice to substantial
rights. Blankfield v. Texas State Bd. of Dental Exmrs., 1985 Tex. App. LEXIS 6216 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. Feb. 14
1985).

304. Pursuant to Tex. Water Code Ann. §§ 11.021(a), 11.022, 11.121, and 11.046(c), the Texas Commission on Envi-
ronmental Quality incorrectly concluded that the city's effluent remained private groundwater that could be diverted
without an appropriation permit; notwithstanding the city's stated intent not to abandon its effluent, the physical reality
of the city's reuse project was that the effluent was abandoned to the public domain once the city discharged it into the
San Marcos River where it was admittedly commingled and diluted by that state watercourse. City of San Marcos v.
Tex. Comm'n on Envtl. Quality, 128 S.W.3d 264, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 96 (Tex. App. Austin 2004).

305. Texas State Board of Medical Examiners' conclusion that disciplinary grounds existed for a doctor's improper con-
tact with a female patient was supported by its findings, conclusions and evidence, in accordance with Tex. Gov't Code
Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E), where even though the patient was somewhat confused and inconsistent regarding the details of
 Page 43
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

her surroundings when the incidents occurred, she testified unequivocally that the doctor touched her breasts despite her
attempts to shield herself with magazines. The administrative law judge heard the patient's testimony firsthand, was able
to observe her and her demeanor, and concluded that she made a credible witness, and the appellate court could not
second-guess such credibility determinations in the guise of a substantial-evidence inquiry. Granek v. Tex. State Bd. of
Med. Examiners, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6232 (Tex. App. Austin Aug. 3 2005), substituted opinion at, opinion withdrawn
by 172 S.W.3d 761, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6954 (Tex. App. Austin 2005).

306. Doctor's failure to attend a patient in the emergency room was properly found to be a failure to practice medicine
in an acceptable professional manner consistent with public health and welfare, in violation of Tex. Occ. Code Ann. §
164.051(a)(6), and unprofessional or dishonorable conduct that was likely to injure the public, in violation of Tex. Occ.
Code Ann. §§ 164.051(a)(1), 164.052(a)(5), where the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners' expert testified that,
based on her review of relevant medical records, the doctor's care and treatment of the patient did not meet the standard
of care and was a professional failure to practice medicine consistent with the public health and welfare, and where,
because patients were considered members of the public, the expert's testimony, which was unchallenged on appeal,
also supported the Board's conclusion that the doctor committed unprofessional conduct that was likely to injure the
public. Furthermore, because the hospital's disciplinary action against the doctor was directed to the same conduct, there
was substantial evidence to support discipline under Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 164.051(a)(7). Granek v. Tex. State Bd. of
Med. Examiners, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6232 (Tex. App. Austin Aug. 3 2005), substituted opinion at, opinion withdrawn
by 172 S.W.3d 761, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6954 (Tex. App. Austin 2005).

307. In reviewing the administrative decision of the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, the court used the sub-
stantial evidence scope of review defined under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E), of the Administrative Proce-
dure Act, Texas Bd. of Med. Exmrs. v. Scheffey, 949 S.W.2d 431, 1997 Tex. App. LEXIS 3458 (Tex. App. Austin 1997).

308. Substantial evidence under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(E) supported the Texas State Board of Dental Exam-
iners' exercise of its authority under Tex. Occ. Code Ann. §§ 254.001, 263.002(a) to revoke a dentist's license for un-
professional billing practices in violation of Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 259.008(1). Although an administrative law judge
recommended suspension, the Board was empowered to reject the recommendation and adequately explained its rea-
soning that the dentist's disciplinary history should have been given more weight as an aggravating factor. Froemming
v. Tex. State Bd. of Dental Examiners, 380 S.W.3d 787, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 4406 (Tex. App. Austin 2012).

309. Revocation of an osteopathic doctor's license to practice medicine in Texas by the State Board of Medical Exam-
iners was supported by substantial evidence under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 because the complaint provided
proper notice under Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 164.005 and the evidence showed specific allegations of wrongdoing. Chal-
ifoux v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Examiners, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 9598 (Tex. App. Austin Nov. 1 2006).

310. Professional disciplinary action against a doctor, based on stale allegations of improper touching of a female pa-
tient's breasts, resulted in a due process violation that caused actual prejudice to the doctor's substantial rights, and the
action was therefore arbitrary and capricious under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(A); staleness was not a signifi-
cant concern as to another patient's complaints, however, because contemporaneous documentary evidence of the com-
plaints existed. Granek v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Exam'rs, 172 S.W.3d 761, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 6954 (Tex. App. Aus-
tin 2005).

311. The district court's judgment upholding the Board's second order was affirmed (1) suspending the doctor's medical
license until he could show that he was safe and competent to practice medicine, (2) setting forth the minimum terms
and conditions with which the doctor had to comply to make that showing, and (3) imposing an administrative penalty
on the doctor where the record revealed ample evidence that the doctor over-administered anesthesia to the patient,
failed to properly monitor her while she was sedated, and failed to properly respond when the patient went into respira-
tory arrest. Berezoski v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Examiners, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 6255 (Tex. App. Austin July 15 2004).
 Page 44
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

312. In a case relating to the revocation of a doctor's license, a finding that a kyphoplasty constituted a "spine surgery"
was reasonably supported by substantial evidence where there was testimony from other physicians that the procedure
constituted a surgery. The doctor's performance of this procedure violated an agreed order whereby he was prohibited
from being present at or performing "spine surgery." Baker v. Tex. Med. Bd., 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 1259 (Tex. App.
Austin Feb. 6 2013).

313. Substantial evidence under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(E) supported the Texas State Board of Dental Exam-
iners' exercise of its authority under Tex. Occ. Code Ann. §§ 254.001, 263.002(a) to revoke a dentist's license for un-
professional billing practices in violation of Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 259.008(1). Although an administrative law judge
recommended suspension, the Board was empowered to reject the recommendation and adequately explained its rea-
soning that the dentist's disciplinary history should have been given more weight as an aggravating factor. Froemming
v. Tex. State Bd. of Dental Examiners, 380 S.W.3d 787, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 4406 (Tex. App. Austin 2012).

314. Legislature granted the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners (Board) the power to protect the public interest by
regulating those physicians who were granted the privilege of practicing medicine, Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 151.003; the
legislature also provided that the Board's decision to revoke a physician's license was subject to the substantial-evidence
standard of review, Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, and the lack of a trial de novo (either a bench or jury trial) for
license-revocation appeals by physicians was rationally related to the legitimate governmental purpose of conservation
of judicial resources. Scally v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Examiners, 351 S.W.3d 434, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 6117 (Tex.
App. Austin 2011).

315. Substantial evidence supported the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners' conclusion that the dentist practiced
dentistry in a manner that constituted dishonorable conduct as defined in 22 Tex. Admin. Code Ann. § 108.9(6) where
the dentist offered to show a teenaged patient and her mother the scars on her breasts from surgery. Tex. State Bd. of
Dental Examiners v. Brown, 281 S.W.3d 692, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 2247 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi 2009).

316. Texas State Board of Dental Examiners' conclusion that the dentist practiced dentistry in a manner that constituted
dishonorable conduct as defined in 22 Tex. Admin. Code Ann. § 108.9(6) was supported by the administrative law
judge's findings that the dentist allowed her non-dentist employees to adjust occlusion on a patient's teeth and failed to
keep adequate medical records where a patient's chart contained neither a written review of medical history, a medical
exam, radiographs and findings, a treatment plan, or a written formal consent nor an explanation why that chart was
incomplete. Tex. State Bd. of Dental Examiners v. Brown, 281 S.W.3d 692, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 2247 (Tex. App.
Corpus Christi 2009).

317. Substantial evidence supported the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners' order that the dentist pay restitution to
a patient as she improperly allowed her assistants to perform non-delegable dental work on the patient. The district court
erred when it reversed the Board's restitution order because the Board did not make adjudicative findings contrary to the
ALJ's findings. Tex. State Bd. of Dental Examiners v. Brown, 281 S.W.3d 692, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 2247 (Tex. App.
Corpus Christi 2009).

318. Texas State Board of Medical Examiners had a final order to enforce because (1) a district court did not reverse
and remand the entire case to the Board, under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(1), because the district court reversed
only that portion of the amended final order imposing an administrative penalty against a doctor and affirmed the
Board's order in all other respects; (2) by affirming the Board's order in all other respects, the district court confirmed
that, with the exception of the administrative penalty, the Board's amended final order, which imposed a three-year
probated license suspension, was valid and remained in full force and effect; (3) because the Board chose to accept the
district court's judgment and take no further action regarding the administrative penalty, there was nothing for the Board
to change; and (4) the Board could not have issued another final order even if it had wanted to do so because Tex. Gov't
Code Ann. § 2001.1775 expressly precluded an agency from modifying its findings or decision in a contested case after
proceedings for judicial review have begun. Granek v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Examiners, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 2025
(Tex. App. Austin Mar. 19 2008).

319. Revocation of a respiratory care practitioner's certificate for taking a drug from an intravenous bag for personal use
was properly upheld as an administrative law judge's (ALJ) decision was supported by substantial evidence pursuant to
 Page 45
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(F), affirmative findings as to each 25 Tex. Admin. Code § 123.14(f)(4) factor were
unnecessary, and a negative inference could be drawn from the practitioner's invoking the Fifth Amendment, which was
done improperly as a blanket assertion rather than in response to a particular question. Andrews v. Tex. Dep't of Health,
2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 1129 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 15 2007).

320. Revocation of an osteopathic doctor's license to practice medicine in Texas by the State Board of Medical Exam-
iners was supported by substantial evidence under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 because the complaint provided
proper notice under Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 164.005 and the evidence showed specific allegations of wrongdoing. Chal-
ifoux v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Examiners, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 9598 (Tex. App. Austin Nov. 1 2006).

321. Doctor's due process rights were not violated when the State Board of Medical Examiners revoked his license be-
cause the record failed to show that the presence of two doctors that served on the disciplinary panel unduly influenced
the Board's final decision and there was no record that ex parte communications took place; further, the Board's conclu-
sions were not arbitrary or capricious under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 where there was no evidence that the
Board based its decision on peer review evidence pursuant to Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 151.003(2) or that the doctor was
harmed by such evidence under Tex. R. App. P. 44.1. Chalifoux v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Examiners, 2006 Tex. App.
LEXIS 9598 (Tex. App. Austin Nov. 1 2006).

322. "Substantial evidence" under Tex. Gov't Code Ann § 2001.174(2)(E) supported a finding that a doctor violated the
standard of care by discharging a patient from the hospital when she had suffered a postsurgery seizure and had other
preseizure symptoms, and her Dilantin level was 3.9 at the time of her discharge; the doctor admitted the Dilantin level
was sub-therapeutic, and another doctor testified that the treatment fell below the standard of care. Chalifoux v. Tex.
State Bd. of Med. Exam'rs, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 4738 (Tex. App. Austin June 2 2006).

323. "Substantial evidence" under Tex. Gov't Code Ann § 2001.174(2)(E) supported a finding that a doctor violated the
standard of care in assessing the possibility of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak because he had the patient lie down,
which minimized the possibility of the patient experiencing the classic symptoms of a CSF leak; his claim that his dis-
charge decision was not based solely on his observation of the patient after she was lying down for two hours was insuf-
ficient to overcome the presumption that the finding was supported by substantial evidence. Chalifoux v. Tex. State Bd.
of Med. Exam'rs, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 4738 (Tex. App. Austin June 2 2006).

324. Decision of the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners to revoke a doctor's license was not arbitrary or capri-
cious under Tex. Gov't Code Ann § 2001.174(2)(F); there was no evidence that the Board considered peer-review evi-
dence in reaching its final decision, and its conclusions were explicitly based on its findings and the evidence presented
at the hearing. Chalifoux v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Exam'rs, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 4738 (Tex. App. Austin June 2 2006).

325. Where substantial evidence supported the findings that an insurance licensee wrongfully paid premiums from an-
other business account, paid bonuses or compensation for referring new business, offered to rebate premiums, and paid
unlicensed persons for the services of an agent, revocation of an insurance license was proper. Murphy v. Comm'r of
Ins., 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 10156 (Tex. App. Austin Dec. 4 2003).

326. In reviewing the Texas Commissioner of Insurance's decision denying the applicant a local recording agent's li-
cense under the substantial evidence rule, Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, the Commissioner's consideration of two
25-year-old felony convictions that involved the defrauding of elderly victims through the sale of an unauthorized in-
surance product was not erroneous under Tex. Occ. Code Ann. §§ 53.021,.022 and substantial evidence existed demon-
strating that the applicant failed to make restitution and failed to provide letters of recommendation from prosecutors,
law enforcement, and correctional officers, as required by Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 53.023(a)(6)(A) and (b); thus, there
was ample evidence in the record to support the Commissioner's decision denying the applicant a local recording agent's
license. Smith v. Montemayor, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 5099 (Tex. App. Austin June 19 2003).
 Page 46
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

327. Substantial evidence supported the decision of the Texas Insurance Commissioner revoking an insurance agent's
license, because he engaged in fraudulent acts or practices with regard to the sale of universal leases and unauthorized
annuity transactions. Zaal v. Tex. Dep't of INS., 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 13296 (Tex. App. Austin Oct. 29 2013).

328. In a case in which the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Insurance upheld a decision of the Texas Medical
Liability Insurance Underwriting Association (JUA) that informed an orthopedic surgeon that he had to pay a surcharge
in order to renew his professional liability insurance policy, the Commissioner's order was supported by substantial ev-
idence because, by basing the calculation of a surcharge on a policyholder's claim history, the JUA's schedule produced
rates that reflected an increase in the risk of insuring a particular policyholder, which was consistent with the statutory
requirements that individualized rates be based on plans measuring variations in hazards or expenses. Scheffey v. Gees-
lin, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 1137 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 15 2008), review denied by Scheffey v. Geeslin, 2008 Tex. LEX-
IS 684 (Tex. 2008).

329. In an appeal concerning a rate supervision order issued by the Texas Commissioner of Insurance, which revoked
an insurer's ability to file and use its insurance rates without prior approval from the Texas Department of Insurance,
there was nothing in the order to suggest that it was not a final, completed agency action, where the only means of chal-
lenging the Commissioner's supervision order was to seek judicial review of the order, and, accordingly, the appellate
court and the district court had jurisdiction to address the insurer's claims under Tex. Ins. Code Ann. ch. 36. Further-
more, several of the insurer's claims--that the actions for which the Commissioner placed it under supervision were not
"rating practices," that the supervision order was arbitrary and capricious, that the Commissioner acted outside his au-
thority in issuing the supervision order, and that its due process rights were violated--did not require review of an ad-
ministrative record, and all were authorized grounds for reversal or remand of a decision under the Administrative Pro-
cedure Act, Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 2001.051-.178. Texas Dep't of Ins. v. State Farm Lloyds, 260 S.W.3d 233, 2008
Tex. App. LEXIS 5563 (Tex. App. Austin 2008).

330. In a case in which the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Insurance upheld a decision of the Texas Medical
Liability Insurance Underwriting Association (JUA) that informed an orthopedic surgeon that he had to pay a surcharge
in order to renew his professional liability insurance policy, the Commissioner's order was supported by substantial ev-
idence because, by basing the calculation of a surcharge on a policyholder's claim history, the JUA's schedule produced
rates that reflected an increase in the risk of insuring a particular policyholder, which was consistent with the statutory
requirements that individualized rates be based on plans measuring variations in hazards or expenses. Scheffey v. Gees-
lin, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 1137 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 15 2008), review denied by Scheffey v. Geeslin, 2008 Tex. LEX-
IS 684 (Tex. 2008).

331. Where a decedent dry-fired a gun several times, someone then replaced the clip in the gun without the decedent's
knowledge, and the decedent fired the gun again, killing himself, the decision of the Board of Trustees of the Employ-
ees Retirement System of Texas that decedent's death was not accidental and denying the beneficiary recovery under the
insurance policy was not supported by substantial evidence as required under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174. Butler
v. Group Life & Health Ins. Co., 962 S.W.2d 296, 1998 Tex. App. LEXIS 858 (Tex. App. Austin 1998).

332. Substantial evidence existed to support administrative law judge's findings that widow was excluded from receiv-
ing benefits under insurance policy when evidence showed her dead husband was driving truck that overturned, killing
himself and a passenger, and, if husband had survived, he would have been charged with manslaughter. Nobles v. Em-
ployees Ret. Sys. of Tex., 53 S.W.3d 483, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 4997 (Tex. App. Austin 2001).
 Page 47
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

333. Substantial evidence was before the Board of Trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas to support its
finding that air travel or flight caused decedent's runway accident and that this was a risk contemplated by the aviation
exclusion in the accidental death benefits provision of the public employees life insurance plan; the standard of judicial
review of the board's order was that provided for cases of "substantial evidence" review under the terms of the Admin-
istrative Procedures Act, specifically Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174, and because its order was supported by substantial
evidence and was not arbitrary or capricious, the district court erred in not affirming the decision of the board to deny
accidental death benefits to decedent's spouse. Board of Trustees v. Benge, 942 S.W.2d 742, 1997 Tex. App. LEXIS 1519
(Tex. App. Austin 1997).

334. In a former employee's action for disability benefits, substantial evidence, as required by Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§
815.511(f), 2001.174 supported a determination that the employee was not entitled to a waiver of a preexist-
ing-condition exclusion because the evidence showed that the employee was not "actively at work" during the relevant
time period. Medical records indicated that the employee had surgery at the beginning of the relevant time period and
by the end was interpreting only one or two hours a week; there was no evidence showing whether the employee took
paid vacation time or sick leave in the months after the surgery. Schneider v. Employees Ret. Sys. of Tex., 2009 Tex.
App. LEXIS 2276 (Tex. App. Austin Apr. 3 2009).

335. In a case involving an exception to a preexisting-condition exclusion, substantial evidence, as required by Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. §§ 815.511(f), 2001.174 supported interpreting the exclusion to require that an employee be actively at
work for six consecutive months after disability coverage began, rather than for six consecutive months at any time be-
fore becoming disabled. Schneider v. Employees Ret. Sys. of Tex., 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 2276 (Tex. App. Austin Apr. 3
2009).

336. Application for occupational disability retirement benefits was properly denied where a reasonable basis existed
for the conclusion of the Employees Retirement System of Texas Board of Trustees (Board) that the applicant's at-work
injury was not the primary cause of his disability; the Board's order and the relevant findings and conclusions that the
applicant was not entitled to benefits because his preexisting condition was the primary cause of his disability were
supported by substantial evidence because: (1) the applicant had reported problems with his lower back prior to the
at-work injury; (2) the applicant had repeated problems with his cervical spine prior to the injury; (3) the applicant had
more degeneration in his spine than would be expected for someone his age; and (4) both the applicant's neurosurgeon
and the medical board agreed that the injury that the applicant sustained at work would not have been disabling without
his preexisting condition. Larimore v. Employees Ret. Sys. of Tex., 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 512 (Tex. App. Austin Jan. 20
2006), opinion withdrawn by, substituted opinion at 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 2246 (Tex. App. Austin Mar. 24, 2006).

337. Application for occupational disability retirement benefits was properly denied where a reasonable basis existed
for the conclusion of the Employees Retirement System of Texas Board of Trustees (Board) that the applicant's at-work
injury was not the primary cause of his disability; the Board's order and the relevant findings and conclusions that the
applicant was not entitled to benefits because his preexisting condition was the primary cause of his disability were
supported by substantial evidence because: (1) the applicant had reported problems with his lower back prior to the
at-work injury; (2) the applicant had repeated problems with his cervical spine prior to the injury; (3) the applicant had
more degeneration in his spine than would be expected for someone his age; and (4) both the applicant's neurosurgeon
and the medical board agreed that the injury that the applicant sustained at work would not have been disabling without
his preexisting condition. Larimore v. Employees Ret. Sys. of Tex., 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 512 (Tex. App. Austin Jan. 20
2006), opinion withdrawn by, substituted opinion at 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 2246 (Tex. App. Austin Mar. 24, 2006).

338. Pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(F), the Board of Trustees for the Employees Retirement System of
Texas (ERS) acted arbitrarily and capriciously and abused its discretion in terminating a disability retiree's occupational
 Page 48
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

disability retirement benefits, resulting in the retiree's substantial rights being prejudiced, because due process and fun-
damental principals of fairness dictated that the Board should have provided meaningful notice to the retiree before ap-
plying its new 80 percent threshold standard in 34 Tex. Admin. Code § 73.17, which construed Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §
814.208(d), to his post disability earnings to terminate his benefits; being advised of the Board's construction of "com-
parable pay" to include its 80 percent threshold standard at the hearing was not sufficient notice to satisfy due process
concerns, and a 2005 letter advising the retiree that his benefits had been terminated similarly was not sufficient, and,
thus, prior to his hearing, the retiree did not have meaningful notice that earning 80 percent of his adjusted final annual
state salary could cause his benefits to be terminated. Patton v. Employees Ret. Sys. of Tex., 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 9901
(Tex. App. Austin Dec. 19 2007).

339. Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 1051.703(a) of the Architecture Practice Act did not categorically preclude licensed engi-
neers from preparing comprehensive building plans and specifications for the class of public works projects identified in
that section, nor did Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 1051.601 categorically exempt licensed engineers from the Act's require-
ments. Instead, the enforcement matter at issue depended on whether preparation of the engineers' particular building
plans and specifications was within the scope and practice of engineering as defined by the Engineering Practice Act;
because the record was insufficiently developed to determine that issue as a matter of law, summary disposition was not
appropriate, and therefore the district court did not abuse its discretion in reversing the Board's decision and remanding
the case for further proceedings. Winton v. Tex. Bd. of Architectural Examiners (in re Rogers), 390 S.W.3d 377, 2011
Tex. App. LEXIS 6110 (Tex. App. Austin 2011).

340. Because it was unclear whether Texas law would allow plaintiff landowners' inverse condemnation suit for a regu-
latory groundwater taking, and they had not pursued compensation in state court, their Fifth Amendment takings claim
against defendant water district's directors was not ripe and was dismissed without prejudice. Coates v. Hall, 512 F.
Supp. 2d 770, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17168 (W.D. Tex. 2007).

341. Although appellee acknowledged that appellant owned 100 percent of the leasehold oil and gas estate, and that he
had the right "to inject saltwater under the tract produced from the tract" to benefit that lease tract, resolution of appel-
lant's complaint turned on construction of the deeds in appellee's chain of title--specifically, the parameters of the "sur-
face estate" conveyed through those instruments. Thus, it was the sort of issue that was beyond the Texas Railroad
Commission's jurisdiction under 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 3.9. Rosenthal v. R.R. Comm'n, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 6522
(Tex. App. Austin Aug. 20 2009).

342. Where a subcontractor filed a claim alleging that unforeseen conditions caused it to incur additional costs to com-
plete foundation drilling work on a highway construction contract, substantial evidence under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §
2001.174(2)(E) supported the Texas Department of Transportation's decision that (1) the site conditions were not sig-
nificantly different; (2) the contract provided that casing was required to prevent caving and water intrusion; and there-
fore, (3) the subcontractor was not entitled to damages. Granite Constr. Co. v. Tex. DOT, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 9706
(Tex. App. Austin Nov. 20 2012).

343. In a highway construction contract dispute, although Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 201.112 gave the executive director
of the Texas Department of Transportation broad discretion to make changes to the proposed findings of fact and con-
clusions of law of the administrative law judge (ALJ), the executive director could not ignore the evidence; where the
ALJ, and not the executive director, heard the testimony and observed the demeanor of the witnesses, and in the absence
of independent evidence in the record to support the executive director's credibility choice, the executive director's deci-
sion to reject the ALJ's findings based on credibility was arbitrary and capricious under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §
2001.174. State v. Mid-South Pavers, Inc., 246 S.W.3d 711, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 9905 (Tex. App. Austin 2007).
 Page 49
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

344. In a toll violation case arising from an order under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §§ 284.201, 284.202(a) and an admin-
istrative adjudication hearing procedure under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 284.204, the alleged violator was not entitled
to a trial de novo, even though the appeal hinged on a question of law. The procedure was created by a commissioner
court order and was consistent with the substantial evidence standard in Tex. Gov't Code Ann § 2001.174; it did not
prevent the trial court from considering questions of law. Enter. Leasing Co. v. Harris County Toll Rd. Auth., 356
S.W.3d 85, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 1962 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 2011).

345. Where an officer initiated a traffic stop and smelled alcohol, appellee admitted that she had just left a bar where she
had consumed alcohol; in the license suspension proceeding, the judge's finding that the police had probable cause to
arrest appellee for DWI was supported by substantial evidence under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174; the admission
of unqualified testimony from a police officer concerning the horizontal gaze nystagmus test was harmless. Tex. Dep't
of Pub. Safety v. Bishop, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 360 (Tex. App. Austin Jan. 22 2007).

346. Trial court erred in reversing the suspension of a driver's license by an administrative law judge (ALJ) because
substantial evidence supported the ALJ's finding under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.042 that the driver voluntarily
refused to submit to a breath test; although the driver claimed he was misled about the consequences of refusal, the ALJ,
as the sole trier of fact under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, was free to disbelieve the driver. Tex. Dep't of Pub.
Safety v. Patel, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 9720 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi Nov. 9 2006).

347. Trial court did not err in affirming the suspension of the driver's license where although the ALJ found that the
driver had operated a watercraft while intoxicated, this was an obvious clerical error which did not negate the adminis-
trative order, and the decision was supported by substantial evidence, Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174. Goldstein v.
Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 11285 (Tex. App. San Antonio Oct. 11 2006).

348. In a review under Tex. Gov't Code Ann § 2001.174(2)(E), the trial court erred in reversing a license suspension;
reasonable suspicion was unnecessary for an initial contact between officers and the driver because the driver stopped
his vehicle on the side of a public roadway entirely on his own volition and the officers made contact with him to see if
he was in need of assistance; substantial evidence supported a finding of probable cause to arrest the driver because his
breath smelled strongly of alcohol, he had bloodshot eyes, his speech was slurred, he admitted that he consumed six
beers, and he failed every field sobriety test. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Svoboda, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 5266 (Tex.
App. San Antonio June 21 2006).

349. Substantial evidence, as required by Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 524.043 and Tex. Gov't Code Ann § 2001.174, sup-
ported a license suspension, even though the underlying accident occurred in an apartment parking lot, because the lot
was ungated and open to the public and thus was a "public place." Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Briggs, 2006 Tex. App.
LEXIS 1129 (Tex. App. Austin Feb. 9 2006).

350. License suspension was reinstated because the Texas Department of Public Safety produced more than a scintilla
of evidence on the factors set forth in Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.042, when the driver was properly stopped for vio-
lation of Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.104(a), and the officer smelled alcohol on the driver's breath, noticed that the
driver's eyes were bloodshot and his speech was slurred. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Shellberg, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS
6644 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi Aug. 18 2005).

351. Statute governing license suspension appeals is the touchstone in deciding which standard of review should apply:
the statute specifically requires the reviewing court to use the substantial evidence rule. Because a court applying the
substantial evidence standard of review may not substitute its judgment for that of the administrative law judge as to the
weight of the evidence, the equally plausible but opposite inferences construct can not be part of the substantial evi-
dence rule. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Hirschman, 169 S.W.3d 331, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 4579 (Tex. App. Waco 2005).

352. At the license suspension hearing, the arresting officer testified that the driver's vehicle was moving erratically, the
officer smelled alcohol coming from the interior of the vehicle, and the driver failed sobriety tests; there was substantial
 Page 50
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

evidence to support the administrative finding that there was reasonable suspicion to stop and probable cause to arrest
the driver for driving while intoxicated. The trial court erred by reversing the administrative decision to suspend her
driver's license, because she refused to provide a breath sample. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Leath, 2005 Tex. App.
LEXIS 3927 (Tex. App. Amarillo May 18 2005).

353. Administrative law judge's (ALJ) suspension of a driver's license was supported by substantial evidence where the
arresting officer surmised in his sworn report that the driver had been driving while intoxicated because he emitted a
strong odor of alcohol, had glassy eyes and slurred speech, and his movements were slowed and staggered, and where
the record revealed that the driver admitted to drinking a few beers before the accident. That gave the officer reasonable
suspicion to investigate the driver further, and the officer's reasonable suspicion evolved into probable cause when he
observed five out of the six points of the horizontal gaze nystagmus test and the driver refused to provide a breath
specimen. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Burrer, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 3534 (Tex. App. San Antonio May 11 2005).

354. Texas Department of Public Safety properly suspended an individual's driver's license for his refusal to give a
breath specimen after he was arrested for suspicion of DWI. On review, the county court ruled that substantial evidence
existed to affirm the administrative decision suspending his driver's license, and that the individual failed to prove that
the administrative decision prejudiced his substantial rights. Parks v. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS
9365 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. Oct. 21 2004).

355. Department of Public Safely was not obligated to prove compliance with a 15-minute observation period before
admitting a breath test at a license-revocation hearing because no fact issue was raised with respect to the particular
requirement; thus, the breath test was properly admitted, and the trial court erred in reversing the license suspension.
Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Barrera, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 5346 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi June 17 2004).

356. Under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, the appellate court had to reverse when a substantial right had been prej-
udiced because the administrative decision was affected by an error of law; the administrative law judge erred in apply-
ing the law to the facts as she found them where no necessity justification existed at the time of the driver's arrest be-
cause his drive back to the scene was not in avoidance of any imminent harm. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Moore, 175
S.W.3d 270, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 4401 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 2004).

357. Substantial evidence supported the decision of an administrative law judge to suspend the driver's license of an
individual arrested for operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Her-
nandez, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6333 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi July 24 2003).

358. Since the Texas Legislature had expressed no intent that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) be penal-
ized for the failure of an officer to submit a report within the five-day deadline of Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §
724.032(c)(4), the failure of an officer to comply with the statute did not render the report inadmissible at an adminis-
trative hearing, and the judgment that the evidence was insufficient to authorize suspension of the driver's license was
reversed and remanded because the erroneous exclusion of exhibits prejudiced the DPS's substantial rights since the
administrative law judge denied the DPS the opportunity to satisfy its evidentiary burden at the license suspension
hearing. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Kimbrough, 106 S.W.3d 747, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 3566 (Tex. App. Fort Worth
2003).

359. Under the substantial evidence rule of Tex. Govt. Code Ann. § 2001.174, the court erred in reversing a license sus-
pension decision by the Texas Department of Public Safety; the administrative law judge did not err in finding, pursuant
to Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 524.035(a)(2), that the officer had probable cause to arrest defendant for driving while in-
toxicated. State Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Boeck, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 2785 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi Apr. 26 2001).

360. In reviewing administrative license suspension decisions under the substantial evidence standard in Tex. Transp.
Code Ann. § 524.041 and Tex. Gov't. Code Ann. § 2001.174, the reviewing court may not substitute its judgment for that
of the agency. The issue for the court is not whether the agency's decision was correct, but only whether the record
demonstrates some reasonable basis for the agency's action as shown by a "scintilla" of evidence. Mireles v. Texas Dep't
of Pub. Safety, 9 S.W.3d 128, 1999 Tex. LEXIS 125, 43 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 169 (Tex. 1999).
 Page 51
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

361. Administrative law judge's finding that the deputy had reasonable suspicion to stop the driver was not reasonably
supported by substantial evidence and therefore it erred by suspending the driver's license under Tex. Transp. Code Ann.
§§ 524.022, .041, because the evidence only showed that the driver was observed driving slowly on a highway at 1:40
a.m; the record was silent regarding the deputy's training and experience and was silent as to the characteristics of the
area in which the driver was observed driving. In addition, there was no evidence that the deputy stopped the driver be-
cause he was concerned for her safety, as there was no evidence she was alone in her vehicle, that there were any other
vehicles sharing the roadway with the driver, or that driving slowly was inherently unsafe; the deputy stated in his re-
port that he had reasonable suspicion to contact that driver only because he observed her vehicle traveling 40 m.p.h. in a
65 m.p.h. posted zone. Peters v. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 404 S.W.3d 1, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 2798 (Tex. App. Hou-
ston 1st Dist. 2013).

362. Trial court erred by reversing the administrative decision allowing the suspension of the driver's license because
substantial evidence supported that decision, as the officer testified multiple times that he saw the driver on the road and
then enter the parking lot and that he saw the driver in the vehicle's driver's seat when it was parked under a light in the
parking lot; when the driver approached the officer, he saw that the driver was intoxicated and therefore had reasonable
suspicion or probable cause to detain the driver and administer field sobriety tests. The officer's report, which bore the
seal and signature of the Texas Department of Public Safety's custodian of records, corroborated the officer's testimony
that the driver did not provide a breath sample on request and that he refused to provide a post-arrest breath sample. Tex.
Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Perez, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 659 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi Jan. 24 2013).

363. Administrative law judge (ALJ) did not err in quashing the driver's subpoena of the arresting officer in the admin-
istrative license suspension proceeding, because the ALJ's application of the 150-mile limit in Tex. R. Civ. P. 176.3 was
not an abuse of discretion; the ALJ was expressly authorized to consider the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Hodge v.
Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 10526 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. Dec. 20 2012).

364. There was substantial evidence to support an administrative law judge's decision authorizing the suspension of a
driver's license under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 524.012(b)(1) because there was a reasonable suspicion to stop a vehi-
cle based on a failure to stop at a red light, there was probable cause to arrest due to an odor of alcohol and signs of in-
toxication, and the driver's blood alcohol was above the legal limit. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Caruana, 2012 Tex.
App. LEXIS 7125 (Tex. App. Austin Aug. 23 2012).

365. Trial court exceeded its authority when it modified an administrative law judge's (ALJ) decision that a driver's li-
cense was suspended for 2 years under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.035(a) and stated that the suspension was for 180
days. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Hudson, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1148 (Tex. App. Dallas Feb. 13 2012).

366. Driver's license suspension was proper because the facts established probable cause that the licensee was operating
a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated for purposes of Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.042; witnesses at an
accident scene reported that a pickup had rear-ended another vehicle and driven away, a license plate at the scene was
matched to the licensee's pickup, which was later found abandoned with front end damage, and according to the licen-
see's wife, the licensee called her to pick him up near the site of the abandoned pickup. After the wife drive the licensee
to the sheriff's office, a trooper and others observed the licensee and detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his
breath. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Allen, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 4268 (Tex. App. Amarillo June 3 2011).

367. Substantial evidence under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 supported the administrative suspension of appellee's
driver's license under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §§ 724.035, 724.042, because he was stopped for speeding, had trouble
maintaining balance, refused to provide a breath or blood specimen, and admitted to ingesting hydrocodone, a con-
trolled substance. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Greathouse, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 2119 (Tex. App. Waco Mar. 23 2011).

368. Where a deputy observed a pickup truck make a right turn so wide that it caused the front driver's side tire to go
onto the grassy area of the road, the deputy had reasonable suspicion to stop appellee's vehicle because he committed a
traffic violation under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §§ 545.051(a), 545.101(a); based on the strong odor of an alcoholic bev-
erage emitting from appellee, his admission that he was drinking beer, and his poor performance on field sobriety tests,
the deputy had probable cause to arrest appellee for driving while intoxicated. Because the requirements of Tex. Transp.
Code Ann. § 524.035(a)(1), (2) were met, the Texas Department of Public Safety's decision to suspend appellee's driv-
 Page 52
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

er's license was supported by substantial evidence under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v.
Garza, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 9523 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi Dec. 2 2010).

369. Suspension of a driver's license for refusal to submit to a breath test under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.035 was
supported by substantial evidence because even if the officer's sworn report was inadmissible under Tex. R. Evid. 803(8)
based on a lack of a signature, the admissible evidence demonstrated the four elements required to uphold the suspen-
sion; that evidence included the DIC-24 form, under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.032, which indicated refusal to sub-
mit to the breath test and was signed by the driver. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Guajardo, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 6000
(Tex. App. Corpus Christi July 29 2010).

370. Substantial evidence supported the suspension of the minor's driver's license, because the minor was properly ad-
vised of the consequences set forth under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.015 and he voluntarily refused to submit a
specimen at the officer's request, and since the officer was not required to give the minor the notice of suspension before
requesting a specimen, any irregularity on the notice of suspension did not affect the voluntariness of the minor's refusal
to submit a specimen for purposes of Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.042. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Henson, 2010 Tex.
App. LEXIS 3478 (Tex. App. Houston 14th Dist. May 11 2010).

371. There was sufficient evidence for the administrative judge to uphold the suspension of the driver's license, because
the driver was speeding and veering back and forth, an odor of alcohol emanated from inside the car, the driver's eyes
were bloodshot and glassy, the driver's speech was slurred, the driver was unable to complete the one-leg-stand test and
he exhibited six clues of intoxication on the walk-and-turn test, and the driver displayed clues of intoxication on the
horizontal gaze nystagmus test and the vertical nystagmus test. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Williams, 303 S.W.3d 356,
2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 9708 (Tex. App. El Paso 2009).

372. Driver's license revocation under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.035 was not supported by substantial evidence, as
required by Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §§ 524.002(b), 724.047 and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174, that the licensee
actually operated his vehicle while intoxicated. He was asleep when an officer approached him, and although the engine
was running, he was parked in his usual space behind the building where he worked, did not have a foot on the brake,
and had not turned on the headlights; also, the car was in park and the front seat was reclined. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety
v. Allocca, 301 S.W.3d 364, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 8781 (Tex. App. Austin 2009).

373. Decision of an ALJ administratively suspending a driver's license was supported by substantial evidence, Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E), including that it took the driver more than 20 seconds to get his door open and exit
the car, he was swaying, had red, bloodshot eyes, had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his mouth, and admitted
coming from a bar where he had had eight or nine drinks. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Dishman, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS
3052 (Tex. App. San Antonio May 6 2009).

374. Under the substantial evidence standard of review, it was determined that driving privileges were properly sus-
pended because there was probable cause to believe that a driver was operating a motor vehicle in a public place under
Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.042(2)(A); the public had unrestricted access to a private road, and it did not matter that
travelers were infrequent or that the road had not been converted to a county road. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Castro,
2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 3198 (Tex. App. San Antonio Apr. 29 2009).

375. While bloodshot eyes, an odor of alcohol, and unsteady balance were all symptoms of intoxication, those facts did
not, without more, give rise to probable cause to believe the driver was driving while intoxicated. As the rest of the evi-
dence did not support the conclusion that the driver was driving while intoxicated, the administrative law judge's deci-
sion to suspend the driver's operator's license was not reasonably supported by substantial evidence. Tex. Dep't of Pub.
Safety v. Gilfeather, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 1502 (Tex. App. Fort Worth Mar. 5 2009).

376. Suspension of an operator's license was improper because an officer did not have reasonable suspicion for a stop
under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.042 since slow driving alone was not enough to show that the operator was imped-
ing traffic, there was no violation of San Antonio, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 19-133 since the conditions were foggy
and rainy, and an investigatory stop was not proper based on the operator's weaving since the officer did not testify that
he suspected that defendant was intoxicated or that the operator's driving was unsafe. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Gon-
zales, 276 S.W.3d 88, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 7985 (Tex. App. San Antonio 2008).
 Page 53
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

377. Administrative suspension of an operator's license was not subject to reversal based on a clerical error made by an
administrative law judge (ALJ) because it did not affect an operator's substantial rights; the ALJ relied on an improper
date of arrest. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Gonzales, 276 S.W.3d 88, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 7985 (Tex. App. San Antonio
2008).

378. Although a clerical error relating to the date that an operator was stopped did not prejudice his substantial rights, a
suspension of the operator's license was not warranted because there was no reasonable suspicion for an officer's deci-
sion to stop him for driving 20 miles under the posted speed limit. There was no evidence that the operator was imped-
ing traffic under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.363(a) since slow driving in and of itself was not enough to show a vio-
lation, the fact that the operator drifted in his own lane of travel did not justify the investigatory stop where the officer
did not state that he suspected that the operator was intoxicated or that the driving was unsafe, and driving 10 miles an
hour or more below the posted speed limit did not constitute a per se violation of San Antonio, Tex., Code of Ordinanc-
es § 19-133 because the ordinance was concerned with the maximum reasonable, safe, and prudent speed limit; there
was no testimony regarding what a reasonable speed would have been under the weather conditions present at the time
of the stop. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Gonzales, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 6327 (Tex. App. San Antonio Aug. 20 2008).

379. Trial court erred in reversing an administrative law judge's (ALJ) decision to suspend a motorist's driver's license
pursuant to Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.035, after the motorist refused to give a breath specimen test, because there
was substantial evidence supporting the administrative order as required by Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 524.041 and Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174; a court may not substitute its judgment for that of the ALJ. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v.
Escobedo, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 5651 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi July 29 2008).

380. Judgment suspending driver's license for 180 days was affirmed where the totality of circumstances was substantial
evidence of probable cause for the driver's arrest for driving while intoxicated. The record showed that the driver drove
past a roadblock, that he had a strong alcoholic odor, that he had bloodshot eyes, that he admitted drinking an alcoholic
beverage, that he was extremely argumentative, and that he refused to take field sobriety tests. Gault v. Tex. Dep't of
Pub. Safety, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 5465 (Tex. App. Eastland July 24 2008).

381. Suspension of an operator's license was improper because an officer did not have reasonable suspicion for a stop
under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 724.042 since slow driving alone was not enough to show that the operator was imped-
ing traffic, there was no violation of San Antonio, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 19-133 since the conditions were foggy
and rainy, and an investigatory stop was not proper based on the operator's weaving since the officer did not testify that
he suspected that defendant was intoxicated or that the operator's driving was unsafe. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Gon-
zales, 276 S.W.3d 88, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 7985 (Tex. App. San Antonio 2008).

382. Although a clerical error relating to the date that an operator was stopped did not prejudice his substantial rights, a
suspension of the operator's license was not warranted because there was no reasonable suspicion for an officer's deci-
sion to stop him for driving 20 miles under the posted speed limit. There was no evidence that the operator was imped-
ing traffic under Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.363(a) since slow driving in and of itself was not enough to show a vio-
lation, the fact that the operator drifted in his own lane of travel did not justify the investigatory stop where the officer
did not state that he suspected that the operator was intoxicated or that the driving was unsafe, and driving 10 miles an
hour or more below the posted speed limit did not constitute a per se violation of San Antonio, Tex., Code of Ordinanc-
es § 19-133 because the ordinance was concerned with the maximum reasonable, safe, and prudent speed limit; there
was no testimony regarding what a reasonable speed would have been under the weather conditions present at the time
of the stop. Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Gonzales, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 6327 (Tex. App. San Antonio Aug. 20 2008).

383. Motor vehicle board's decision to grant a new franchisee's application for an auto-dealer license was based on sub-
stantial evidence within the meaning of Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174(2)(E) where the evidence supported the ele-
ments of good cause under former Tex. Rev. Stat. Ann. art. 4413(36), § 4.06(c). Graff Chevrolet Co. v. Texas Motor
Vehicle Bd., 60 S.W.3d 154, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 3896 (Tex. App. Austin 2001).
 Page 54
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

384. Texas Railroad Commission's findings regarding the gas utility's costs to acquire its predecessor were supported by
substantial evidence as required under Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.174 and Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 105.001; further, the
Commission did not err by including the gas utility's costs in acquiring its predecessor as a known and measurable
change" in its gas rate award because nothing in Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 103.055 prohibited the Commission from ac-
counting for additional expenses as a "known and measurable change" simply because they were known to a utility at
the time of its updated rate request. City of Port Neches v. R.R. Comm'n of Tex., 212 S.W.3d 565, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS
6936 (Tex. App. Austin 2006).

385. Tex. Lab. Code Ann § 413.016(a) "refunds" may arise from excessive reimbursement occurring due to a subse-
quently reversed administrative order in a workers' compensation medical-fee dispute, in part because such coverage
was contemplated by the regime under Tex. Lab. Code Ann §§ 413.031, 402.073, 408.027, and Tex. Gov't Code Ann §§
2001.174(2), 2001.176(b)(3). Therefore, the medical-fee-dispute-resolution process supplants judicial jurisdiction to
award refunds. Vista Med. Ctr. Hosp. v. Tex. Mut. INS. Co., 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 6853 (Tex. App. Austin June 6 2013).

386. Administrative Procedure Act provisions governing substantial-evidence did not authorize monetary relief sought
by a workers' compensation insurance carrier against a health care provider relating to stop-loss reimbursement, and
monetary relief had not been awarded incident to reversing and remanding an administrative order. Vista Med. Ctr.
Hosp. v. Tex. Mut. INS. Co., 416 S.W.3d 11, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 12172 (Tex. App. Austin 2013).

387. Tex. Lab. Code Ann § 413.016(a) "refunds" may arise from excessive reimbursement occurring due to a subse-
quently reversed administrative order in a workers' compensation medical-fee dispute, in part because such coverage
was contemplated by the regime under Tex. Lab. Code Ann §§ 413.031, 402.073, 408.027, and Tex. Gov't Code Ann §§
2001.174(2), 2001.176(b)(3). Therefore, the medical-fee-dispute-resolution process supplants judicial jurisdiction to
award refunds. Vista Med. Ctr. Hosp. v. Tex. Mut. INS. Co., 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 6853 (Tex. App. Austin June 6 2013).

388. In workers' compensation medical-fee disputes, the insurer's explanations of benefits (EOBs) did not provide sub-
stantial evidence supporting the hospital's waiver argument because the EOBs did not violate the applicable rule, as
interpreted by the Texas Department of Insurance's Division of Workers' Compensation. Vista Med. Ctr. Hosp. v. Tex.
Mut. INS. Co., 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 6853 (Tex. App. Austin June 6 2013).

OPINIONS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL

1. Since administrative hearings are not limited to the strict rules of evidence, introduction of an officer's affidavit at an
administrative hearing on suspending a driver's license under Article 802f, Vernon's Texas Penal Code, is not error so
long as there is an opportunity for a trial de novo in the county court. Op. Tex. Att'y Gen. No. H-164 (1973).

LAW REVIEWS

1. 65 Tex. B. J. 598, ARTICLE: ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSE REVOCATION HEARINGS: A DWI SPECIALIST'S
PRIMER FOR THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER, By Doug Murphy and J. Gary Trichter, July, 2002, Copyright (c)
2002 by State Bar of Texas, Texas Bar Journal.

TREATISES AND ANALYTICAL MATERIALS
 Page 55
Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.174

1. 25-422 Dorsaneo, Texas Litigation Guide § 422.04, Administrative Proceedings (Chs. 420-425), CONTESTED
CASES, Evidence, Dorsaneo, Texas Litigation Guide.

2. 25-423 Dorsaneo, Texas Litigation Guide § 423.03, Administrative Proceedings (Chs. 420-425), JUDICIAL RE-
VIEW OF CONTESTED CASES, Method of Judicial Review, Dorsaneo, Texas Litigation Guide.

3. 25-423 Dorsaneo, Texas Litigation Guide § 423.05, Administrative Proceedings (Chs. 420-425), JUDICIAL RE-
VIEW OF CONTESTED CASES, Judgment of the Court, Dorsaneo, Texas Litigation Guide.

4. 25-423 Dorsaneo, Texas Litigation Guide § 423.50, Administrative Proceedings (Chs. 420-425), JUDICIAL RE-
VIEW OF CONTESTED CASES, Petition for Judicial Review of Administrative Action in Contested Case, Dorsaneo,
Texas Litigation Guide.

5. 25-423 Dorsaneo, Texas Litigation Guide § 423.100, Administrative Proceedings (Chs. 420-425), JUDICIAL RE-
VIEW OF CONTESTED CASES, Petition--Judicial Review Under Substantial Evidence Rule, Dorsaneo, Texas Litiga-
tion Guide.

6. 25-424 Dorsaneo, Texas Litigation Guide § 424.01, Administrative Proceedings (Chs. 420-425), DIRECT JUDI-
CIAL PROCEEDINGS, Constraints on Direct Judicial Proceedings, Dorsaneo, Texas Litigation Guide.

7. 25-425 Dorsaneo, Texas Litigation Guide § 425.20, Administrative Proceedings (Chs. 420-425), RESOLVING
STATE CONTRACT DISPUTES, Contract Claims Covered by Transportation Code Section 201.112 and Exempted
From Government Code Chapter 2260, Dorsaneo, Texas Litigation Guide.

8. 47 Baylor L. Rev. 989, ARTICLE: When and How Should Texas Courts Review Agency Rules? *, Fall, 1995.

9. 47 Baylor L. Rev. 1201, NOTE: Texas Education Agency v. Leeper: Did the Texas Supreme Court Sacrifice Sover-
eign Immunity for the Sake of Attorneys' Fees?, Fall, 1995.

10. 50 Baylor L. Rev. 65, ARTICLE: When Can an Agency Change the Findings or Conclusions of an Administrative
Law Judge?, Winter, 1998.

11. 49 SMU L. Rev. 901, ANNUAL SURVEY OF TEXAS LAW: ARTICLE: EDUCATION, May / June, 1996.

12. 50 SMU L. Rev. 1173, ARTICLE: Environmental Law, May / June, 1997.

13. 52 SMU L. Rev. 1105, ARTICLE: Environmental Law, Summer, 1999.

14. 34 Houston Lawyer 28, FEATURE: APPEALING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY DECISIONS -- HOW TO DO
IT AND WHAT TO EXPECT, by Stephen L. Lundwall, May/June, 1997, Copyright (c) 1997 Houston Bar Association,
The Houston Lawyer.

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Administrative Procedures
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TITLE 30. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 50. ACTION ON APPLICATIONS AND OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS
SUBCHAPTER G. ACTION BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

30 TAC § 50.139 (2014)

§ 50.139. Motion to Overturn Executive Director's Decision

(a) The applicant, public interest counsel or other person may file with the chief clerk a motion to overturn the exec-
utive director's action on an application or water quality management plan (WQMP) update certification. Notwithstand-
ing any other law, a state agency, except a river authority, may not file a motion to overturn the executive director's ac-
tion on an application that was received by the commission on or after September 1, 2011 unless the state agency is the
applicant. Wherever other commission rules refer to a "motion for reconsideration," that term should be considered in-
terchangeable with the term "motion to overturn executive director's decision."
(b) A motion to overturn must be filed no later than 23 days after the date the agency mails notice of the signed
permit, approval, or other action of the executive director to the applicant and persons on any required mailing list for
the action.
(c) A motion to overturn must be filed no later than 20 days after the date persons who timely commented on the
WQMP update are notified of the response to comments and the certified WQMP update. A person is presumed to have
been notified on the third day after the date the notice of the executive director's action is mailed by first class mail.
(d) An action by the executive director under this subchapter is not affected by a motion to overturn filed under this
section unless expressly ordered by the commission.
(e) With the agreement of the parties or on their own motion, the commission of the general counsel may, by writ-
ten order, extend the period of time for filing motions to overturn and for taking action on the motions so long as the
period for taking action is not extended beyond 90 days after the date the agency mails notice of the signed permit, ap-
proval, or other action of the executive director.
(f) Disposition of motion.
(1) Unless an extension of time is granted, if a motion to overturn is not acted on by the commission within 45 days
after the date the agency mails notice of the signed permit, approval, or other action of the executive director, the mo-
tion is denied.
(2) In the event of an extension, the motion to overturn is overruled by operation of law on the date fixed by the
order, or in the absence of a fixed date, 90 days after the date the agency mails notice of the signed permit, approval, or
other action of the executive director.
(g) When a motion to overturn is denied under subsection (f) of this section, a motion for rehearing does not need to
be filed as a prerequisite for appeal. Section 80.272 of this title (relating to Motion for Rehearing) and Texas Govern-
ment Code, § 2001.146, regarding motions for rehearing in contested cases do not apply when a motion to overturn is
denied. If applicable, the commission decision may be subject to judicial review under Texas Water Code, § 5.351, or
Texas Health and Safety Code, §§ 361.321, 382.032, or 401.341.
 Page 2
30 TAC § 50.139

SOURCE: The provisions of this § 50.139 adopted to be effective September 23, 1999, 24 TexReg 8254; amended to be
effective February 3, 2000, 25 TexReg 593; amended to be effective April 1, 2001, 26 TexReg 2393; amended to be
effective May 3, 2012, 37 TexReg 3120

NOTES:

CROSS-REFERENCES: This Section cited in 30 TAC § 50.131, (relating to Purpose and Applicability); 30 TAC §
50.133, (relating to Executive Director Action on Application or WQMP Update); 30 TAC § 55.201, (relating to Re-
quests for Reconsideration or Contested Case Hearing); 30 TAC § 116.114, (relating to Application Review Schedule);
30 TAC § 117.121, (relating to Alternative Case Specific Specifications); 30 TAC § 117.221, (relating to Alternative
Case Specific Specifications); 30 TAC § 205.4, (relating to Authorizations and Notices of Intent); 30 TAC § 115.783,
(relating to Equipment Standards); 30 TAC § 91.20, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 330.69, (relating to Public
Notice for Registrations); 30 TAC § 330.71, (relating to Duration and Limits of Registrations and Permits); 30 TAC §
117.125, (relating to Alternative Case Specific Specifications); 30 TAC § 117.225, (relating to Alternative Case Specific
Specifications); 30 TAC § 117.325, (relating to Alternative Case Specific Specifications); 30 TAC § 117.425, (relating
to Alternative Case Specific Specifications); 30 TAC § 117.1025, (relating to Alternative Case Specific Specifications);
30 TAC § 117.1125, (relating to Alternative Case Specific Specifications); 30 TAC § 117.1225, (relating to Alternative
Case Specific Specifications); 30 TAC § 117.1325, (relating to Alternative Case Specific Specifications); 30 TAC §
117.2025, (relating to Alternative Case Specific Specifications); 30 TAC § 117.2125, (relating to Alternative Case Spe-
cific Specifications); 30 TAC § 117.3025, (relating to Alternative Case Specific Specifications); 30 TAC § 117.3125,
(relating to Alternative Case Specific Specifications); 30 TAC § 117.3325, (relating to Alternative Case Specific Speci-
fications); 30 TAC § 117.4025, (relating to Alternative Case Specific Specifications); 30 TAC § 117.4125, (relating to
Alternative Case Specific Specifications).
This Chapter cited in 30 TAC § 39.9, (relating to Deadline for Public Comment and Hearing Requests); 30 TAC §
39.11, (relating to Text of Public Notice); 30 TAC § 39.409, (relating to Deadline for Public Comment, and for Requests
for Reconsideration, Contested Case Hearing, or Notice and Comment Hearing); 30 TAC § 39.411, (relating to Text of
Public Notice); 30 TAC § 291.107, (relating to Action on Applications); 30 TAC § 293.6, (relating to Applications Pro-
cessing Requirements); 30 TAC § 297.72, (relating to Notice and Hearing); 30 TAC § 305.69, (relating to Solid Waste
Permit Modification at the Request of the Permittee); 30 TAC § 335.23, (relating to Procedures for Case-by-Case Regu-
lation of Hazardous Waste Recycling Activities); 30 TAC § 335.24, (relating to Requirements for Recyclable Materials
and Nonhazardous Recyclable Materials); 30 TAC § 335.78, (relating to Special Requirements for Hazardous Waste
Generated by Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators); 30 TAC § 335.213, (relating to Standards Applicable
to Storers of Materials That Are To Be Used in a Manner That Constitutes Disposal Who Are Not the Ultimate Users);
30 TAC § 335.214, (relating to Standards Applicable to Users of Materials That Are Used in a Manner That Constitutes
Disposal); 30 TAC § 335.241, (relating to Applicability and Requirements); 30 TAC § 335.251, (relating to Applicabil-
ity and Requirements); 30 TAC § 303.90, (relating to Action on Application Without Public Hearing).
This Subchapter cited in 30 TAC § 55.253, (relating to Public Comment Processing); 30 TAC § 50.31, (relating to
Purpose and Applicability).
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TITLE 30. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 330. MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL INFORMATION

30 TAC § 330.3 (2014)

§ 330.3. Definitions

Unless otherwise noted, all terms contained in this section are defined by their plain meaning. This section contains
definitions for terms that appear throughout this chapter. Additional definitions may appear in the specific section to
which they apply. The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) 100-year flood--A flood that has a 1.0% or greater chance of recurring in any given year or a flood of a magni-
tude equaled or exceeded once in 100 years on the average over a significantly long period.
(2) Active disposal area--All landfill working faces and areas covered with daily and alternative daily cover.
(3) Active life--The period of operation beginning with the initial receipt of solid waste and ending at certifica-
tion/completion of closure activities in accordance with §§ 330.451 - 330.459 of this title (relating to Closure and
Post-Closure).
(4) Active portion--That part of a facility or unit that has received or is receiving wastes and that has not been
closed in accordance with §§ 330.451 - 330.459 of this title (relating to Closure and Post-Closure).
(5) Airport--A public-use airport open to the public without prior permission and without restrictions within the
physical capacities of available facilities.
(6) Ancillary equipment--Any device that is used to distribute, meter, or control the flow of solid waste from its
point of generation to a storage or processing tank(s), between solid waste storage and processing tanks to a point of
disposal on-site, or to a point of shipment for disposal off-site. Such devices include, but are not limited to, piping, fit-
tings, flanges, valves, and pumps.
(7) Animal crematory--A facility for the incineration of animal remains that meets the following criteria:
(A) control of combustion air to maintain adequate temperature for efficient combustion;
(B) containment of the combustion reaction in an enclosed device to provide sufficient residence time and mixing
for complete combustion; and
(C) control of the emission of the combustion products.
(8) Aquifer--A geological formation, group of formations, or portion of a formation capable of yielding significant
quantities of groundwater to wells or springs.
(9) Areas susceptible to mass movements--Areas of influence (i.e., areas characterized as having an active or sub-
stantial possibility of mass movement) where the movement of earth material at, beneath, or adjacent to the municipal
solid waste landfill unit, because of natural or man-induced events, results in the downslope transport of soil and rock
 Page 2
30 TAC § 330.3

material by means of gravitational influence. Areas of mass movement include, but are not limited to, landslides, ava-
lanches, debris slides and flows, soil fluctuation, block sliding, and rock fall.
(10) Asbestos-containing materials--Include the following.
(A) Category I nonfriable asbestos-containing material means asbestos-containing packings, gaskets, resilient floor
covering, and asphalt roofing products containing more than 1.0% asbestos as determined using the method specified in
Appendix A, Subpart F, 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 763, § 1, Polarized Light Microscopy.
(B) Category II nonfriable asbestos-containing material means any material, excluding Category I nonfriable as-
bestos-containing material, containing more than 1.0% asbestos as determined using the methods specified in Appendix
A, Subpart F, 40 CFR Part 763, § 1, Polarized Light Microscopy, that, when dry, cannot be crumbled, pulverized, or
reduced to powder by hand pressure.
(C) Friable asbestos-containing material means any material containing more than 1.0% asbestos that, when dry,
can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure.
(D) Nonfriable asbestos-containing material means any material containing more than 1.0% asbestos that, when
dry, cannot be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure.
(11) ASTM--The American Society for Testing and Materials.
(12) Battery--An electrochemical device that generates electric current by converting chemical energy. Its essential
components are positive and negative electrodes made of more or less electrically conductive materials, a separate me-
dium, and an electrolyte. There are four major types:
(A) primary batteries (dry cells);
(B) storage or secondary batteries;
(C) nuclear and solar cells or energy converters; and
(D) fuel cells.
(13) Battery acid (also known as electrolyte acid)--A solution of not more than 47% sulfuric acid in water suitable
for use in storage batteries, which is water white, odorless, and practically free from iron.
(14) Battery retailer--A person or business location that sells lead-acid batteries to the general public, without re-
strictions to limit purchases to institutional or industrial clients only.
(15) Battery wholesaler--A person or business location that sells lead-acid batteries directly to battery retailers, to
government entities by contract sale, or to large-volume users, either directly or by contract sale.
(16) Bird hazard--An increase in the likelihood of bird/aircraft collisions that may cause damage to an aircraft or
injury to its occupants.
(17) Boiler--An enclosed device using controlled flame combustion and having the following characteristics.
(A) The unit must have physical provisions for recovering and exporting thermal energy in the form of steam,
heated fluids, or heated gases.
(B) The unit's combustion chamber and primary energy recovery section(s) must be of integral design. To be of in-
tegral design, the combustion chamber and the primary energy recovery section(s) (such as waterwalls and superheat-
ers) must be physically formed into one manufactured or assembled unit. A unit in which the combustion chamber and
the primary energy recovery section(s) are joined only by ducts or connections carrying flue gas is not integrally de-
signed; however, secondary energy recovery equipment (such as economizers or air preheaters) need not be physically
formed into the same unit as the combustion chamber and the primary energy recovery section. The following units are
not precluded from being boilers solely because they are not of integral design:
(i) process heaters (units that transfer energy directly to a process stream); and
(ii) fluidized bed combustion units.
(C) While in operation, the unit must maintain a thermal energy recovery efficiency of at least 60%, calculated in
terms of the recovered energy compared with the thermal value of the fuel.
 Page 3
30 TAC § 330.3

(D) The unit must export and utilize at least 75% of the recovered energy, calculated on an annual basis. In this
calculation, no credit shall be given for recovered heat used internally in the same unit. Examples of internal use are the
preheating of fuel or combustion air, and the driving of induced or forced draft fans or feedwater pumps.
(18) Brush--Cuttings or trimmings from trees, shrubs, or lawns and similar materials.
(19) Buffer zone--A zone free of municipal solid waste processing and disposal activities within and adjacent to the
facility boundary on property owned or controlled by the owner or operator.
(20) Citizens' collection station--A facility established for the convenience and exclusive use of residents (not
commercial or industrial users or collection vehicles), except that in small communities where regular collections are
not available, small quantities of commercial waste may be deposited by the generator of the waste. The facility may
consist of one or more storage containers, bins, or trailers.
(21) Class 1 wastes--Any industrial solid waste or mixture of industrial solid wastes that because of its concentra-
tion, or physical or chemical characteristics is toxic, corrosive, flammable, a strong sensitizer or irritant, a generator of
sudden pressure by decomposition, heat, or other means, or may pose a substantial present or potential danger to human
health or the environment when improperly processed, stored, transported, or disposed of or otherwise managed, as fur-
ther defined in § 335.505 of this title (relating to Class 1 Waste Determination).
(22) Class 2 wastes--Any individual solid waste or combination of industrial solid waste that are not described as
Hazardous, Class 1, or Class 3 as defined in § 335.506 of this title (relating to Class 2 Waste Determination).
(23) Class 3 wastes--Inert and essentially insoluble industrial solid waste, usually including, but not limited to, ma-
terials such as rock, brick, glass, dirt, and certain plastics and rubber, etc., that are not readily decomposable, as further
defined in § 335.507 of this title (relating to Class 3 Waste Determination).
(24) Collection--The act of removing solid waste (or materials that have been separated for the purpose of recy-
cling) for transport elsewhere.
(25) Collection system--The total process of collecting and transporting solid waste. It includes storage containers;
collection crews, vehicles, equipment, and management; and operating procedures. Systems are classified as municipal,
contractor, or private.
(26) Commence physical construction--The initiation of physical on-site construction on a site for which an appli-
cation to authorize a municipal solid waste management unit is pending, the construction of which requires approval of
the commission. Construction of actual waste management units and necessary appurtenances requires approval of the
commission, but other features not specific to waste management are allowed without commission approval.
(27) Commercial solid waste--All types of solid waste generated by stores, offices, restaurants, warehouses, and
other nonmanufacturing activities, excluding residential and industrial wastes.
(28) Compacted waste--Waste that has been reduced in volume by a collection vehicle or other means including,
but not limited to, dewatering, composting, incineration, and similar processes, with the exception of waste that has
been reduced in volume by a small, in-house compactor device owned and/or operated by the generator of the waste.
(29) Composite liner--A liner system consisting of two components: the upper component must consist of a mini-
mum 30-mil geomembrane liner or minimum 60-mil high-density polyethylene, and the lower component must consist
of at least a two-foot layer of re-compacted soil deposited in lifts with a hydraulic conductivity of no more than 1 x 10-7
centimeters/second. The geomembrane liner component must be installed in direct and uniform contact with the com-
pacted soil component.
(30) Compost--The stabilized product of the decomposition process that is used or sold for use as a soil amend-
ment, artificial top soil, growing medium amendment, or other similar uses.
(31) Composting--The controlled biological decomposition of organic materials through microbial activity.
(32) Conditionally exempt small-quantity generator--A person that generates no more than 220 pounds of hazard-
ous waste in a calendar month.
(33) Construction or demolition waste--Waste resulting from construction or demolition projects; includes all mate-
rials that are directly or indirectly the by-products of construction work or that result from demolition of buildings and
other structures, including, but not limited to, paper, cartons, gypsum board, wood, excelsior, rubber, and plastics.
 Page 4
30 TAC § 330.3

(34) Container--Any portable device in which a material is stored, transported, or processed.
(35) Contaminate--To alter the chemical, physical, biological, or radiological integrity of ground or surface water
by man-made or man-induced means.
(36) Contaminated water--Leachate, gas condensate, or water that has come into contact with waste.
(37) Controlled burning--The combustion of solid waste with control of combustion air to maintain adequate tem-
perature for efficient combustion; containment of the combustion reaction in an enclosed device to provide sufficient
residence time and mixing for complete combustion; and control of the emission of the combustion products, i.e., incin-
eration in an incinerator.
(38) Discard--To abandon a material and not use, re-use, reclaim, or recycle it. A material is abandoned by being
disposed of; burned or incinerated (except where the material is being burned as a fuel for the purpose of recovering
usable energy); or physically, chemically, or biologically treated (other than burned or incinerated) in lieu of or prior to
being disposed.
(39) Discharge--Includes deposit, conduct, drain, emit, throw, run, allow to seep, or otherwise release, or to allow,
permit, or suffer any of these acts or omissions.
(40) Discharge of dredged material--Any addition of dredged material into the waters of the United States. The
term includes, without limitation, the addition of dredged material to a specified disposal site located in waters of the
United States and the runoff or overflow from a contained land or water disposal area.
(41) Discharge of fill material--The addition of fill material into waters of the United States. The term generally in-
cludes placement of fill necessary to the construction of any structure in waters of the United States: the building of any
structure or improvement requiring rock, sand, dirt, or other inert material for its construction; the building of dams,
dikes, levees, and riprap.
(42) Discharge of pollutant--Any addition of any pollutant to navigable waters from any point source or any addi-
tion of any pollutant to the waters of the contiguous zone or the ocean from any point source.
(43) Displacement--The measured or estimated distance between two formerly adjacent points situated on opposite
walls of a fault (synonymous with net slip).
(44) Disposal--The discharge, deposit, injection, dumping, spilling, leaking, or placing of any solid waste or haz-
ardous waste (whether containerized or uncontainerized) into or on any land or water so that such solid waste or haz-
ardous waste or any constituent thereof may enter the environment or be emitted into the air or discharged into any wa-
ters, including groundwater.
(45) Dredged material--Material that is excavated or dredged from waters of the United States.
(46) Drinking-water intake--The point at which water is withdrawn from any water well, spring, or surface water
body for use as drinking water for humans, including standby public water supplies.
(47) Elements of nature--Rainfall, snow, sleet, hail, wind, sunlight, or other natural phenomenon.
(48) Endangered or threatened species--Any species listed as such under the Federal Endangered Species Act, § 4,
16 United States Code, § 1536, as amended or under the Texas Endangered Species Act.
(49) Essentially insoluble--Any material that, if representatively sampled and placed in static or dynamic contact
with deionized water at ambient temperature for seven days, will not leach any quantity of any constituent of the mate-
rial into the water in excess of the maximum contaminant levels in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 141,
Subparts B and G, and 40 CFR Part 143 for total dissolved solids.
(50) Existing municipal solid waste landfill unit--Any municipal solid waste landfill unit that received solid waste
as of October 9, 1993.
(51) Experimental project--Any new proposed method of managing municipal solid waste, including resource and
energy recovery projects, that appears to have sufficient merit to warrant commission approval.
(52) Facility--All contiguous land and structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on the land used for the
storage, processing, or disposal of solid waste.
 Page 5
30 TAC § 330.3

(53) Fault--A fracture or a zone of fractures in any material along which strata, rocks, or soils on one side have
been displaced with respect to those on the other side.
(54) Fill material--Any material used for the primary purpose of filling an excavation.
(55) Floodplain--The lowland and relatively flat areas adjoining inland and coastal waters, including flood-prone
areas of offshore islands, that are inundated by the 100-year flood.
(56) Garbage--Solid waste consisting of putrescible animal and vegetable waste materials resulting from the han-
dling, preparation, cooking, and consumption of food, including waste materials from markets, storage facilities, han-
dling, and sale of produce and other food products.
(57) Gas condensate--The liquid generated as a result of any gas recovery process at a municipal solid waste facili-
ty.
(58) Generator--Any person, by site or location, that produces solid waste to be shipped to any other person, or
whose act or process produces a solid waste or first causes it to become regulated.
(59) Grease trap waste--Material collected in and from a grease interceptor in the sanitary sewer service line of a
commercial, institutional, or industrial food service or processing establishment, including the solids resulting from de-
watering processes.
(60) Grit trap waste--Grit trap waste includes waste from interceptors placed in the drains prior to entering the sew-
er system at maintenance and repair shops, automobile service stations, car washes, laundries, and other similar estab-
lishments.
(61) Groundwater--Water below the land surface in a zone of saturation.
(62) Hazardous waste--Any solid waste identified or listed as a hazardous waste by the administrator of the United
States Environmental Protection Agency under the federal Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, 42 United States Code, §§ 6901 et seq., as amended.
(63) Holocene--The most recent epoch of the Quaternary Period, extending from the end of the Pleistocene Epoch
to the present.
(64) Household waste--Any solid waste (including garbage, trash, and sanitary waste in septic tanks) derived from
households (including single and multiple residences, hotels and motels, bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew quarters,
campgrounds, picnic grounds, and day-use recreation areas); does not include brush.
(65) Incinerator--Any enclosed device that:
(A) uses controlled flame combustion and neither meets the criteria for classification as a boiler, sludge dryer, or
carbon regeneration unit, nor is listed as an industrial furnace, as defined in § 335.1 of this title (relating to Definitions);
or
(B) meets the definition of infrared incinerator or plasma arc incinerator.
(66) Industrial solid waste--Solid waste resulting from or incidental to any process of industry or manufacturing, or
mining or agricultural operations.
(67) Inert material--A natural or man-made nonputrescible, nonhazardous material that is essentially insoluble,
usually including, but not limited to, soil, dirt, clay, sand, gravel, brick, glass, concrete with reinforcing steel, and rock.
(68) Infrared incinerator--Any enclosed device that uses electric-powered resistance heaters as a source of radiant
heat followed by an afterburner using controlled flame combustion and is not listed as an industrial furnace as defined in
§ 335.1 of this title (relating to Definitions).
(69) Injection well--A well into which fluids are injected.
(70) In situ--In natural or original position.
(71) Karst terrain--An area where karst topography, with its characteristic surface and/or subterranean features, is
developed principally as the result of dissolution of limestone, dolomite, or other soluble rock. Characteristic physio-
graphic features present in karst terrains include, but are not limited to, sinkholes, sinking streams, caves, large springs,
and blind valleys.
 Page 6
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(72) Lateral expansion--A horizontal expansion of the waste boundaries of an existing municipal solid waste land-
fill unit.
(73) Land application of solid waste--The disposal or use of solid waste (including, but not limited to, sludge or
septic tank pumpings or mixture of shredded waste and sludge) in which the solid waste is applied within three feet of
the surface of the land.
(74) Land treatment unit--A solid waste management unit at which solid waste is applied onto or incorporated into
the soil surface and that is not a corrective action management unit; such units are disposal units if the waste will remain
after closure.
(75) Landfill--A solid waste management unit where solid waste is placed in or on land and which is not a pile, a
land treatment unit, a surface impoundment, an injection well, a salt dome formation, a salt bed formation, an under-
ground mine, a cave, or a corrective action management unit.
(76) Landfill cell--A discrete area of a landfill.
(77) Landfill mining--The physical procedures associated with the excavation of buried municipal solid waste and
processing of the material to recover material for beneficial use.
(78) Leachate--A liquid that has passed through or emerged from solid waste and contains soluble, suspended, or
miscible materials removed from such waste.
(79) Lead acid battery--A secondary or storage battery that uses lead as the electrode and dilute sulfuric acid as the
electrolyte and is used to generate electrical current.
(80) License--
(A) A document issued by an approved county authorizing and governing the operation and maintenance of a mu-
nicipal solid waste facility used to process, treat, store, or dispose of municipal solid waste, other than hazardous waste,
in an area not in the territorial limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality.
(B) An occupational license as defined in Chapter 30 of this title (relating to Occupational Licenses and Registra-
tions).
(81) Liquid waste--Any waste material that is determined to contain "free liquids" as defined by United States En-
vironmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 9095 (Paint Filter Test), as described in "Test Methods for Evaluating
Solid Wastes, Physical/Chemical Methods" (EPA Publication Number SW-846).
(82) Litter--Rubbish and putrescible waste.
(83) Low volume transfer station--A transfer station used for the storage of collected household waste limited to a
total storage capacity of 40 cubic yards located in an unincorporated area that is not within the extraterritorial jurisdic-
tion of a city.
(84) Lower explosive limit--The lowest percent by volume of a mixture of explosive gases in air that will propagate
a flame at 25 degrees Celsius and atmospheric pressure.
(85) Medical waste--Treated and untreated special waste from health care-related facilities that is comprised of
animal waste, bulk blood, bulk human blood, bulk human body fluids, microbiological waste, pathological waste, and
sharps as those terms are defined in 25 TAC § 1.132 (relating to Definitions) from the sources specified in 25 TAC §
1.134 (relating to Application), as well as regulated medical waste as defined in 49 Code of Federal Regulations §
173.134(a)(5), except that the term does not include medical waste produced on a farm or ranch as defined in 34 TAC §
3.296(f) (relating to Agriculture, Animal Life, Feed, Seed, Plants, and Fertilizer), nor does the term include artificial,
nonhuman materials removed from a patient and requested by the patient, including, but not limited to, orthopedic de-
vices and breast implants. Health care-related facilities do not include:
(A) single or multi-family dwellings; and
(B) hotels, motels, or other establishments that provide lodging and related services for the public.
(86) Monofill--A landfill or landfill cell into which only one type of waste is placed.
 Page 7
30 TAC § 330.3

(87) Municipal hazardous waste--Any municipal solid waste or mixture of municipal solid wastes that has been
identified or listed as a hazardous waste by the administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency.
(88) Municipal solid waste--Solid waste resulting from or incidental to municipal, community, commercial, institu-
tional, and recreational activities, including garbage, rubbish, ashes, street cleanings, dead animals, abandoned automo-
biles, and all other solid waste other than industrial solid waste.
(89) Municipal solid waste facility--All contiguous land, structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on the
land used for processing, storing, or disposing of solid waste. A facility may be publicly or privately owned and may
consist of several processing, storage, or disposal operational units, e.g., one or more landfills, surface impoundments,
or combinations of them.
(90) Municipal solid waste landfill unit--A discrete area of land or an excavation that receives household waste and
that is not a land application unit, surface impoundment, injection well, or waste pile, as those terms are defined under
40 Code of Federal Regulations § 257.2. A municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill unit also may receive other types of
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Subtitle D wastes, such as commercial solid waste, nonhazardous sludge,
conditionally exempt small-quantity generator waste, and industrial solid waste. Such a landfill may be publicly or pri-
vately owned. An MSW landfill unit may be a new MSW landfill unit, an existing MSW landfill unit, a vertical expan-
sion, or a lateral expansion.
(91) New facility--A municipal solid waste facility that has not begun construction.
(92) Nonpoint source--Any origin from which pollutants emanate in an unconfined and unchanneled manner, in-
cluding, but not limited to, surface runoff and leachate seeps.
(93) Non-regulated asbestos-containing material--Non-regulated asbestos-containing material as defined in 40 Code
of Federal Regulations Part 61. This is asbestos material in a form such that potential health risks resulting from expo-
sure to it are minimal.
(94) Notification--The act of filing information with the commission for specific solid waste management activities
that do not require a permit or a registration, as determined by this chapter.
(95) Nuisance--Municipal solid waste that is stored, processed, or disposed of in a manner that causes the pollution
of the surrounding land, the contamination of groundwater or surface water, the breeding of insects or rodents, or the
creation of odors adverse to human health, safety, or welfare. A nuisance is further set forth in Texas Health and Safety
Code, Chapters 341 and 382; Texas Water Code, Chapter 26; and any other applicable regulation or statute.
(96) Open burning--The combustion of solid waste without:
(A) control of combustion air to maintain adequate temperature for efficient combustion;
(B) containment of the combustion reaction in an enclosed device to provide sufficient residence time and mixing
for complete combustion; and
(C) control of the emission of the combustion products.
(97) Operate--To conduct, work, run, manage, or control.
(98) Operating hours--The hours when the facility is open to receive waste, operate heavy equipment, and transport
materials on- or off-site.
(99) Operating record--All plans, submittals, and correspondence for a municipal solid waste facility required under
this chapter; required to be maintained at the facility or at a nearby site acceptable to the executive director.
(100) Operation--A municipal solid waste (MSW) site or facility is considered to be in operation from the date that
solid waste is first received or deposited at the MSW site or facility until the date that the site or facility is properly
closed in accordance with this chapter.
(101) Operator--The person(s) responsible for operating the facility or part of a facility.
(102) Owner--The person that owns a facility or part of a facility.
(103) Permitted landfill--Any type of municipal solid waste landfill that received a permit from the State of Texas
to operate and has not completed post-closure operations.
 Page 8
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(104) Physical construction--The first placement of permanent construction on a site, such as the pouring of slab or
footings, the installation of piles, the construction of columns, the laying of underground pipework, or any work beyond
the stage of excavation. Physical construction does not include land preparation, such as clearing, grading, excavating,
and filling; nor does it include the installation of roads and/or walkways. Physical construction includes issuance of a
building or other construction permit, provided that permanent construction commences within 180 days of the date that
the building permit was issued.
(105) Plasma arc incinerator--Any enclosed device using a high intensity electrical discharge or arc as a source of
heat followed by an afterburner using controlled flame combustion and not listed as an industrial furnace as defined by
§ 335.1 of this title (relating to Definitions).
(106) Point of compliance--A vertical surface located no more than 500 feet from the hydraulically downgradient
limit of the waste management unit boundary, extending down through the uppermost aquifer underlying the regulated
units, and located on land owned by the owner of the facility.
(107) Point source--Any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance, including, but not limited to, any pipe,
ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, or discrete fissure from which pollutants are or may be discharged.
(108) Pollutant--Contaminated dredged spoil, solid waste, contaminated incinerator residue, sewage, sewage
sludge, munitions, chemical wastes, or biological materials discharged into water.
(109) Pollution--The man-made or man-induced alteration of the chemical, physical, biological, or radiological in-
tegrity of an aquatic ecosystem.
(110) Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)--Any chemical substance that is limited to the biphenyl molecule that has
been chlorinated to varying degrees or any combination of substances that contains such substance.
(111) Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste(s)--Those PCBs and PCB items that are subject to the disposal re-
quirements of 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 761. Substances that are regulated by 40 CFR Part 761 in-
clude, but are not limited to: PCB articles, PCB article containers, PCB containers, PCB-contaminated electrical equip-
ment, PCB equipment, PCB transformers, recycled PCBs, capacitors, microwave ovens, electronic equipment, and light
ballasts and fixtures.
(112) Poor foundation conditions--Areas where features exist, indicating that a natural or man-induced event may
result in inadequate foundation support for the structural components of a municipal solid waste landfill unit.
(113) Population equivalent--The hypothetical population that would generate an amount of solid waste equivalent
to that actually being managed based on a generation rate of five pounds per capita per day and applied to situations
involving solid waste not necessarily generated by individuals. It is assumed, for the purpose of these sections, that the
average volume per ton of waste entering a municipal solid waste disposal facility is three cubic yards.
(114) Post-consumer waste--A material or product that has served its intended use and has been discarded after
passing through the hands of a final user. For the purposes of this subchapter, the term does not include industrial or
hazardous waste.
(115) Premises--A tract of land with the buildings thereon, or a building or part of a building with its grounds or
other appurtenances.
(116) Process to further reduce pathogens--The process to further reduce pathogens as described in 40 Code of
Federal Regulations Part 503, Appendix B.
(117) Processing--Activities including, but not limited to, the extraction of materials, transfer, volume reduction,
conversion to energy, or other separation and preparation of solid waste for reuse or disposal, including the treatment or
neutralization of waste, designed to change the physical, chemical, or biological character or composition of any waste
to neutralize such waste, or to recover energy or material from the waste, or render the waste safer to transport, store,
dispose of, or make it amenable for recovery, amenable for storage, or reduced in volume.
(118) Public highway--The entire width between property lines of any road, street, way, thoroughfare, bridge, pub-
lic beach, or park in this state, not privately owned or controlled, if any part of the road, street, way, thoroughfare,
bridge, public beach, or park is opened to the public for vehicular traffic, is used as a public recreational area, or is un-
der the state's legislative jurisdiction through its police power.
 Page 9
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(119) Putrescible waste--Organic wastes, such as garbage, wastewater treatment plant sludge, and grease trap
waste, that are capable of being decomposed by microorganisms with sufficient rapidity as to cause odors or gases or
are capable of providing food for or attracting birds, animals, and disease vectors.
(120) Qualified groundwater scientist--A licensed geoscientist or licensed engineer who has received a baccalaure-
ate or post-graduate degree in the natural sciences or engineering and has sufficient training in groundwater hydrology
and related fields as may be demonstrated by state registration, professional certifications, or completion of accredited
university programs that enable the individual to make sound professional judgments regarding groundwater monitor-
ing, contaminant fate and transport, and corrective action.
(121) Radioactive waste--Waste that requires specific licensing under 25 TAC Chapter 289 (relating to Radiation
Control), and the rules adopted by the commission under the Texas Health and Safety Code.
(122) Recyclable material--A material that has been recovered or diverted from the nonhazardous waste stream for
purposes of reuse, recycling, or reclamation, a substantial portion of which is consistently used in the manufacture of
products that may otherwise be produced using raw or virgin materials. Recyclable material is not solid waste. Howev-
er, recyclable material may become solid waste at such time, if any, as it is abandoned or disposed of rather than recy-
cled, whereupon it will be solid waste with respect only to the party actually abandoning or disposing of the material.
(123) Recycling--A process by which materials that have served their intended use or are scrapped, discarded, used,
surplus, or obsolete are collected, separated, or processed and returned to use in the form of raw materials in the produc-
tion of new products. Except for mixed municipal solid waste composting, that is, composting of the typical mixed solid
waste stream generated by residential, commercial, and/or institutional sources, recycling includes the composting pro-
cess if the compost material is put to beneficial use.
(124) Refuse--Same as rubbish.
(125) Registration--The act of filing information with the commission for review and approval for specific solid
waste management activities that do not require a permit, as determined by this chapter.
(126) Regulated asbestos-containing material--Regulated asbestos-containing material as defined in 40 Code of
Federal Regulations Part 61, as amended, includes: friable asbestos material, Category I nonfriable asbestos-containing
material that has become friable; Category I nonfriable asbestos-containing material that will be or has been subjected to
sanding, grinding, cutting, or abrading; or Category II nonfriable asbestos-containing material that has a high probabil-
ity of becoming or has become crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by the forces expected to act on the material
in the course of demolition or renovation operations.
(127) Regulated hazardous waste--A solid waste that is a hazardous waste as defined in 40 Code of Federal Regula-
tions (CFR) § 261.3 and that is not excluded from regulation as a hazardous waste under 40 CFR § 261.4(b), or that was
not generated by a conditionally exempt small-quantity generator.
(128) Resource recovery--The recovery of material or energy from solid waste.
(129) Resource recovery facility--A solid waste processing facility at which solid waste is processed for the pur-
pose of extracting, converting to energy, or otherwise separating and preparing solid waste for reuse.
(130) Rubbish--Nonputrescible solid waste (excluding ashes), consisting of both combustible and noncombustible
waste materials. Combustible rubbish includes paper, rags, cartons, wood, excelsior, furniture, rubber, plastics, brush, or
similar materials; noncombustible rubbish includes glass, crockery, tin cans, aluminum cans, and similar materials that
will not burn at ordinary incinerator temperatures (1,600 degrees Fahrenheit to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit).
(131) Run-off--Any rainwater, leachate, or other liquid that drains over land from any part of a facility.
(132) Run-on--Any rainwater, leachate, or other liquid that drains over land onto any part of a facility.
(133) Salvaging--The controlled removal of waste materials for utilization, recycling, or sale.
(134) Saturated zone--That part of the earth's crust in which all voids are filled with water.
(135) Scavenging--The uncontrolled and unauthorized removal of materials at any point in the solid waste man-
agement system.
(136) Scrap tire--Any tire that can no longer be used for its original intended purpose.
 Page 10
30 TAC § 330.3

(137) Seasonal high water level--The highest measured or calculated water level in an aquifer during investigations
for a permit application and/or any groundwater characterization studies at a facility.
(138) Septage--The liquid and solid material pumped from a septic tank, cesspool, or similar sewage treatment sys-
tem.
(139) Site--Same as facility.
(140) Site development plan--A document, prepared by the design engineer, that provides a detailed design with
supporting calculations and data for the development and operation of a solid waste site.
(141) Site operating plan--A document, prepared by the design engineer in collaboration with the facility operator,
that provides general instruction to facility management and operating personnel throughout the operating life of the
facility in a manner consistent with the engineer's design and the commission's regulations to protect human health and
the environment and prevent nuisances.
(142) Site operator--The holder of, or the applicant for, an authorization (or license) for a municipal solid waste fa-
cility.
(143) Sludge--Any solid, semi-solid, or liquid waste generated from a municipal, commercial, or industrial
wastewater treatment plant, water-supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility, exclusive of the treated efflu-
ent from a wastewater treatment plant.
(144) Small municipal solid waste landfill--A municipal solid waste landfill unit (Type IAE) at which less than 20
tons of authorized types of waste are disposed of daily based on an annual average and/or a Type IVAE landfill unit at
which less than 20 tons of authorized types of waste are disposed of daily based on an annual average. A Type IAE
landfill permit may include additional authorization for a separate Type IVAE landfill unit. If a permit contains dual
authorization for Type IAE and Type IVAE landfill units, the permit must designate separate areas for the units and
where all disposal cells will be located within each unit.
(145) Solid waste--Garbage, rubbish, refuse, sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment
plant, or air pollution control facility, and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semi-solid, or contained
gaseous material resulting from industrial, municipal, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations and from com-
munity and institutional activities. The term does not include:
(A) solid or dissolved material in domestic sewage, or solid or dissolved material in irrigation return flows, or in-
dustrial discharges subject to regulation by permit issued under Texas Water Code, Chapter 26;
(B) soil, dirt, rock, sand, and other natural or man-made inert solid materials used to fill land if the object of the fill
is to make the land suitable for the construction of surface improvements; or
(C) waste materials that result from activities associated with the exploration, development, or production of oil or
gas or geothermal resources and other substance or material regulated by the Railroad Commission of Texas under Nat-
ural Resources Code, § 91.101, unless the waste, substance, or material results from activities associated with gasoline
plants, natural gas liquids processing plants, pressure maintenance plants, or repressurizing plants and is hazardous
waste as defined by the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency under the federal Solid
Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (42 United States Code,
§§ 6901 et seq.).
(146) Solid waste management unit--A landfill, surface impoundment, waste pile, furnace, incinerator, kiln, injec-
tion well, container, drum, salt dome waste containment cavern, land treatment unit, tank, container storage area, or any
other structure, vessel, appurtenance, or other improvement on land used to manage solid waste.
(147) Source-separated recyclable material--Recyclable material from residential, commercial, municipal, institu-
tional, recreational, industrial, and other community activities, that at the point of generation has been separated, col-
lected, and transported separately from municipal solid waste (MSW), or transported in the same vehicle as MSW, but
in separate containers or compartments. Source-separation does not require the recovery or separation of non-recyclable
components that are integral to a recyclable product, including:
(A) the non-recyclable components of white goods, whole computers, whole automobiles, or other manufactured
items for which dismantling and separation of recyclable from non-recyclable components by the generator are imprac-
tical, such as insulation or electronic components in white goods;
 Page 11
30 TAC § 330.3

(B) source-separated recyclable material rendered unmarketable by damage during collection, unloading, and sort-
ing, such as broken recyclable glass; and
(C) tramp materials, such as:
(i) glass from recyclable metal windows;
(ii) nails and roofing felt attached to recyclable shingles;
(iii) nails and sheetrock attached to recyclable lumber generated through the demolition of buildings; and
(iv) pallets and packaging materials.
(148) Special waste--Any solid waste or combination of solid wastes that because of its quantity, concentration,
physical or chemical characteristics, or biological properties requires special handling and disposal to protect the human
health or the environment. If improperly handled, transported, stored, processed, or disposed of or otherwise managed,
it may pose a present or potential danger to the human health or the environment. Special wastes are:
(A) hazardous waste from conditionally exempt small-quantity generators that may be exempt from full controls
under Chapter 335, Subchapter N of this title (relating to Household Materials Which Could Be Classified as Hazardous
Wastes);
(B) Class 1 industrial nonhazardous waste;
(C) untreated medical waste;
(D) municipal wastewater treatment plant sludges, other types of domestic sewage treatment plant sludges, and wa-
ter-supply treatment plant sludges;
(E) septic tank pumpings;
(F) grease and grit trap wastes;
(G) wastes from commercial or industrial wastewater treatment plants; air pollution control facilities; and tanks,
drums, or containers used for shipping or storing any material that has been listed as a hazardous constituent in 40 Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 261, Appendix VIII but has not been listed as a commercial chemical product in 40
CFR § 261.33(e) or (f);
(H) slaughterhouse wastes;
(I) dead animals;
(J) drugs, contaminated foods, or contaminated beverages, other than those contained in normal household waste;
(K) pesticide (insecticide, herbicide, fungicide, or rodenticide) containers;
(L) discarded materials containing asbestos;
(M) incinerator ash;
(N) soil contaminated by petroleum products, crude oils, or chemicals in concentrations of greater than 1,500 milli-
grams per kilogram total petroleum hydrocarbons; or contaminated by constituents of concern that exceed the concen-
trations listed in Table 1 of § 335.521(a)(1) of this title (relating to Appendices);
(O) used oil;
(P) waste from oil, gas, and geothermal activities subject to regulation by the Railroad Commission of Texas when
those wastes are to be processed, treated, or disposed of at a solid waste management facility authorized under this
chapter;
(Q) waste generated outside the boundaries of Texas that contains:
(i) any industrial waste;
(ii) any waste associated with oil, gas, and geothermal exploration, production, or development activities; or
(iii) any item listed as a special waste in this paragraph;
 Page 12
30 TAC § 330.3

(R) lead acid storage batteries; and
(S) used-oil filters from internal combustion engines.
(149) Stabilized sludges--Those sludges processed to significantly reduce pathogens, by processes specified in 40
Code of Federal Regulations Part 257, Appendix II.
(150) Storage--The keeping, holding, accumulating, or aggregating of solid waste for a temporary period, at the end
of which the solid waste is processed, disposed, or stored elsewhere.
(A) Examples of storage facilities are collection points for:
(i) only nonputrescible source-separated recyclable material;
(ii) consolidation of parking lot or street sweepings or wastes collected and received in sealed plastic bags from
such activities as periodic citywide cleanup campaigns and cleanup of rights-of-way or roadside parks; and
(iii) accumulation of used or scrap tires prior to transportation to a processing or disposal facility.
(B) Storage includes operation of pre-collection or post-collection as follows:
(i) pre-collection--that storage by the generator, normally on his premises, prior to initial collection; or
(ii) post-collection--that storage by a transporter or processor, at a processing facility, while the waste is awaiting
processing or transfer to another storage, disposal, or recovery facility.
(151) Storage battery--A secondary battery, so called because the conversion from chemical to electrical energy is
reversible and the battery is thus rechargeable. Secondary or storage batteries contain an electrode made of sponge lead
and lead dioxide, nickel-iron, nickel-cadmium, silver-zinc, or silver-cadmium. The electrolyte used is sulfuric acid.
Other types of storage batteries contain lithium, sodium-liquid sulfur, or chlorine-zinc using titanium electrodes.
(152) Structural components--Liners, leachate collection systems, final covers, run-on/run-off systems, and any
other component used in the construction and operation of the municipal solid waste landfill that is necessary for pro-
tection of human health and the environment.
(153) Surface impoundment--A natural topographic depression, man-made excavation, or diked area formed pri-
marily of earthen materials (although it may be lined with man-made materials) that is designed to hold an accumulation
of liquids; examples include holding, storage, settling, and aeration pits, ponds, and lagoons.
(154) Surface water--Surface water as included in water in the state.
(155) Tank--A stationary device, designed to contain an accumulation of solid waste, which is constructed primari-
ly of non-earthen materials (e.g., wood, concrete, steel, plastic) that provide structural support.
(156) Tank system--A solid waste storage or processing tank and its associated ancillary equipment and contain-
ment system.
(157) Transfer station--A facility used for transferring solid waste from collection vehicles to long-haul vehicles
(one transportation unit to another transportation unit). It is not a storage facility such as one where individual residents
can dispose of their wastes in bulk storage containers that are serviced by collection vehicles.
(158) Transportation unit--A truck, trailer, open-top box, enclosed container, rail car, piggy-back trailer, ship,
barge, or other transportation vehicle used to contain solid waste being transported from one geographical area to an-
other.
(159) Transporter--A person that collects, conveys, or transports solid waste; does not include a person transporting
his or her household waste.
(160) Trash--Same as Rubbish.
(161) Treatment--Same as Processing.
(162) Triple rinse--To rinse a container three times using a volume of solvent capable of removing the contents
equal to 10% of the volume of the container or liner for each rinse.
 Page 13
30 TAC § 330.3

(163) Uncompacted waste--Any waste that is not a liquid or a sludge, has not been mechanically compacted by a
collection vehicle, has not been driven over by heavy equipment prior to collection, or has not been compacted prior to
collection by any type of mechanical device other than small, in-house compactor devices owned and/or operated by the
generator of the waste.
(164) Unified soil classification system--The standardized system devised by the United States Army Corps of En-
gineers for classifying soil types.
(165) Universal waste--Any of the following hazardous wastes that are subject to the universal waste requirements
of Chapter 335, Subchapter H, Division 5 of this title (relating to Universal Waste Rule):
(A) batteries, as described in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 273.2;
(B) pesticides, as described in 40 CFR § 273.3;
(C) thermostats, as described in 40 CFR § 273.4;
(D) paint and paint-related waste, as described in § 335.262(b) of this title (relating to Standards for Management of
Paint and Paint-Related Waste); and
(E) lamps, as described in 40 CFR § 273.5.
(166) Unloading areas--Areas designated for unloading, including all working faces, active disposal areas, storage
areas, and other processing areas.
(167) Unstable area--A location that is susceptible to natural or human-induced events or forces capable of impair-
ing the integrity of some or all of the landfill structural components responsible for preventing releases from a landfill.
Unstable areas can include poor foundation conditions, areas susceptible to mass movements, and karst terrains.
(168) Uppermost aquifer--The geologic formation nearest the natural ground surface that is an aquifer; includes
lower aquifers that are hydraulically interconnected with this aquifer within the facility's property boundary.
(169) Vector--An agent, such as an insect, snake, rodent, bird, or animal capable of mechanically or biologically
transferring a pathogen from one organism to another.
(170) Washout--The carrying away of solid waste by waters.
(171) Waste acceptance hours--Those hours when waste is received from off-site.
(172) Waste management unit boundary--A vertical surface located at the perimeter of the unit. This vertical sur-
face extends down into the uppermost aquifer.
(173) Waste-separation/intermediate-processing center--A facility, sometimes referred to as a materials recovery
facility, to which recyclable materials arrive as source-separated materials, or where recyclable materials are separated
from the municipal waste stream and processed for transport off-site for reuse, recycling, or other beneficial use.
(174) Waste-separation/recycling facility--A facility, sometimes referred to as a material recovery facility, in which
recyclable materials are removed from the waste stream for transport off-site for reuse, recycling, or other beneficial
use.
(175) Water in the state--Groundwater, percolating or otherwise, lakes, bays, ponds, impounding reservoirs,
springs, rivers, streams, creeks, estuaries, marshes, inlets, canals, the Gulf of Mexico inside the territorial limits of the
state, and all other bodies of surface water, natural or artificial, inland or coastal, fresh or salt, navigable or
non-navigable, and including the beds and banks of all watercourses and bodies of surface water, that are wholly or par-
tially inside or bordering the state or inside the jurisdiction of the state.
(176) Water table--The upper surface of the zone of saturation at which water pressure is equal to atmospheric
pressure, except where that surface is formed by a confining unit.
(177) Waters of the United States--All waters that are currently used, were used in the past, or may be susceptible
to use in interstate or foreign commerce, including all waters that are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide, with their
tributaries and adjacent wetlands, interstate waters and their tributaries, including interstate wetlands; all other waters
such as intrastate lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, and wetlands, the use, deg-
radation, or destruction of which would affect or could affect interstate or foreign commerce including any such waters
 Page 14
30 TAC § 330.3

that are or could be used by interstate or foreign travelers for recreational or other purposes; from which fish or shellfish
are or could be taken and sold in interstate or foreign commerce; that are used or could be used for industrial purposes
by industries in interstate commerce; and all impoundments of waters otherwise considered as navigable waters; in-
cluding tributaries of and wetlands adjacent to waters identified herein.
(178) Wetlands--As defined in Chapter 307 of this title (relating to Texas Surface Water Quality Standards).
(179) White goods--Discarded large household appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, or
dishwashers.
(180) Working face--Areas in a landfill where waste has been deposited for disposal but has not been covered.
(181) Yard waste--Leaves, grass clippings, yard and garden debris, and brush, including clean woody vegetative
material not greater than six inches in diameter, that results from landscaping maintenance and land-clearing operations.
The term does not include stumps, roots, or shrubs with intact root balls.

SOURCE: The provisions of this § 330.3 adopted to be effective March 27, 2006, 31 TexReg 2502

NOTES:

CROSS-REFERENCES: This Section cited in 30 TAC § 330.14, (relating to Arid Exemption Process); 30 TAC §
330.41, (relating to Types of Municipal Solid Waste Sites); 30 TAC § 330.230, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC §
330.239, (relating to Groundwater Monitoring at Type IV Landfills); 30 TAC § 330.15, (relating to General Prohibi-
tions); 30 TAC § 330.63, (relating to Contents of Part III of the Application); 30 TAC § 330.171, (relating to Disposal of
Special Wastes); 30 TAC § 330.173, (relating to Disposal of Industrial Wastes); 30 TAC § 330.213, (relating to Citizen's
Collection Stations); 30 TAC § 330.401, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 330.403, (relating to Groundwater Moni-
toring Systems); 30 TAC § 330.951, (relating to Definitions); 30 TAC § 330.1201, (relating to Purpose); 30 TAC §
330.1205, (relating to Definitions); 30 TAC § 330.1207, (relating to Generators of Medical Waste).
This Chapter cited in 30 TAC § 55.1, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 55.101, (relating to Applicability); 30
TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions To Be Determined for Individual Permits); 30 TAC § 334.483, (relating to Dis-
posal by Generator); 30 TAC § 335.78, (relating to Special Requirements for Hazardous Waste Generated by Condi-
tionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators); 30 TAC § 335.501, (relating to Purpose, Scope, and Applicability); 30
TAC § 336.337, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 350.2, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC §
336.225, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions to be Determined for In-
dividual Permits); 30 TAC § 91.20, (relating to Applicability).

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 17
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

*** This document reflects all regulations in effect as of July 31, 2014 ***

TITLE 30. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 330. MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL INFORMATION

30 TAC § 330.3 (2014)

§ 330.3. Definitions

Unless otherwise noted, all terms contained in this section are defined by their plain meaning. This section contains
definitions for terms that appear throughout this chapter. Additional definitions may appear in the specific section to
which they apply. The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) 100-year flood--A flood that has a 1.0% or greater chance of recurring in any given year or a flood of a magni-
tude equaled or exceeded once in 100 years on the average over a significantly long period.
(2) Active disposal area--All landfill working faces and areas covered with daily and alternative daily cover.
(3) Active life--The period of operation beginning with the initial receipt of solid waste and ending at certifica-
tion/completion of closure activities in accordance with §§ 330.451 - 330.459 of this title (relating to Closure and
Post-Closure).
(4) Active portion--That part of a facility or unit that has received or is receiving wastes and that has not been
closed in accordance with §§ 330.451 - 330.459 of this title (relating to Closure and Post-Closure).
(5) Airport--A public-use airport open to the public without prior permission and without restrictions within the
physical capacities of available facilities.
(6) Ancillary equipment--Any device that is used to distribute, meter, or control the flow of solid waste from its
point of generation to a storage or processing tank(s), between solid waste storage and processing tanks to a point of
disposal on-site, or to a point of shipment for disposal off-site. Such devices include, but are not limited to, piping, fit-
tings, flanges, valves, and pumps.
(7) Animal crematory--A facility for the incineration of animal remains that meets the following criteria:
(A) control of combustion air to maintain adequate temperature for efficient combustion;
(B) containment of the combustion reaction in an enclosed device to provide sufficient residence time and mixing
for complete combustion; and
(C) control of the emission of the combustion products.
(8) Aquifer--A geological formation, group of formations, or portion of a formation capable of yielding significant
quantities of groundwater to wells or springs.
(9) Areas susceptible to mass movements--Areas of influence (i.e., areas characterized as having an active or sub-
stantial possibility of mass movement) where the movement of earth material at, beneath, or adjacent to the municipal
solid waste landfill unit, because of natural or man-induced events, results in the downslope transport of soil and rock
 Page 2
30 TAC § 330.3

material by means of gravitational influence. Areas of mass movement include, but are not limited to, landslides, ava-
lanches, debris slides and flows, soil fluctuation, block sliding, and rock fall.
(10) Asbestos-containing materials--Include the following.
(A) Category I nonfriable asbestos-containing material means asbestos-containing packings, gaskets, resilient floor
covering, and asphalt roofing products containing more than 1.0% asbestos as determined using the method specified in
Appendix A, Subpart F, 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 763, § 1, Polarized Light Microscopy.
(B) Category II nonfriable asbestos-containing material means any material, excluding Category I nonfriable as-
bestos-containing material, containing more than 1.0% asbestos as determined using the methods specified in Appendix
A, Subpart F, 40 CFR Part 763, § 1, Polarized Light Microscopy, that, when dry, cannot be crumbled, pulverized, or
reduced to powder by hand pressure.
(C) Friable asbestos-containing material means any material containing more than 1.0% asbestos that, when dry,
can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure.
(D) Nonfriable asbestos-containing material means any material containing more than 1.0% asbestos that, when
dry, cannot be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure.
(11) ASTM--The American Society for Testing and Materials.
(12) Battery--An electrochemical device that generates electric current by converting chemical energy. Its essential
components are positive and negative electrodes made of more or less electrically conductive materials, a separate me-
dium, and an electrolyte. There are four major types:
(A) primary batteries (dry cells);
(B) storage or secondary batteries;
(C) nuclear and solar cells or energy converters; and
(D) fuel cells.
(13) Battery acid (also known as electrolyte acid)--A solution of not more than 47% sulfuric acid in water suitable
for use in storage batteries, which is water white, odorless, and practically free from iron.
(14) Battery retailer--A person or business location that sells lead-acid batteries to the general public, without re-
strictions to limit purchases to institutional or industrial clients only.
(15) Battery wholesaler--A person or business location that sells lead-acid batteries directly to battery retailers, to
government entities by contract sale, or to large-volume users, either directly or by contract sale.
(16) Bird hazard--An increase in the likelihood of bird/aircraft collisions that may cause damage to an aircraft or
injury to its occupants.
(17) Boiler--An enclosed device using controlled flame combustion and having the following characteristics.
(A) The unit must have physical provisions for recovering and exporting thermal energy in the form of steam,
heated fluids, or heated gases.
(B) The unit's combustion chamber and primary energy recovery section(s) must be of integral design. To be of in-
tegral design, the combustion chamber and the primary energy recovery section(s) (such as waterwalls and superheat-
ers) must be physically formed into one manufactured or assembled unit. A unit in which the combustion chamber and
the primary energy recovery section(s) are joined only by ducts or connections carrying flue gas is not integrally de-
signed; however, secondary energy recovery equipment (such as economizers or air preheaters) need not be physically
formed into the same unit as the combustion chamber and the primary energy recovery section. The following units are
not precluded from being boilers solely because they are not of integral design:
(i) process heaters (units that transfer energy directly to a process stream); and
(ii) fluidized bed combustion units.
(C) While in operation, the unit must maintain a thermal energy recovery efficiency of at least 60%, calculated in
terms of the recovered energy compared with the thermal value of the fuel.
 Page 3
30 TAC § 330.3

(D) The unit must export and utilize at least 75% of the recovered energy, calculated on an annual basis. In this
calculation, no credit shall be given for recovered heat used internally in the same unit. Examples of internal use are the
preheating of fuel or combustion air, and the driving of induced or forced draft fans or feedwater pumps.
(18) Brush--Cuttings or trimmings from trees, shrubs, or lawns and similar materials.
(19) Buffer zone--A zone free of municipal solid waste processing and disposal activities within and adjacent to the
facility boundary on property owned or controlled by the owner or operator.
(20) Citizens' collection station--A facility established for the convenience and exclusive use of residents (not
commercial or industrial users or collection vehicles), except that in small communities where regular collections are
not available, small quantities of commercial waste may be deposited by the generator of the waste. The facility may
consist of one or more storage containers, bins, or trailers.
(21) Class 1 wastes--Any industrial solid waste or mixture of industrial solid wastes that because of its concentra-
tion, or physical or chemical characteristics is toxic, corrosive, flammable, a strong sensitizer or irritant, a generator of
sudden pressure by decomposition, heat, or other means, or may pose a substantial present or potential danger to human
health or the environment when improperly processed, stored, transported, or disposed of or otherwise managed, as fur-
ther defined in § 335.505 of this title (relating to Class 1 Waste Determination).
(22) Class 2 wastes--Any individual solid waste or combination of industrial solid waste that are not described as
Hazardous, Class 1, or Class 3 as defined in § 335.506 of this title (relating to Class 2 Waste Determination).
(23) Class 3 wastes--Inert and essentially insoluble industrial solid waste, usually including, but not limited to, ma-
terials such as rock, brick, glass, dirt, and certain plastics and rubber, etc., that are not readily decomposable, as further
defined in § 335.507 of this title (relating to Class 3 Waste Determination).
(24) Collection--The act of removing solid waste (or materials that have been separated for the purpose of recy-
cling) for transport elsewhere.
(25) Collection system--The total process of collecting and transporting solid waste. It includes storage containers;
collection crews, vehicles, equipment, and management; and operating procedures. Systems are classified as municipal,
contractor, or private.
(26) Commence physical construction--The initiation of physical on-site construction on a site for which an appli-
cation to authorize a municipal solid waste management unit is pending, the construction of which requires approval of
the commission. Construction of actual waste management units and necessary appurtenances requires approval of the
commission, but other features not specific to waste management are allowed without commission approval.
(27) Commercial solid waste--All types of solid waste generated by stores, offices, restaurants, warehouses, and
other nonmanufacturing activities, excluding residential and industrial wastes.
(28) Compacted waste--Waste that has been reduced in volume by a collection vehicle or other means including,
but not limited to, dewatering, composting, incineration, and similar processes, with the exception of waste that has
been reduced in volume by a small, in-house compactor device owned and/or operated by the generator of the waste.
(29) Composite liner--A liner system consisting of two components: the upper component must consist of a mini-
mum 30-mil geomembrane liner or minimum 60-mil high-density polyethylene, and the lower component must consist
of at least a two-foot layer of re-compacted soil deposited in lifts with a hydraulic conductivity of no more than 1 x 10-7
centimeters/second. The geomembrane liner component must be installed in direct and uniform contact with the com-
pacted soil component.
(30) Compost--The stabilized product of the decomposition process that is used or sold for use as a soil amend-
ment, artificial top soil, growing medium amendment, or other similar uses.
(31) Composting--The controlled biological decomposition of organic materials through microbial activity.
(32) Conditionally exempt small-quantity generator--A person that generates no more than 220 pounds of hazard-
ous waste in a calendar month.
(33) Construction or demolition waste--Waste resulting from construction or demolition projects; includes all mate-
rials that are directly or indirectly the by-products of construction work or that result from demolition of buildings and
other structures, including, but not limited to, paper, cartons, gypsum board, wood, excelsior, rubber, and plastics.
 Page 4
30 TAC § 330.3

(34) Container--Any portable device in which a material is stored, transported, or processed.
(35) Contaminate--To alter the chemical, physical, biological, or radiological integrity of ground or surface water
by man-made or man-induced means.
(36) Contaminated water--Leachate, gas condensate, or water that has come into contact with waste.
(37) Controlled burning--The combustion of solid waste with control of combustion air to maintain adequate tem-
perature for efficient combustion; containment of the combustion reaction in an enclosed device to provide sufficient
residence time and mixing for complete combustion; and control of the emission of the combustion products, i.e., incin-
eration in an incinerator.
(38) Discard--To abandon a material and not use, re-use, reclaim, or recycle it. A material is abandoned by being
disposed of; burned or incinerated (except where the material is being burned as a fuel for the purpose of recovering
usable energy); or physically, chemically, or biologically treated (other than burned or incinerated) in lieu of or prior to
being disposed.
(39) Discharge--Includes deposit, conduct, drain, emit, throw, run, allow to seep, or otherwise release, or to allow,
permit, or suffer any of these acts or omissions.
(40) Discharge of dredged material--Any addition of dredged material into the waters of the United States. The
term includes, without limitation, the addition of dredged material to a specified disposal site located in waters of the
United States and the runoff or overflow from a contained land or water disposal area.
(41) Discharge of fill material--The addition of fill material into waters of the United States. The term generally in-
cludes placement of fill necessary to the construction of any structure in waters of the United States: the building of any
structure or improvement requiring rock, sand, dirt, or other inert material for its construction; the building of dams,
dikes, levees, and riprap.
(42) Discharge of pollutant--Any addition of any pollutant to navigable waters from any point source or any addi-
tion of any pollutant to the waters of the contiguous zone or the ocean from any point source.
(43) Displacement--The measured or estimated distance between two formerly adjacent points situated on opposite
walls of a fault (synonymous with net slip).
(44) Disposal--The discharge, deposit, injection, dumping, spilling, leaking, or placing of any solid waste or haz-
ardous waste (whether containerized or uncontainerized) into or on any land or water so that such solid waste or haz-
ardous waste or any constituent thereof may enter the environment or be emitted into the air or discharged into any wa-
ters, including groundwater.
(45) Dredged material--Material that is excavated or dredged from waters of the United States.
(46) Drinking-water intake--The point at which water is withdrawn from any water well, spring, or surface water
body for use as drinking water for humans, including standby public water supplies.
(47) Elements of nature--Rainfall, snow, sleet, hail, wind, sunlight, or other natural phenomenon.
(48) Endangered or threatened species--Any species listed as such under the Federal Endangered Species Act, § 4,
16 United States Code, § 1536, as amended or under the Texas Endangered Species Act.
(49) Essentially insoluble--Any material that, if representatively sampled and placed in static or dynamic contact
with deionized water at ambient temperature for seven days, will not leach any quantity of any constituent of the mate-
rial into the water in excess of the maximum contaminant levels in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 141,
Subparts B and G, and 40 CFR Part 143 for total dissolved solids.
(50) Existing municipal solid waste landfill unit--Any municipal solid waste landfill unit that received solid waste
as of October 9, 1993.
(51) Experimental project--Any new proposed method of managing municipal solid waste, including resource and
energy recovery projects, that appears to have sufficient merit to warrant commission approval.
(52) Facility--All contiguous land and structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on the land used for the
storage, processing, or disposal of solid waste.
 Page 5
30 TAC § 330.3

(53) Fault--A fracture or a zone of fractures in any material along which strata, rocks, or soils on one side have
been displaced with respect to those on the other side.
(54) Fill material--Any material used for the primary purpose of filling an excavation.
(55) Floodplain--The lowland and relatively flat areas adjoining inland and coastal waters, including flood-prone
areas of offshore islands, that are inundated by the 100-year flood.
(56) Garbage--Solid waste consisting of putrescible animal and vegetable waste materials resulting from the han-
dling, preparation, cooking, and consumption of food, including waste materials from markets, storage facilities, han-
dling, and sale of produce and other food products.
(57) Gas condensate--The liquid generated as a result of any gas recovery process at a municipal solid waste facili-
ty.
(58) Generator--Any person, by site or location, that produces solid waste to be shipped to any other person, or
whose act or process produces a solid waste or first causes it to become regulated.
(59) Grease trap waste--Material collected in and from a grease interceptor in the sanitary sewer service line of a
commercial, institutional, or industrial food service or processing establishment, including the solids resulting from de-
watering processes.
(60) Grit trap waste--Grit trap waste includes waste from interceptors placed in the drains prior to entering the sew-
er system at maintenance and repair shops, automobile service stations, car washes, laundries, and other similar estab-
lishments.
(61) Groundwater--Water below the land surface in a zone of saturation.
(62) Hazardous waste--Any solid waste identified or listed as a hazardous waste by the administrator of the United
States Environmental Protection Agency under the federal Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, 42 United States Code, §§ 6901 et seq., as amended.
(63) Holocene--The most recent epoch of the Quaternary Period, extending from the end of the Pleistocene Epoch
to the present.
(64) Household waste--Any solid waste (including garbage, trash, and sanitary waste in septic tanks) derived from
households (including single and multiple residences, hotels and motels, bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew quarters,
campgrounds, picnic grounds, and day-use recreation areas); does not include brush.
(65) Incinerator--Any enclosed device that:
(A) uses controlled flame combustion and neither meets the criteria for classification as a boiler, sludge dryer, or
carbon regeneration unit, nor is listed as an industrial furnace, as defined in § 335.1 of this title (relating to Definitions);
or
(B) meets the definition of infrared incinerator or plasma arc incinerator.
(66) Industrial solid waste--Solid waste resulting from or incidental to any process of industry or manufacturing, or
mining or agricultural operations.
(67) Inert material--A natural or man-made nonputrescible, nonhazardous material that is essentially insoluble,
usually including, but not limited to, soil, dirt, clay, sand, gravel, brick, glass, concrete with reinforcing steel, and rock.
(68) Infrared incinerator--Any enclosed device that uses electric-powered resistance heaters as a source of radiant
heat followed by an afterburner using controlled flame combustion and is not listed as an industrial furnace as defined in
§ 335.1 of this title (relating to Definitions).
(69) Injection well--A well into which fluids are injected.
(70) In situ--In natural or original position.
(71) Karst terrain--An area where karst topography, with its characteristic surface and/or subterranean features, is
developed principally as the result of dissolution of limestone, dolomite, or other soluble rock. Characteristic physio-
graphic features present in karst terrains include, but are not limited to, sinkholes, sinking streams, caves, large springs,
and blind valleys.
 Page 6
30 TAC § 330.3

(72) Lateral expansion--A horizontal expansion of the waste boundaries of an existing municipal solid waste land-
fill unit.
(73) Land application of solid waste--The disposal or use of solid waste (including, but not limited to, sludge or
septic tank pumpings or mixture of shredded waste and sludge) in which the solid waste is applied within three feet of
the surface of the land.
(74) Land treatment unit--A solid waste management unit at which solid waste is applied onto or incorporated into
the soil surface and that is not a corrective action management unit; such units are disposal units if the waste will remain
after closure.
(75) Landfill--A solid waste management unit where solid waste is placed in or on land and which is not a pile, a
land treatment unit, a surface impoundment, an injection well, a salt dome formation, a salt bed formation, an under-
ground mine, a cave, or a corrective action management unit.
(76) Landfill cell--A discrete area of a landfill.
(77) Landfill mining--The physical procedures associated with the excavation of buried municipal solid waste and
processing of the material to recover material for beneficial use.
(78) Leachate--A liquid that has passed through or emerged from solid waste and contains soluble, suspended, or
miscible materials removed from such waste.
(79) Lead acid battery--A secondary or storage battery that uses lead as the electrode and dilute sulfuric acid as the
electrolyte and is used to generate electrical current.
(80) License--
(A) A document issued by an approved county authorizing and governing the operation and maintenance of a mu-
nicipal solid waste facility used to process, treat, store, or dispose of municipal solid waste, other than hazardous waste,
in an area not in the territorial limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality.
(B) An occupational license as defined in Chapter 30 of this title (relating to Occupational Licenses and Registra-
tions).
(81) Liquid waste--Any waste material that is determined to contain "free liquids" as defined by United States En-
vironmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 9095 (Paint Filter Test), as described in "Test Methods for Evaluating
Solid Wastes, Physical/Chemical Methods" (EPA Publication Number SW-846).
(82) Litter--Rubbish and putrescible waste.
(83) Low volume transfer station--A transfer station used for the storage of collected household waste limited to a
total storage capacity of 40 cubic yards located in an unincorporated area that is not within the extraterritorial jurisdic-
tion of a city.
(84) Lower explosive limit--The lowest percent by volume of a mixture of explosive gases in air that will propagate
a flame at 25 degrees Celsius and atmospheric pressure.
(85) Medical waste--Treated and untreated special waste from health care-related facilities that is comprised of
animal waste, bulk blood, bulk human blood, bulk human body fluids, microbiological waste, pathological waste, and
sharps as those terms are defined in 25 TAC § 1.132 (relating to Definitions) from the sources specified in 25 TAC §
1.134 (relating to Application), as well as regulated medical waste as defined in 49 Code of Federal Regulations §
173.134(a)(5), except that the term does not include medical waste produced on a farm or ranch as defined in 34 TAC §
3.296(f) (relating to Agriculture, Animal Life, Feed, Seed, Plants, and Fertilizer), nor does the term include artificial,
nonhuman materials removed from a patient and requested by the patient, including, but not limited to, orthopedic de-
vices and breast implants. Health care-related facilities do not include:
(A) single or multi-family dwellings; and
(B) hotels, motels, or other establishments that provide lodging and related services for the public.
(86) Monofill--A landfill or landfill cell into which only one type of waste is placed.
 Page 7
30 TAC § 330.3

(87) Municipal hazardous waste--Any municipal solid waste or mixture of municipal solid wastes that has been
identified or listed as a hazardous waste by the administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency.
(88) Municipal solid waste--Solid waste resulting from or incidental to municipal, community, commercial, institu-
tional, and recreational activities, including garbage, rubbish, ashes, street cleanings, dead animals, abandoned automo-
biles, and all other solid waste other than industrial solid waste.
(89) Municipal solid waste facility--All contiguous land, structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on the
land used for processing, storing, or disposing of solid waste. A facility may be publicly or privately owned and may
consist of several processing, storage, or disposal operational units, e.g., one or more landfills, surface impoundments,
or combinations of them.
(90) Municipal solid waste landfill unit--A discrete area of land or an excavation that receives household waste and
that is not a land application unit, surface impoundment, injection well, or waste pile, as those terms are defined under
40 Code of Federal Regulations § 257.2. A municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill unit also may receive other types of
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Subtitle D wastes, such as commercial solid waste, nonhazardous sludge,
conditionally exempt small-quantity generator waste, and industrial solid waste. Such a landfill may be publicly or pri-
vately owned. An MSW landfill unit may be a new MSW landfill unit, an existing MSW landfill unit, a vertical expan-
sion, or a lateral expansion.
(91) New facility--A municipal solid waste facility that has not begun construction.
(92) Nonpoint source--Any origin from which pollutants emanate in an unconfined and unchanneled manner, in-
cluding, but not limited to, surface runoff and leachate seeps.
(93) Non-regulated asbestos-containing material--Non-regulated asbestos-containing material as defined in 40 Code
of Federal Regulations Part 61. This is asbestos material in a form such that potential health risks resulting from expo-
sure to it are minimal.
(94) Notification--The act of filing information with the commission for specific solid waste management activities
that do not require a permit or a registration, as determined by this chapter.
(95) Nuisance--Municipal solid waste that is stored, processed, or disposed of in a manner that causes the pollution
of the surrounding land, the contamination of groundwater or surface water, the breeding of insects or rodents, or the
creation of odors adverse to human health, safety, or welfare. A nuisance is further set forth in Texas Health and Safety
Code, Chapters 341 and 382; Texas Water Code, Chapter 26; and any other applicable regulation or statute.
(96) Open burning--The combustion of solid waste without:
(A) control of combustion air to maintain adequate temperature for efficient combustion;
(B) containment of the combustion reaction in an enclosed device to provide sufficient residence time and mixing
for complete combustion; and
(C) control of the emission of the combustion products.
(97) Operate--To conduct, work, run, manage, or control.
(98) Operating hours--The hours when the facility is open to receive waste, operate heavy equipment, and transport
materials on- or off-site.
(99) Operating record--All plans, submittals, and correspondence for a municipal solid waste facility required under
this chapter; required to be maintained at the facility or at a nearby site acceptable to the executive director.
(100) Operation--A municipal solid waste (MSW) site or facility is considered to be in operation from the date that
solid waste is first received or deposited at the MSW site or facility until the date that the site or facility is properly
closed in accordance with this chapter.
(101) Operator--The person(s) responsible for operating the facility or part of a facility.
(102) Owner--The person that owns a facility or part of a facility.
(103) Permitted landfill--Any type of municipal solid waste landfill that received a permit from the State of Texas
to operate and has not completed post-closure operations.
 Page 8
30 TAC § 330.3

(104) Physical construction--The first placement of permanent construction on a site, such as the pouring of slab or
footings, the installation of piles, the construction of columns, the laying of underground pipework, or any work beyond
the stage of excavation. Physical construction does not include land preparation, such as clearing, grading, excavating,
and filling; nor does it include the installation of roads and/or walkways. Physical construction includes issuance of a
building or other construction permit, provided that permanent construction commences within 180 days of the date that
the building permit was issued.
(105) Plasma arc incinerator--Any enclosed device using a high intensity electrical discharge or arc as a source of
heat followed by an afterburner using controlled flame combustion and not listed as an industrial furnace as defined by
§ 335.1 of this title (relating to Definitions).
(106) Point of compliance--A vertical surface located no more than 500 feet from the hydraulically downgradient
limit of the waste management unit boundary, extending down through the uppermost aquifer underlying the regulated
units, and located on land owned by the owner of the facility.
(107) Point source--Any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance, including, but not limited to, any pipe,
ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, or discrete fissure from which pollutants are or may be discharged.
(108) Pollutant--Contaminated dredged spoil, solid waste, contaminated incinerator residue, sewage, sewage
sludge, munitions, chemical wastes, or biological materials discharged into water.
(109) Pollution--The man-made or man-induced alteration of the chemical, physical, biological, or radiological in-
tegrity of an aquatic ecosystem.
(110) Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)--Any chemical substance that is limited to the biphenyl molecule that has
been chlorinated to varying degrees or any combination of substances that contains such substance.
(111) Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste(s)--Those PCBs and PCB items that are subject to the disposal re-
quirements of 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 761. Substances that are regulated by 40 CFR Part 761 in-
clude, but are not limited to: PCB articles, PCB article containers, PCB containers, PCB-contaminated electrical equip-
ment, PCB equipment, PCB transformers, recycled PCBs, capacitors, microwave ovens, electronic equipment, and light
ballasts and fixtures.
(112) Poor foundation conditions--Areas where features exist, indicating that a natural or man-induced event may
result in inadequate foundation support for the structural components of a municipal solid waste landfill unit.
(113) Population equivalent--The hypothetical population that would generate an amount of solid waste equivalent
to that actually being managed based on a generation rate of five pounds per capita per day and applied to situations
involving solid waste not necessarily generated by individuals. It is assumed, for the purpose of these sections, that the
average volume per ton of waste entering a municipal solid waste disposal facility is three cubic yards.
(114) Post-consumer waste--A material or product that has served its intended use and has been discarded after
passing through the hands of a final user. For the purposes of this subchapter, the term does not include industrial or
hazardous waste.
(115) Premises--A tract of land with the buildings thereon, or a building or part of a building with its grounds or
other appurtenances.
(116) Process to further reduce pathogens--The process to further reduce pathogens as described in 40 Code of
Federal Regulations Part 503, Appendix B.
(117) Processing--Activities including, but not limited to, the extraction of materials, transfer, volume reduction,
conversion to energy, or other separation and preparation of solid waste for reuse or disposal, including the treatment or
neutralization of waste, designed to change the physical, chemical, or biological character or composition of any waste
to neutralize such waste, or to recover energy or material from the waste, or render the waste safer to transport, store,
dispose of, or make it amenable for recovery, amenable for storage, or reduced in volume.
(118) Public highway--The entire width between property lines of any road, street, way, thoroughfare, bridge, pub-
lic beach, or park in this state, not privately owned or controlled, if any part of the road, street, way, thoroughfare,
bridge, public beach, or park is opened to the public for vehicular traffic, is used as a public recreational area, or is un-
der the state's legislative jurisdiction through its police power.
 Page 9
30 TAC § 330.3

(119) Putrescible waste--Organic wastes, such as garbage, wastewater treatment plant sludge, and grease trap
waste, that are capable of being decomposed by microorganisms with sufficient rapidity as to cause odors or gases or
are capable of providing food for or attracting birds, animals, and disease vectors.
(120) Qualified groundwater scientist--A licensed geoscientist or licensed engineer who has received a baccalaure-
ate or post-graduate degree in the natural sciences or engineering and has sufficient training in groundwater hydrology
and related fields as may be demonstrated by state registration, professional certifications, or completion of accredited
university programs that enable the individual to make sound professional judgments regarding groundwater monitor-
ing, contaminant fate and transport, and corrective action.
(121) Radioactive waste--Waste that requires specific licensing under 25 TAC Chapter 289 (relating to Radiation
Control), and the rules adopted by the commission under the Texas Health and Safety Code.
(122) Recyclable material--A material that has been recovered or diverted from the nonhazardous waste stream for
purposes of reuse, recycling, or reclamation, a substantial portion of which is consistently used in the manufacture of
products that may otherwise be produced using raw or virgin materials. Recyclable material is not solid waste. Howev-
er, recyclable material may become solid waste at such time, if any, as it is abandoned or disposed of rather than recy-
cled, whereupon it will be solid waste with respect only to the party actually abandoning or disposing of the material.
(123) Recycling--A process by which materials that have served their intended use or are scrapped, discarded, used,
surplus, or obsolete are collected, separated, or processed and returned to use in the form of raw materials in the produc-
tion of new products. Except for mixed municipal solid waste composting, that is, composting of the typical mixed solid
waste stream generated by residential, commercial, and/or institutional sources, recycling includes the composting pro-
cess if the compost material is put to beneficial use.
(124) Refuse--Same as rubbish.
(125) Registration--The act of filing information with the commission for review and approval for specific solid
waste management activities that do not require a permit, as determined by this chapter.
(126) Regulated asbestos-containing material--Regulated asbestos-containing material as defined in 40 Code of
Federal Regulations Part 61, as amended, includes: friable asbestos material, Category I nonfriable asbestos-containing
material that has become friable; Category I nonfriable asbestos-containing material that will be or has been subjected to
sanding, grinding, cutting, or abrading; or Category II nonfriable asbestos-containing material that has a high probabil-
ity of becoming or has become crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by the forces expected to act on the material
in the course of demolition or renovation operations.
(127) Regulated hazardous waste--A solid waste that is a hazardous waste as defined in 40 Code of Federal Regula-
tions (CFR) § 261.3 and that is not excluded from regulation as a hazardous waste under 40 CFR § 261.4(b), or that was
not generated by a conditionally exempt small-quantity generator.
(128) Resource recovery--The recovery of material or energy from solid waste.
(129) Resource recovery facility--A solid waste processing facility at which solid waste is processed for the pur-
pose of extracting, converting to energy, or otherwise separating and preparing solid waste for reuse.
(130) Rubbish--Nonputrescible solid waste (excluding ashes), consisting of both combustible and noncombustible
waste materials. Combustible rubbish includes paper, rags, cartons, wood, excelsior, furniture, rubber, plastics, brush, or
similar materials; noncombustible rubbish includes glass, crockery, tin cans, aluminum cans, and similar materials that
will not burn at ordinary incinerator temperatures (1,600 degrees Fahrenheit to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit).
(131) Run-off--Any rainwater, leachate, or other liquid that drains over land from any part of a facility.
(132) Run-on--Any rainwater, leachate, or other liquid that drains over land onto any part of a facility.
(133) Salvaging--The controlled removal of waste materials for utilization, recycling, or sale.
(134) Saturated zone--That part of the earth's crust in which all voids are filled with water.
(135) Scavenging--The uncontrolled and unauthorized removal of materials at any point in the solid waste man-
agement system.
(136) Scrap tire--Any tire that can no longer be used for its original intended purpose.
 Page 10
30 TAC § 330.3

(137) Seasonal high water level--The highest measured or calculated water level in an aquifer during investigations
for a permit application and/or any groundwater characterization studies at a facility.
(138) Septage--The liquid and solid material pumped from a septic tank, cesspool, or similar sewage treatment sys-
tem.
(139) Site--Same as facility.
(140) Site development plan--A document, prepared by the design engineer, that provides a detailed design with
supporting calculations and data for the development and operation of a solid waste site.
(141) Site operating plan--A document, prepared by the design engineer in collaboration with the facility operator,
that provides general instruction to facility management and operating personnel throughout the operating life of the
facility in a manner consistent with the engineer's design and the commission's regulations to protect human health and
the environment and prevent nuisances.
(142) Site operator--The holder of, or the applicant for, an authorization (or license) for a municipal solid waste fa-
cility.
(143) Sludge--Any solid, semi-solid, or liquid waste generated from a municipal, commercial, or industrial
wastewater treatment plant, water-supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility, exclusive of the treated efflu-
ent from a wastewater treatment plant.
(144) Small municipal solid waste landfill--A municipal solid waste landfill unit (Type IAE) at which less than 20
tons of authorized types of waste are disposed of daily based on an annual average and/or a Type IVAE landfill unit at
which less than 20 tons of authorized types of waste are disposed of daily based on an annual average. A Type IAE
landfill permit may include additional authorization for a separate Type IVAE landfill unit. If a permit contains dual
authorization for Type IAE and Type IVAE landfill units, the permit must designate separate areas for the units and
where all disposal cells will be located within each unit.
(145) Solid waste--Garbage, rubbish, refuse, sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment
plant, or air pollution control facility, and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semi-solid, or contained
gaseous material resulting from industrial, municipal, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations and from com-
munity and institutional activities. The term does not include:
(A) solid or dissolved material in domestic sewage, or solid or dissolved material in irrigation return flows, or in-
dustrial discharges subject to regulation by permit issued under Texas Water Code, Chapter 26;
(B) soil, dirt, rock, sand, and other natural or man-made inert solid materials used to fill land if the object of the fill
is to make the land suitable for the construction of surface improvements; or
(C) waste materials that result from activities associated with the exploration, development, or production of oil or
gas or geothermal resources and other substance or material regulated by the Railroad Commission of Texas under Nat-
ural Resources Code, § 91.101, unless the waste, substance, or material results from activities associated with gasoline
plants, natural gas liquids processing plants, pressure maintenance plants, or repressurizing plants and is hazardous
waste as defined by the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency under the federal Solid
Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (42 United States Code,
§§ 6901 et seq.).
(146) Solid waste management unit--A landfill, surface impoundment, waste pile, furnace, incinerator, kiln, injec-
tion well, container, drum, salt dome waste containment cavern, land treatment unit, tank, container storage area, or any
other structure, vessel, appurtenance, or other improvement on land used to manage solid waste.
(147) Source-separated recyclable material--Recyclable material from residential, commercial, municipal, institu-
tional, recreational, industrial, and other community activities, that at the point of generation has been separated, col-
lected, and transported separately from municipal solid waste (MSW), or transported in the same vehicle as MSW, but
in separate containers or compartments. Source-separation does not require the recovery or separation of non-recyclable
components that are integral to a recyclable product, including:
(A) the non-recyclable components of white goods, whole computers, whole automobiles, or other manufactured
items for which dismantling and separation of recyclable from non-recyclable components by the generator are imprac-
tical, such as insulation or electronic components in white goods;
 Page 11
30 TAC § 330.3

(B) source-separated recyclable material rendered unmarketable by damage during collection, unloading, and sort-
ing, such as broken recyclable glass; and
(C) tramp materials, such as:
(i) glass from recyclable metal windows;
(ii) nails and roofing felt attached to recyclable shingles;
(iii) nails and sheetrock attached to recyclable lumber generated through the demolition of buildings; and
(iv) pallets and packaging materials.
(148) Special waste--Any solid waste or combination of solid wastes that because of its quantity, concentration,
physical or chemical characteristics, or biological properties requires special handling and disposal to protect the human
health or the environment. If improperly handled, transported, stored, processed, or disposed of or otherwise managed,
it may pose a present or potential danger to the human health or the environment. Special wastes are:
(A) hazardous waste from conditionally exempt small-quantity generators that may be exempt from full controls
under Chapter 335, Subchapter N of this title (relating to Household Materials Which Could Be Classified as Hazardous
Wastes);
(B) Class 1 industrial nonhazardous waste;
(C) untreated medical waste;
(D) municipal wastewater treatment plant sludges, other types of domestic sewage treatment plant sludges, and wa-
ter-supply treatment plant sludges;
(E) septic tank pumpings;
(F) grease and grit trap wastes;
(G) wastes from commercial or industrial wastewater treatment plants; air pollution control facilities; and tanks,
drums, or containers used for shipping or storing any material that has been listed as a hazardous constituent in 40 Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 261, Appendix VIII but has not been listed as a commercial chemical product in 40
CFR § 261.33(e) or (f);
(H) slaughterhouse wastes;
(I) dead animals;
(J) drugs, contaminated foods, or contaminated beverages, other than those contained in normal household waste;
(K) pesticide (insecticide, herbicide, fungicide, or rodenticide) containers;
(L) discarded materials containing asbestos;
(M) incinerator ash;
(N) soil contaminated by petroleum products, crude oils, or chemicals in concentrations of greater than 1,500 milli-
grams per kilogram total petroleum hydrocarbons; or contaminated by constituents of concern that exceed the concen-
trations listed in Table 1 of § 335.521(a)(1) of this title (relating to Appendices);
(O) used oil;
(P) waste from oil, gas, and geothermal activities subject to regulation by the Railroad Commission of Texas when
those wastes are to be processed, treated, or disposed of at a solid waste management facility authorized under this
chapter;
(Q) waste generated outside the boundaries of Texas that contains:
(i) any industrial waste;
(ii) any waste associated with oil, gas, and geothermal exploration, production, or development activities; or
(iii) any item listed as a special waste in this paragraph;
 Page 12
30 TAC § 330.3

(R) lead acid storage batteries; and
(S) used-oil filters from internal combustion engines.
(149) Stabilized sludges--Those sludges processed to significantly reduce pathogens, by processes specified in 40
Code of Federal Regulations Part 257, Appendix II.
(150) Storage--The keeping, holding, accumulating, or aggregating of solid waste for a temporary period, at the end
of which the solid waste is processed, disposed, or stored elsewhere.
(A) Examples of storage facilities are collection points for:
(i) only nonputrescible source-separated recyclable material;
(ii) consolidation of parking lot or street sweepings or wastes collected and received in sealed plastic bags from
such activities as periodic citywide cleanup campaigns and cleanup of rights-of-way or roadside parks; and
(iii) accumulation of used or scrap tires prior to transportation to a processing or disposal facility.
(B) Storage includes operation of pre-collection or post-collection as follows:
(i) pre-collection--that storage by the generator, normally on his premises, prior to initial collection; or
(ii) post-collection--that storage by a transporter or processor, at a processing facility, while the waste is awaiting
processing or transfer to another storage, disposal, or recovery facility.
(151) Storage battery--A secondary battery, so called because the conversion from chemical to electrical energy is
reversible and the battery is thus rechargeable. Secondary or storage batteries contain an electrode made of sponge lead
and lead dioxide, nickel-iron, nickel-cadmium, silver-zinc, or silver-cadmium. The electrolyte used is sulfuric acid.
Other types of storage batteries contain lithium, sodium-liquid sulfur, or chlorine-zinc using titanium electrodes.
(152) Structural components--Liners, leachate collection systems, final covers, run-on/run-off systems, and any
other component used in the construction and operation of the municipal solid waste landfill that is necessary for pro-
tection of human health and the environment.
(153) Surface impoundment--A natural topographic depression, man-made excavation, or diked area formed pri-
marily of earthen materials (although it may be lined with man-made materials) that is designed to hold an accumulation
of liquids; examples include holding, storage, settling, and aeration pits, ponds, and lagoons.
(154) Surface water--Surface water as included in water in the state.
(155) Tank--A stationary device, designed to contain an accumulation of solid waste, which is constructed primari-
ly of non-earthen materials (e.g., wood, concrete, steel, plastic) that provide structural support.
(156) Tank system--A solid waste storage or processing tank and its associated ancillary equipment and contain-
ment system.
(157) Transfer station--A facility used for transferring solid waste from collection vehicles to long-haul vehicles
(one transportation unit to another transportation unit). It is not a storage facility such as one where individual residents
can dispose of their wastes in bulk storage containers that are serviced by collection vehicles.
(158) Transportation unit--A truck, trailer, open-top box, enclosed container, rail car, piggy-back trailer, ship,
barge, or other transportation vehicle used to contain solid waste being transported from one geographical area to an-
other.
(159) Transporter--A person that collects, conveys, or transports solid waste; does not include a person transporting
his or her household waste.
(160) Trash--Same as Rubbish.
(161) Treatment--Same as Processing.
(162) Triple rinse--To rinse a container three times using a volume of solvent capable of removing the contents
equal to 10% of the volume of the container or liner for each rinse.
 Page 13
30 TAC § 330.3

(163) Uncompacted waste--Any waste that is not a liquid or a sludge, has not been mechanically compacted by a
collection vehicle, has not been driven over by heavy equipment prior to collection, or has not been compacted prior to
collection by any type of mechanical device other than small, in-house compactor devices owned and/or operated by the
generator of the waste.
(164) Unified soil classification system--The standardized system devised by the United States Army Corps of En-
gineers for classifying soil types.
(165) Universal waste--Any of the following hazardous wastes that are subject to the universal waste requirements
of Chapter 335, Subchapter H, Division 5 of this title (relating to Universal Waste Rule):
(A) batteries, as described in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 273.2;
(B) pesticides, as described in 40 CFR § 273.3;
(C) thermostats, as described in 40 CFR § 273.4;
(D) paint and paint-related waste, as described in § 335.262(b) of this title (relating to Standards for Management of
Paint and Paint-Related Waste); and
(E) lamps, as described in 40 CFR § 273.5.
(166) Unloading areas--Areas designated for unloading, including all working faces, active disposal areas, storage
areas, and other processing areas.
(167) Unstable area--A location that is susceptible to natural or human-induced events or forces capable of impair-
ing the integrity of some or all of the landfill structural components responsible for preventing releases from a landfill.
Unstable areas can include poor foundation conditions, areas susceptible to mass movements, and karst terrains.
(168) Uppermost aquifer--The geologic formation nearest the natural ground surface that is an aquifer; includes
lower aquifers that are hydraulically interconnected with this aquifer within the facility's property boundary.
(169) Vector--An agent, such as an insect, snake, rodent, bird, or animal capable of mechanically or biologically
transferring a pathogen from one organism to another.
(170) Washout--The carrying away of solid waste by waters.
(171) Waste acceptance hours--Those hours when waste is received from off-site.
(172) Waste management unit boundary--A vertical surface located at the perimeter of the unit. This vertical sur-
face extends down into the uppermost aquifer.
(173) Waste-separation/intermediate-processing center--A facility, sometimes referred to as a materials recovery
facility, to which recyclable materials arrive as source-separated materials, or where recyclable materials are separated
from the municipal waste stream and processed for transport off-site for reuse, recycling, or other beneficial use.
(174) Waste-separation/recycling facility--A facility, sometimes referred to as a material recovery facility, in which
recyclable materials are removed from the waste stream for transport off-site for reuse, recycling, or other beneficial
use.
(175) Water in the state--Groundwater, percolating or otherwise, lakes, bays, ponds, impounding reservoirs,
springs, rivers, streams, creeks, estuaries, marshes, inlets, canals, the Gulf of Mexico inside the territorial limits of the
state, and all other bodies of surface water, natural or artificial, inland or coastal, fresh or salt, navigable or
non-navigable, and including the beds and banks of all watercourses and bodies of surface water, that are wholly or par-
tially inside or bordering the state or inside the jurisdiction of the state.
(176) Water table--The upper surface of the zone of saturation at which water pressure is equal to atmospheric
pressure, except where that surface is formed by a confining unit.
(177) Waters of the United States--All waters that are currently used, were used in the past, or may be susceptible
to use in interstate or foreign commerce, including all waters that are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide, with their
tributaries and adjacent wetlands, interstate waters and their tributaries, including interstate wetlands; all other waters
such as intrastate lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, and wetlands, the use, deg-
radation, or destruction of which would affect or could affect interstate or foreign commerce including any such waters
 Page 14
30 TAC § 330.3

that are or could be used by interstate or foreign travelers for recreational or other purposes; from which fish or shellfish
are or could be taken and sold in interstate or foreign commerce; that are used or could be used for industrial purposes
by industries in interstate commerce; and all impoundments of waters otherwise considered as navigable waters; in-
cluding tributaries of and wetlands adjacent to waters identified herein.
(178) Wetlands--As defined in Chapter 307 of this title (relating to Texas Surface Water Quality Standards).
(179) White goods--Discarded large household appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, or
dishwashers.
(180) Working face--Areas in a landfill where waste has been deposited for disposal but has not been covered.
(181) Yard waste--Leaves, grass clippings, yard and garden debris, and brush, including clean woody vegetative
material not greater than six inches in diameter, that results from landscaping maintenance and land-clearing operations.
The term does not include stumps, roots, or shrubs with intact root balls.

SOURCE: The provisions of this § 330.3 adopted to be effective March 27, 2006, 31 TexReg 2502

NOTES:

CROSS-REFERENCES: This Section cited in 30 TAC § 330.14, (relating to Arid Exemption Process); 30 TAC §
330.41, (relating to Types of Municipal Solid Waste Sites); 30 TAC § 330.230, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC §
330.239, (relating to Groundwater Monitoring at Type IV Landfills); 30 TAC § 330.15, (relating to General Prohibi-
tions); 30 TAC § 330.63, (relating to Contents of Part III of the Application); 30 TAC § 330.171, (relating to Disposal of
Special Wastes); 30 TAC § 330.173, (relating to Disposal of Industrial Wastes); 30 TAC § 330.213, (relating to Citizen's
Collection Stations); 30 TAC § 330.401, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 330.403, (relating to Groundwater Moni-
toring Systems); 30 TAC § 330.951, (relating to Definitions); 30 TAC § 330.1201, (relating to Purpose); 30 TAC §
330.1205, (relating to Definitions); 30 TAC § 330.1207, (relating to Generators of Medical Waste).
This Chapter cited in 30 TAC § 55.1, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 55.101, (relating to Applicability); 30
TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions To Be Determined for Individual Permits); 30 TAC § 334.483, (relating to Dis-
posal by Generator); 30 TAC § 335.78, (relating to Special Requirements for Hazardous Waste Generated by Condi-
tionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators); 30 TAC § 335.501, (relating to Purpose, Scope, and Applicability); 30
TAC § 336.337, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 350.2, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC §
336.225, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions to be Determined for In-
dividual Permits); 30 TAC § 91.20, (relating to Applicability).

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 18
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

*** This document reflects all regulations in effect as of July 31, 2014 ***

TITLE 30. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 330. MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL INFORMATION

30 TAC § 330.7 (2014)

§ 330.7. Permit Required

(a) Except as provided in §§ 330.9, 330.11, 330.13, or 330.25 of this title (relating to Registration Required; Notifi-
cation Required; Waste Management Activities Exempt from Permitting, Registration, or Notification; and Relationship
with County Licensing System), no person may cause, suffer, allow, or permit any activity of storage, processing, re-
moval, or disposal of any solid waste unless such activity is authorized by a permit or other authorization from the
commission. In the event this requirement is violated, the executive director may seek recourse against not only the
person that stored, processed, or disposed of the waste but also against the generator, transporter, owner or operator, or
other person who caused, suffered, allowed, or permitted its waste to be stored, processed, or disposed. No person may
commence physical construction of a new municipal solid waste (MSW) management facility, a vertical expansion, or a
lateral expansion without first having submitted a permit application in accordance with §§ 330.57, 330.59, 330.61,
330.63, and 330.65 of this title (relating to Permit and Registration Applications for Municipal Solid Waste Facilities;
Contents of Part I of the Application; Contents of Part II of the Application; Contents of Part III of the Application; and
Contents of Part IV of the Application, respectively) and received a permit from the commission, except as provided
otherwise in this section.
(b) A separate permit is required for the storage, transportation, or handling of used oil mixtures collected from
oil/water separators. Any person that intends to conduct such activity shall comply with the regulatory requirements of
Chapter 324 of this title (relating to Used Oil Standards).
(c) Permits by rule may be granted for persons that compact or transport waste in enclosed containers or enclosed
transportation units to a Type IV facility.
(1) A permit by rule is granted for a generator operating a stationary compactor that is only used to compact waste
to be disposed of at a Type IV landfill, if all of the following conditions are met.
(A) The generator submits the following information and any requested additional information on forms provided
by the executive director: (i) generator contact person, company name, mailing address, street address, city, state, ZIP
code, and telephone number; (ii) contract renewal date, if applicable; (iii) rated compaction capability in pounds per
cubic yard; (iv) container size; (v) description of waste stream to enter compactor; (vi) receiving MSW Type IV dispos-
al facility name, permit number, mailing address, street address, city, state, ZIP code, telephone number, and contact
person; and (vii) a certification from the generator that states the following: I, (name)
______________________________, (title) _________________________________________ of (company name)
__________________, located at (street address) __________________________ in (city)
___________________________________________, certify that the contents of the compactor located at the location
stated herein are free of and shall be maintained free of putrescible, hazardous, infectious, and any other waste not al-
lowed in an MSW Type IV landfill.
(B) The generator submits a $ 75 fee along with the claim for the permit by rule.
 Page 2
30 TAC § 330.7

(C) The generator complies with the operational requirements of § 330.215 of this title (relating to Requirements
for Stationary Compactors).
(D) A stationary compactor permit by rule expires after one year. The generator must submit an annual renewal fee
in the amount of $ 75. Failure to timely pay the annual fee eliminates the option of disposal of these wastes at a Type IV
landfill until the generator claims a new or renewed permit by rule.
(2) A permit by rule is granted for transporters using enclosed containers or enclosed vehicles to collect and
transport brush, construction or demolition wastes, and rubbish along special collection routes to MSW Type IV landfill
facilities if all of the following conditions are met.
(A) The owner or operator seeking a special collection route permit by rule submits to the executive director the
following information and any requested additional information on forms provided by the executive director: (i) name
of owner and operator, mailing address, street address, city, state, ZIP code, name and title of a contact person, and tel-
ephone number; (ii) receiving MSW Type IV disposal facility name, permit number, mailing address, street address,
city, state, ZIP code, telephone number, and contact person; (iii) information on each transportation unit, including, at a
minimum, license number, vehicle identification number, year model, make, capacity in cubic yards, and rated compac-
tion capability in pounds per cubic yard; (iv) route information, which shall include as a minimum the collection fre-
quency, the day of the week the route is to be collected, and the day and time span within which the route is to arrive at
the MSW Type IV landfill; (v) a description of the wastes to be transported; (vi) an alternative contingency disposal
plan to include alternate trucks to be used or alternative disposal facilities; and (vii) a signed and notarized certification
from the owner or operator that states the following: I, (name) _______, (title) _______, of _______ operating in
______ County, certify that the contents of the vehicles described above will be free of putrescible, household, hazard-
ous, infectious, or any other waste not allowed in an MSW Type IV landfill.
(B) The transporter submits a $ 100 per vehicle fee along with the claim for a permit by rule.
(C) The transporter documents each load delivered with a trip ticket form provided by the executive director, and
provides the trip ticket to the landfill operator prior to discharging the load.
(D) A special collection route permit by rule expires after one year. The owner or operator must submit an annual
renewal fee in the amount of $ 100 per vehicle. Failure to timely pay the annual fee eliminates the option of disposal of
these wastes at a Type IV landfill until the owner or operator claims a new or renewed permit by rule.
(E) This paragraph does not apply if the waste load is from a single collection point that is a stationary compactor
authorized in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(3) Revision requirements for stationary compactor permits or special collection route permits by rule identified in
paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection are as follows.
(A) An update must be submitted if any information within the original permit by rule submittal changes.
(B) A submittal to update an existing permit by rule must include all of the same documentation required for an
original permit by rule submittal.
(d) A major permit amendment, as defined by § 305.62 of this title (relating to Amendments), is required to reopen
a Type I, Type IAE, Type IV, or Type IVAE MSW facility permitted by the commission or any of its predecessor or
successor agencies that has either stopped accepting waste, or only accepted waste in accordance with an emergency
authorization, for a period of five years or longer. The MSW facilities covered by this subsection may not be reopened
to accept waste again unless the permittee demonstrates compliance with all applicable requirements of the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, Subtitle D and the implementing Texas state regulations. If an MSW facility was sub-
ject to a contract of sale on January 1, 2001, the scope of any public hearing held on the permit amendment required by
this subsection is limited to land use compatibility, as provided by § 330.57(a) of this title. This subsection does not
apply to any MSW facility that has received a permit but never received waste, or that received an approved Subtitle D
permit modification before September 1, 2001.
(e) A permit by rule is granted for an animal crematory that meets the following criteria. For facilities that do not
meet all the requirements of this subsection, the owner or operator shall submit a permit application under §§ 330.57,
330.59, 330.61, 330.63, and 330.65 of this title and obtain a permit. To qualify for a permit by rule under this subsec-
tion, the following requirements must be met.
 Page 3
30 TAC § 330.7

(1) General prohibitions. An animal crematory facility shall comply with § 330.15(a) of this title (relating to Gen-
eral Prohibitions).
(2) Incineration limits. Incineration of carcasses shall be limited to the conditions specified in § 106.494 of this title
(relating to Pathological Waste Incinerators (Previously SE 90)). The facility shall not accept animal carcasses that
weigh more than the capacity of the largest incinerator at the facility and shall not dismember any carcasses during pro-
cessing.
(3) Ash control. Ash disposal must be at an authorized facility unless the ash is returned to the animal owner or sent
to a pet cemetery. Ash shall be stored in an enclosed container that will prevent release of the ash to the environment.
There shall be no more than 2,000 pounds of ash stored at an animal crematory at any given time.
(4) Air pollution control. Air emissions from the facility shall not cause or contribute to a condition of air pollution
as defined in Texas Clean Air Act, § 382.003. All animal crematories, prior to construction or modification, must have
an air permit issued under Chapter 116 of this title (relating to Control of Air Pollution by Permits for New Construction
or Modification), or qualify for a permit by rule under § 106.494 of this title.
(5) Fire protection. The facility shall prepare, maintain, and follow a fire protection plan. This fire protection plan
shall describe fire protection resources (a local fire department, fire hydrants, fire extinguishers, water tanks, water well,
etc.), and employee training and safety procedures. The fire protection plan shall comply with local fire codes.
(6) Storage limits. Carcasses must be incinerated within two hours of receipt, unless stored at or below a tempera-
ture of 29 degrees Fahrenheit. Storage of carcasses shall be in a manner that minimizes the release of odors. Storage of
carcasses shall be limited to the lesser of 3,200 pounds or the amount that can be incinerated at the maximum loading
rate for the incinerators at the facility in a two-day period.
(7) Unauthorized waste. Only carcasses or animal parts, with any associated packaging, shall be processed. Car-
casses shall not be accepted in packaging that includes any chlorinated plastics. Carcasses or animal parts that are either
hazardous waste or medical waste are prohibited.
(8) Cleaning. Storage and processing units must be properly cleaned on a routine basis to prevent odors and the
breeding of flies.
(9) Nuisance prevention. The facility shall be designed and operated in a manner so as to prevent nuisance condi-
tions, including, but not limited to, dust from ashes, disease vectors, odors, and liquids from spills, from being released
from the property boundary of the authorized facility.
(10) Diseased animals. The facility shall be equipped with appropriate protective equipment and clothing for per-
sonnel handling diseased animals that may be received at the facility. Facility owners or operators must inform custom-
ers and local veterinarians of the need to identify diseased animals for the protection of personnel handling the animals.
(11) Buffer zone. An animal crematory, including unloading and storage areas, constructed after March 2, 2003,
must be at least 50 feet from the property boundary of the facility.
(12) Operating hours. A crematory shall operate within the time frames allowed by § 111.129 of this title (relating
to Operating Requirements).
(13) Documentation. The operator of an animal crematory shall document the carcasses' weight, date and time
when carcasses are received, and when carcasses are loaded into the incinerator. A separate entry in the records for
loading into the incinerator is not required if a carcass is loaded within two hours of receipt. This information will be
maintained in records on site.
(14) Breakdown. The facility is subject to § 330.241 of this title (relating to Overloading and Breakdown).
(15) Records management. The owner or operator must retain records as follows:
(A) maintain a copy of all requirements of this subsection that apply to the facility;
(B) maintain records for the previous consecutive 12-month period containing sufficient information to demonstrate
compliance with all requirements of this subsection;
(C) keep all required records at the facility; and
 Page 4
30 TAC § 330.7

(D) make the records available upon request to personnel from the commission or from local governments with ju-
risdiction over the facility.
(16) Fees. An animal crematory facility authorized under this section is exempt from the fee requirements of Sub-
chapter P of this chapter (relating to Fees and Reporting).
(17) Other requirements. No other requirements under this chapter are applicable to a facility that meets all of the
requirements of this subsection.
(f) A permit by rule is granted for a dual chamber incinerator if the owner or operator complies with § 106.491 of
this title (relating to Dual-Chamber Incinerators).
(g) A permit by rule is granted for an air curtain incinerator if the owner or operator complies with § 106.496 of this
title (relating to Air Curtain Incinerators). An air curtain incinerator may not be located within 300 feet of an active or
closed MSW landfill unit boundary.
(h) A standard air permit is granted for facilities that comply with Subchapter U of this chapter (relating to Standard
Air Permits for Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facilities and Transfer Stations).
(i) A permit by rule is granted for a period of up to five years to a county or municipality with a population of
12,000 people or less to dispose of demolition waste from properties with nuisance or abandoned buildings.
(1) Requirements. The following conditions must be met.
(A) Form submittal. The county or municipality submits a form provided by the commission to the executive di-
rector for review and approval before construction begins.
(B) Notice to regional office. The county or municipality notifies the applicable commission regional office of the
intent to dispose of waste under this authorization at least 48 hours prior to accepting the first load of waste.
(C) Facility location. The location where disposal will occur: (i) is owned or controlled by the county or municipal-
ity, and (ii) receives less than or equal to 25 inches average annual precipitation as determined from precipitation data
for the nearest official precipitation recording station for at least the most recent 30-year reporting period or by another
method approved by the executive director.
(D) Sources of waste. The properties on which nuisance and abandoned buildings are located have been acquired
by the county or municipality by means of bankruptcy, tax delinquency, or condemnation, and the previous owners are
not financially capable of paying the costs of the disposal of demolition waste at a permitted solid waste disposal facili-
ty, including transportation of the waste to the facility.
(E) Waste acceptance. (i) Prior to demolition, structures are surveyed and abated, if required, for asbes-
tos-containing materials in accordance with 25 TAC Chapter 295, Subchapter C (relating to Texas Asbestos Health
Protection). (ii) The facility may accept non-regulated asbestos-containing materials (non-RACM) for disposal. The
wastes are placed on the active working face and covered at the end of the operating day with at least six inches of soil.
Under no circumstances may any of the material containing non-RACM be placed on a surface that is subject to vehic-
ular traffic or disposed of by any other means by which the material could be crumbled into a friable state. (iii) The
facility may accept regulated asbestos-containing materials (RACM) if the following conditions are met.
(I) The county or municipality notifies the executive director on a form provided by the commission in accordance
with subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
(II) All waste trenches are identified as receiving RACM, and deed records required under subparagraph (Q) of this
paragraph include an indication that the waste trench(es) received RACM.
(III) RACM is transported and received at the facility in tightly closed and unruptured containers or bags or
wrapped with at least six-mil polyethylene.
(IV) Bags or containers holding RACM are carefully unloaded and placed in the final disposal location. RACM is
then covered immediately with at least six inches of soil. Care is taken during unloading and placement of RACM and
during application of the cover so that the bags or containers are not ruptured. (iv) Waste is limited to the abandoned
or nuisance buildings and materials from the property on which the buildings are located. All waste disposed under this
authorization must meet the limitations of § 330.5(a)(2) of this title (relating to Classification of Municipal Solid Waste
Facilities) and may not include waste prohibited under § 330.15(e) of this title.
 Page 5
30 TAC § 330.7

(F) Access control. Access to the disposal facility is controlled by means of fences, other artificial barriers, natural
barriers, or a combination of these methods, and includes a locking gate.
(G) Buffers and easements. The county or municipality maintains a minimum distance of 50 feet as a buffer be-
tween the permit boundary and waste storage, processing and disposal areas. No disposal occurs within a utility or pipe-
line easement or within 25 feet of the center of a utility or pipeline easement.
(H) Below-grade placement. Waste is placed only below grade. The top of final cover is placed at pre-existing
grade or up to three feet above pre-existing grade to ensure that natural drainage patterns are not altered and ponding of
water over waste is prevented.
(I) Weekly cover. Waste is covered at least weekly with six inches of earthen material not previously mixed with
waste, or by tarps. Use of tarps as cover is limited to a seven-day period after which the county or municipality must
replace the tarp with either waste or a six-inch layer of earthen material not previously mixed with waste. Tarps may not
be used in place of soil cover requirements relating to non-RACM and RACM in subparagraph (E)(ii) and (iii) of this
paragraph. Any trench that has received waste but will be inactive for more than 180 days receives intermediate cover in
accordance with subparagraph (J) of this paragraph, or final cover in accordance with subparagraph (P) of this para-
graph.
(J) Intermediate cover. Waste is covered, including any soil weekly cover, with twelve inches of well compacted
earthen material not previously mixed with waste.
(K) Maximum volume. The design waste disposal volume is less than 2.5 million cubic meters in accordance with §
106.534(3) of this title (relating to Municipal Solid Waste Landfills and Transfer Stations).
(L) Facility signs. At all entrances through which waste is received, the facility conspicuously displays a sign with
letters at least three inches in height providing a statement that the facility is "NOT FOR PUBLIC USE," an emergency
24-hour contact number that reaches an individual with the authority to obligate the facility at all times that the facility
is not in operation, and the local emergency fire department number.
(M) Stormwater and contaminated water. The county or municipality constructs berms to divert the
25-year/24-hour storm event from entering excavations containing waste. Water that has contacted waste is managed as
contaminated water and disposed at an authorized treatment facility.
(N) Reporting. The county or municipality, while not required to provide quarterly reporting, provides annual re-
porting in accordance with the annual reporting provisions of § 330.675(a) of this title (relating to Reports).
(O) Reauthorization. Before reaching the permit by rule term limit of five years, the county or municipality may
request reauthorization under the permit by rule by submitting a form that is current at the time of reauthorization, pro-
vided by the commission in accordance with subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, to the executive director at least 14
days before the end of the permit term.
(P) Final cover. The following conditions are met. (i) Within 60 days after a trench reaches its capacity or waste
deposition activities are complete in a trench, the county or municipality installs final cover over waste in the trench.
Final cover shall be composed of no less than two feet of soil. The first 18 inches or more of cover shall be of compact-
ed clayey soil, classification sand clay (SC) or low plasticity clay (CL) as defined in the "Unified Soils Classification
System" developed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and placed and compacted in layers of no more than
six inches to minimize the potential for water infiltration. A high plasticity clayey (CH) soil may be used; however, this
soil may experience excessive cracking and shall therefore be covered by a minimum of 12 inches of topsoil to retain
moisture. Other types of soil may be used with prior written approval from the executive director. The final six inches
of cover shall be of suitable topsoil that is capable of sustaining native plant growth and shall be seeded or sodded as
soon as practicable following the application of the final cover in order to minimize erosion. (ii) The trench final cover
procedures listed in clause (i) of this subparagraph are completed before facility closure, as described in subparagraph
(Q) of this paragraph. If these procedures cannot be performed before the permit by rule term limit is reached, the
county or municipality submits a current application form for reauthorization of the permit by rule to the executive di-
rector at least 14 days before the end of the permit term.
(Q) Facility closure. The county or municipality notifies the executive director and the applicable regional office at
least 60 days before the anticipated closure date of the facility. Within ten days after closure, submit to the executive
director by registered mail a certified copy of an "affidavit to the public" in accordance with the requirements of §
 Page 6
30 TAC § 330.7

330.19 of this title (relating to Deed Recordation). In addition, record a certified notation of the deed to the facility
property, or on some other instrument that is normally examined during title search, that will in perpetuity notify any
potential purchaser of the property that the land has been used as a landfill facility and use of the land is restricted.
Submit a certified deed to the executive director.
(2) Other provisions. The following provisions also apply to this authorization.
(A) Processing. This permit by rule also authorizes the processing of waste destined for the disposal unit. Author-
ized processing is limited to volume reduction, such as chipping or grinding, but not burning. Processing must occur
within the permit boundary and may not occur within a buffer zone or right-of-way. Tires, RACM and non-RACM may
not be processed. If required, the county or municipality must obtain authorization for air emissions resulting from this
processing.
(B) Fees. Waste that is disposed under this authorization is not subject to the fee requirements of Subchapter P of
this chapter.
(C) Other requirements. No other requirements under this chapter are applicable to a facility that meets all the re-
quirements of this subsection.

SOURCE: The provisions of this § 330.7 adopted to be effective March 27, 2006, 31 TexReg 2502; amended to be ef-
fective August 16, 2012, 37 TexReg 6072; amended to be effective July 31, 2014, 39 TexReg 5796

NOTES:

CROSS-REFERENCES: This Section cited in 30 TAC § 330.4, (relating to Permit Required); 30 TAC § 330.253, (re-
lating to Closure Requirements for MSWLF Units That Receive Waste on or after October 9, 1993, and MSW Sites); 30
TAC § 106.496, (relating to Air Curtain Incinerators); 30 TAC § 106.534, (relating to Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
and Transfer Stations); 30 TAC § 330.9, (relating to Registration Required); 30 TAC § 330.11, (relating to Notification
Required); 30 TAC § 330.13, (relating to Waste Management Activities Exempt from Permitting, Registration, or Noti-
fication); 30 TAC § 330.15, (relating to General Prohibitions); 30 TAC § 330.21, (relating to Closure); 30 TAC §
330.133, (relating to Unloading of Waste); 30 TAC § 330.169, (relating to Waste in Enclosed Containers or Enclosed
Vehicles Accepted at Type IV Landfills); 30 TAC § 330.461, (relating to Certification of Final Facility Closure); 30
TAC § 330.951, (relating to Definitions); 30 TAC § 330.954, (relating to Development Permit, Development Authoriza-
tion, and Registration Requirements, Procedures, and Processing); 30 TAC § 80.108, (relating to Executive Director
Party Status in Permit Hearings).
This Chapter cited in 30 TAC § 55.1, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 55.101, (relating to Applicability); 30
TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions To Be Determined for Individual Permits); 30 TAC § 334.483, (relating to Dis-
posal by Generator); 30 TAC § 335.78, (relating to Special Requirements for Hazardous Waste Generated by Condi-
tionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators); 30 TAC § 335.501, (relating to Purpose, Scope, and Applicability); 30
TAC § 336.337, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 350.2, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC §
336.225, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions to be Determined for In-
dividual Permits); 30 TAC § 91.20, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 37.271, (relating to Local Government Finan-
cial Test); 30 TAC § 37.8011, (relating to Definitions).

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 19
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

*** This document reflects all regulations in effect as of July 31, 2014 ***

TITLE 30. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 330. MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL INFORMATION

30 TAC § 330.9 (2014)

§ 330.9. Registration Required

(a) Except as provided in §§ 330.7, 330.11, 330.13, or 330.25 of this title (relating to Permit Required; Notification
Required; Waste Management Activities Exempt from Permitting, Registration, or Notification; Relationship with
County Licensing System), no person may cause, suffer, allow, or permit any activity of storage, processing, removal,
or disposal of any municipal solid waste (MSW) unless that activity is authorized by a registration or other authorization
from the commission. In the event this requirement is violated, the executive director may seek recourse against not
only the person that stored, processed, or disposed of the waste but also against the generator, transporter, owner or op-
erator, or other person who caused, suffered, allowed, or permitted waste to be stored, processed, or disposed. No per-
son may commence physical construction of a new MSW management facility subject to this registration requirement
without first having submitted a registration application in accordance with §§ 330.57, 330.59, 330.61, 330.63, and
330.65 of this title (relating to Permit and Registration Application Procedures) and received a registration from the
commission. A person shall include a statement justifying the facility's eligibility for a registration as established under
this section. A person shall submit a claim for a registration by rule in duplicate with one copy sent directly to the ap-
propriate Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regional office.
(b) A registration is required for an MSW transfer station facility that is used in the transfer of MSW to a solid
waste processing or disposal facility from any of the following:
(1) a municipality with a population of less than 50,000;
(2) a county with a population of less than 85,000;
(3) a facility used in the transfer of MSW that transfers or will transfer 125 tons per day or less; or
(4) a transfer station located within the permitted boundaries of an MSW Type I or Type IV facility as specified in
§ 330.5(a) of this title (relating to Classification of Municipal Solid Waste Facilities).
(c) A registration is required to establish a waste-separation/recycling facility established at a permitted MSW facil-
ity if owned by the permittee.
(d) A registration is required for a facility where the only operation is the storage and/or processing of used and
scrap tires as provided for in Chapter 328 of this title (relating to Waste Minimization and Recycling). These facilities
shall be registered with the executive director in accordance with Chapter 328 of this title. Failure to operate such regis-
tered facilities in accordance with the requirements established in Chapter 328 of this title may be grounds for the revo-
cation of the registration.
(e) A licensed hospital may function as a medical waste collection and transfer facility for generators that generate
less than 50 pounds of untreated medical waste per month and that transport their own waste if:
 Page 2
30 TAC § 330.9

(1) the hospital is located in an incorporated area with a population of less than 25,000 and in a county with a pop-
ulation of less than one million; or
(2) the hospital is located in an unincorporated area that is not within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a city with a
population more than 25,000 or within a county with a population of more than one million. The hospital shall submit a
request to the executive director for registration as a medical waste collection station.
(f) A registration is required for any new MSW Type V transfer station that includes a material recovery operation
that meets all of the following requirements.
(1) Materials recovery. The owner or operator must recover 10% or more by weight or weight equivalent of the to-
tal incoming waste stream for reuse or recycling; ensure that the incoming waste has already been reduced by at least
10% through a source-separation recycling program; or, also operate one or more source-separation recycling programs
in the county where the transfer station is located and those source-separation recycling programs manage a total weight
or weight equivalent of recyclable materials equal to 10% or more by weight or weight equivalent of the incoming
waste stream to all transfer stations to which credit is being applied. The owner or operator must demonstrate in the
registration application the method that will be used to assure that the 10% requirement is achieved.
(2) Distance to a landfill. The transfer facility must demonstrate in the registration application that it will transfer
the remaining nonrecyclable waste to a landfill not more than 50 miles from the facility.
(g) Except as provided in § 330.11(d) of this title, a registration is required for an MSW Type V processing facility
that processes only grease trap waste, grit trap waste, or septage or a combination of these three liquid wastes in ac-
cordance with either paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection. For the purposes of this section, grit trap waste means grit
trap waste from commercial car washes and excludes grit trap waste from other generators.
(1) The facility must attain a 10% recovery of material for beneficial use from the incoming waste. Recovery of
material for beneficial use is considered to be the recovery of fats, oils, greases, and the recovery of food solids for
composting, but does not include the recovery of water. The Type V processing facilities issued a registration under a
permit exemption based on 10% recovery of material for beneficial use must maintain records in accordance with the
requirements of § 330.219(b)(9) of this title (relating to Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements). Records and a
report must be provided on a quarterly basis to the executive director that demonstrate that at least 10% of the volume of
the waste received was processed to recover solid material that was recycled or reused. Failure to achieve the relevant
percent recycling rate in any two quarters within any one-year period will cause a registration to terminate and will re-
quire the owner or operator of the facility to obtain a permit to continue facility operations. The quarterly report must
provide the volume received, percent solids, and the method of determining the percent solids, processed, disposed, and
recycled or reused. Records must be kept on a volume basis in gallons except that solids passing the paint filter test may
be reported in cubic yard volume converted to gallons. The methods of recycling or reuse must be specified in the re-
port. Records must be kept for solids and recyclable material leaving these facilities in the form of manifests, shipping
documents, or trip tickets. The quarterly report must include manifests, shipping documents, or trip tickets to show
where the recyclable material was taken for recycling, and the recycled material must be reconciled with the volume of
waste received. Water discharged from processing is not allowed to be counted as part of the 10% recovery of material.
Recovery and recycling or reuse of fats, oils, and greases may be considered a part of recycling for this activity. Com-
posting of solids resulting from waste processing may be considered to be recycling as part of this activity. Any material
such as lime, polymer, or flocculent added as part of the facility process is not allowed to be considered as part of the
10% recovery of material from the waste stream and must be subtracted from the material considered as recycled. Di-
version of material from the waste stream without processing is not considered to be recycling as part of this activity.
(2) The Type V processing facility must be located at a manned treatment facility that is permitted under Texas
Water Code, Chapter 26; is permitted to discharge at least one million gallons per day; and is owned by and operated for
the benefit of a political subdivision of this state. Facilities that have received a permit and wish to add capacity may
apply for a registration in lieu of a permit amendment if the facilities meet the registration requirements established in
this chapter.
(h) A registration is required for a mobile liquid waste processing unit that processes only grease trap waste, grit
trap waste, or septage or a combination of these three liquid wastes. For the purposes of this section, grit trap waste
means grit trap waste from commercial car washes and excludes grit trap waste from other generators. Registration ap-
plications shall contain the information specified in §§ 330.59(a) and (e) - (h), 330.61(a) and (b), and 330.63(a), (d)(6),
 Page 3
30 TAC § 330.9

(h), and (j) of this title (relating to Contents of Part I of the Application; Contents of Part II of the Application; and
Contents of Part III of the Application). The following requirements also apply.
(1) Mobile liquid waste processing shall be limited to the processing of liquid waste while at the generator's trap.
(2) Effluent from the processing of the liquid waste must be discharged to the generator's trap or interceptor.
(3) The mobile liquid waste processing units regulated under this section include truck-mounted processes that are
also known as separator trucks, and any other liquid waste processes that are not considered to be fixed to a specific
location.
(4) This section is not meant to supplant rules or ordinances of local governments where stricter standards are in
effect.
(5) This section is not applicable to septage if waste has received only a pH adjustment prior to or during transpor-
tation for disposal at a treatment facility permitted under Texas Water Code, Chapter 26, or other authorized facility.
Transporters who only adjust septage pH during transportation shall register in accordance with § 312.142 of this title
(relating to Transporter Registration).
(i) A registration is required for an MSW Type VI facility that demonstrates new management methods for pro-
cessing or handling grease trap waste, grit trap waste, septage, or a combination of these three liquid wastes. For the
purposes of this section, grit trap waste means grit trap waste from commercial car washes and excludes grit trap waste
from other generators. Those facilities meeting this exemption must obtain a registration by meeting the operational
criteria and design criteria established in § 330.63(d)(9) of this title.
(j) A registration is required for the following material recovery operations from a landfill. The following opera-
tions are subject to the general requirements found in § 330.601 of this title (relating to General Requirements), and the
requirements set for soil end product standards in § 330.615 of this title (relating to Final Soil Product Grades and Al-
lowable Uses), and the air quality requirements in § 330.607 of this title (relating to Air Quality Requirements):
(1) operations that recover reusable or recyclable material buried in permitted or closed MSW landfill facilities, or
MSW landfill facilities that were never permitted;
(2) operations that reclaim soil from permitted or closed MSW landfills, or from MSW landfill facilities that were
never permitted; and
(3) facilities that have received prior approval for excavation of buried materials through permits, permit amend-
ments, or other agency authorization, which are exempt from further authorization requirements, as established in this
subchapter, for the specific authorization received. Soil final product standards shall be applicable for all registered fa-
cilities.
(k) A registration by rule is granted for the owner or operator of a Type IX MSW facility that recovers landfill gas
for beneficial use if all of the following conditions are met.
(1) The owner or operator shall submit the following information at least 60 days prior to commencing operations:
(A) a large-scale plan drawing of the facility showing the following:
(i) facility boundaries (show permit boundaries and/or boundaries and dimensions of tract or land or closed MSW
landfill units on which the gas recovery system is to be developed); and
(ii) landfill gas treatment, gas compression, electrical power generation equipment, and any other beneficial gas-use
equipment, indicating limits of waste placement and additional easements required;
(B) for enclosed structures, provisions for fire control facilities (fire hydrants, fire extinguisher, water tanks, and
waterwell), continuous methane monitoring, and explosion-proof fixtures;
(C) a discussion of the proposed method for condensate disposal, including during the landfill post-closure care pe-
riod;
(D) an estimation of average daily gas production;
(E) an estimation of the design daily gas production;
(F) descriptions of the process units;
 Page 4
30 TAC § 330.9

(G) a cost estimate for closure following the requirements of § 330.505 of this title (relating to Closure Cost Esti-
mates for Storage and Processing Units); and
(H) a description of the financial assurance mechanism required by Chapter 37, Subchapter R of this title (relating
to Financial Assurance for Municipal Solid Waste Facilities).
(2) The owner or operator shall acquire all authorizations regarding air emissions for the facility and comply with
the following regulations:
(A) Subchapter E of this chapter (relating to Operational Standards for Municipal Solid Waste Storage and Pro-
cessing Units);
(B) § 330.459 and § 330.461 of this title (relating to Closure Requirements for Municipal Solid Waste Storage and
Processing Units; and Certification of Final Facility Closure); and
(C) § 330.505 of this title.
(l) A registration by rule is granted for persons that plan to transport untreated medical waste and that are not the
generator of the waste if all of the following conditions are met.
(1) The registrant completes registration forms provided by the commission and provides the following information
at least 60 days prior to commencing operations:
(A) name, address, and telephone number of registrant;
(B) name, address, and telephone number of partners, corporate officers, and directors; and
(C) description of each transportation unit, including:
(i) make, model, and year;
(ii) motor vehicle identification number, if applicable;
(iii) license plate (tag) number, including state and year; and
(iv) name of transportation unit owner.
(2) The owner or operator submits the fee required by § 330.1211(l) of this title (relating to Transporters of Un-
treated Medical Waste) along with the claim for the registration by rule.
(3) Registrations by rule expire after one year. The owner or operator must submit an annual fee in accordance with
§ 330.1211(l) of this title. Failure to timely pay the annual fee eliminates the option to manage wastes until the owner or
operator claims a new or renewed registration by rule.
(4) Persons that claim the registration maintain a copy of the registration form, as annotated by the executive direc-
tor with an assigned registration number, at their designated place of business and with each transportation unit used to
transport untreated medical waste.
(5) The owner or operator submits annual summary reports in accordance with applicable provisions in §
330.1211(m) of this title.
(m) A registration by rule is granted for owners or operators of mobile treatment units conducting on-site treatment
of medical waste who are not the generator if the following conditions are met.
(1) The registrant completes registration forms provided by the commission and provides the following information
at least 60 days prior to commencing operations or expiration of a registration issued under the former rules before the
comprehensive rule revisions in this chapter as adopted in 2006 (2006 Revisions) became effective:
(A) name, address, and telephone number of registrant;
(B) name, address, and telephone number of partners, corporate officers, and directors;
(C) description of each mobile treatment unit, including:
(i) make, model, and year;
(ii) motor vehicle identification number, if applicable; and
 Page 5
30 TAC § 330.9

(iii) license plate (tag) number, including state and year;
(D) name of mobile treatment unit owner;
(E) description of approved treatment method to be employed and chemical preparations, as well as the procedure
to be utilized for routine performance testing/parameter monitoring;
(F) evidence of competency;
(G) a description of the management and disposal of process waters generated during treatment events;
(H) a written contingency plan that describes the handling and disposal of waste in the event of treatment failure or
equipment breakdown; and
(I) an estimate of the cost to remove and dispose of waste and disinfect the waste treatment equipment and evidence
of financial assurance using procedures specified in Subchapter L of this chapter (relating to Closure, Post-Closure, and
Corrective Action Cost Estimates) and Chapter 37, Subchapter R of this title.
(2) The owner or operator submits the fee required by § 330.1221(l) of this title (relating to On-Site Treatment Ser-
vices on Mobile Treatment Units) along with the claim for the registration by rule.
(3) The executive director will send a copy of the registration form, annotated with an assigned registration number,
to the owner or operator,
(4) Registrations by rule expire after one year. The owner or operator must submit an annual renewal fee in ac-
cordance with § 330.1221(l) of this title. Failure to timely pay the annual fee eliminates the option to manage wastes
until the owner or operator claims a new or renewed registration by rule.
(5) The owner or operator submits annual summary reports in accordance with applicable provisions in §
330.1221(m) of this title.
(6) Providers of on-site treatment of medical waste in mobile units notify the executive director, by letter, within 30
days of any changes to their registration if:
(A) the method employed to treat medical waste changes;
(B) the office or place of business is moved;
(C) the name of registrant or owner of the operation is changed;
(D) the name of the partners, corporate directors, or corporate officers change; or
(E) the unit information changes.
(n) A registration is required for facilities that store or process untreated medical waste that is received from off-site
sources. For the purposes of this subsection, off-site shall be based on the definition of on-site found in § 330.1205(b) of
this title (relating to Definitions).
(o) A registration is required for a new MSW transfer station that is used only in the transfer of grease trap waste,
grit trap waste, septage, or other similar liquid waste if the facility used in the transfer will receive 32,000 gallons per
day or less.
(p) A registration is required for a new liquid waste transfer facility to be located on, or at, other commis-
sion-authorized facilities.

SOURCE: The provisions of this § 330.9 adopted to be effective March 27, 2006, 31 TexReg 2502

NOTES:

CROSS-REFERENCES: This Section cited in 30 TAC § 330.3, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 330.52, (relating
to Technical Requirements of Part I of the Application); 30 TAC § 330.66, (relating to Liquid Waste Transfer Facility
Design and Operation); 30 TAC § 330.70, (relating to Registration of Facilities That Recover Gas for Beneficial Use);
30 TAC § 330.71, (relating to Registration for Municipal Solid Waste Facilities That Process Grease Trap Waste, Grit
 Page 6
30 TAC § 330.9

Trap Waste, or Septage); 30 TAC § 330.72, (relating to Registration for Mobile Liquid Waste Processing Units); 30
TAC § 330.73, (relating to Registration of Demonstration Projects for Liquid Waste Processing Facilities); 30 TAC §
330.416, (relating to Registration Application Preparation); 30 TAC § 330.1, (relating to Purpose and Applicability); 30
TAC § 330.5, (relating to Classification of Municipal Solid Waste Facilities); 30 TAC § 330.7, (relating to Permit Re-
quired); 30 TAC § 330.11, (relating to Notification Required); 30 TAC § 330.13, (relating to Waste Management Activi-
ties Exempt from Permitting, Registration, or Notification); 30 TAC § 330.21, (relating to Closure); 30 TAC § 330.61,
(relating to Contents of Part II of the Application); 30 TAC § 330.607, (relating to Air Quality Requirements); 30 TAC §
330.1221, (relating to On-Site Treatment Services on Mobile Treatment Units).
This Chapter cited in 30 TAC § 55.1, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 55.101, (relating to Applicability); 30
TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions To Be Determined for Individual Permits); 30 TAC § 334.483, (relating to Dis-
posal by Generator); 30 TAC § 335.78, (relating to Special Requirements for Hazardous Waste Generated by Condi-
tionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators); 30 TAC § 335.501, (relating to Purpose, Scope, and Applicability); 30
TAC § 336.337, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 350.2, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC §
336.225, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions to be Determined for In-
dividual Permits); 30 TAC § 91.20, (relating to Applicability).

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 20
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

*** This document reflects all regulations in effect as of July 31, 2014 ***

TITLE 30. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 330. MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL INFORMATION

30 TAC § 330.9 (2014)

§ 330.9. Registration Required

(a) Except as provided in §§ 330.7, 330.11, 330.13, or 330.25 of this title (relating to Permit Required; Notification
Required; Waste Management Activities Exempt from Permitting, Registration, or Notification; Relationship with
County Licensing System), no person may cause, suffer, allow, or permit any activity of storage, processing, removal,
or disposal of any municipal solid waste (MSW) unless that activity is authorized by a registration or other authorization
from the commission. In the event this requirement is violated, the executive director may seek recourse against not
only the person that stored, processed, or disposed of the waste but also against the generator, transporter, owner or op-
erator, or other person who caused, suffered, allowed, or permitted waste to be stored, processed, or disposed. No per-
son may commence physical construction of a new MSW management facility subject to this registration requirement
without first having submitted a registration application in accordance with §§ 330.57, 330.59, 330.61, 330.63, and
330.65 of this title (relating to Permit and Registration Application Procedures) and received a registration from the
commission. A person shall include a statement justifying the facility's eligibility for a registration as established under
this section. A person shall submit a claim for a registration by rule in duplicate with one copy sent directly to the ap-
propriate Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regional office.
(b) A registration is required for an MSW transfer station facility that is used in the transfer of MSW to a solid
waste processing or disposal facility from any of the following:
(1) a municipality with a population of less than 50,000;
(2) a county with a population of less than 85,000;
(3) a facility used in the transfer of MSW that transfers or will transfer 125 tons per day or less; or
(4) a transfer station located within the permitted boundaries of an MSW Type I or Type IV facility as specified in
§ 330.5(a) of this title (relating to Classification of Municipal Solid Waste Facilities).
(c) A registration is required to establish a waste-separation/recycling facility established at a permitted MSW facil-
ity if owned by the permittee.
(d) A registration is required for a facility where the only operation is the storage and/or processing of used and
scrap tires as provided for in Chapter 328 of this title (relating to Waste Minimization and Recycling). These facilities
shall be registered with the executive director in accordance with Chapter 328 of this title. Failure to operate such regis-
tered facilities in accordance with the requirements established in Chapter 328 of this title may be grounds for the revo-
cation of the registration.
(e) A licensed hospital may function as a medical waste collection and transfer facility for generators that generate
less than 50 pounds of untreated medical waste per month and that transport their own waste if:
 Page 2
30 TAC § 330.9

(1) the hospital is located in an incorporated area with a population of less than 25,000 and in a county with a pop-
ulation of less than one million; or
(2) the hospital is located in an unincorporated area that is not within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a city with a
population more than 25,000 or within a county with a population of more than one million. The hospital shall submit a
request to the executive director for registration as a medical waste collection station.
(f) A registration is required for any new MSW Type V transfer station that includes a material recovery operation
that meets all of the following requirements.
(1) Materials recovery. The owner or operator must recover 10% or more by weight or weight equivalent of the to-
tal incoming waste stream for reuse or recycling; ensure that the incoming waste has already been reduced by at least
10% through a source-separation recycling program; or, also operate one or more source-separation recycling programs
in the county where the transfer station is located and those source-separation recycling programs manage a total weight
or weight equivalent of recyclable materials equal to 10% or more by weight or weight equivalent of the incoming
waste stream to all transfer stations to which credit is being applied. The owner or operator must demonstrate in the
registration application the method that will be used to assure that the 10% requirement is achieved.
(2) Distance to a landfill. The transfer facility must demonstrate in the registration application that it will transfer
the remaining nonrecyclable waste to a landfill not more than 50 miles from the facility.
(g) Except as provided in § 330.11(d) of this title, a registration is required for an MSW Type V processing facility
that processes only grease trap waste, grit trap waste, or septage or a combination of these three liquid wastes in ac-
cordance with either paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection. For the purposes of this section, grit trap waste means grit
trap waste from commercial car washes and excludes grit trap waste from other generators.
(1) The facility must attain a 10% recovery of material for beneficial use from the incoming waste. Recovery of
material for beneficial use is considered to be the recovery of fats, oils, greases, and the recovery of food solids for
composting, but does not include the recovery of water. The Type V processing facilities issued a registration under a
permit exemption based on 10% recovery of material for beneficial use must maintain records in accordance with the
requirements of § 330.219(b)(9) of this title (relating to Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements). Records and a
report must be provided on a quarterly basis to the executive director that demonstrate that at least 10% of the volume of
the waste received was processed to recover solid material that was recycled or reused. Failure to achieve the relevant
percent recycling rate in any two quarters within any one-year period will cause a registration to terminate and will re-
quire the owner or operator of the facility to obtain a permit to continue facility operations. The quarterly report must
provide the volume received, percent solids, and the method of determining the percent solids, processed, disposed, and
recycled or reused. Records must be kept on a volume basis in gallons except that solids passing the paint filter test may
be reported in cubic yard volume converted to gallons. The methods of recycling or reuse must be specified in the re-
port. Records must be kept for solids and recyclable material leaving these facilities in the form of manifests, shipping
documents, or trip tickets. The quarterly report must include manifests, shipping documents, or trip tickets to show
where the recyclable material was taken for recycling, and the recycled material must be reconciled with the volume of
waste received. Water discharged from processing is not allowed to be counted as part of the 10% recovery of material.
Recovery and recycling or reuse of fats, oils, and greases may be considered a part of recycling for this activity. Com-
posting of solids resulting from waste processing may be considered to be recycling as part of this activity. Any material
such as lime, polymer, or flocculent added as part of the facility process is not allowed to be considered as part of the
10% recovery of material from the waste stream and must be subtracted from the material considered as recycled. Di-
version of material from the waste stream without processing is not considered to be recycling as part of this activity.
(2) The Type V processing facility must be located at a manned treatment facility that is permitted under Texas
Water Code, Chapter 26; is permitted to discharge at least one million gallons per day; and is owned by and operated for
the benefit of a political subdivision of this state. Facilities that have received a permit and wish to add capacity may
apply for a registration in lieu of a permit amendment if the facilities meet the registration requirements established in
this chapter.
(h) A registration is required for a mobile liquid waste processing unit that processes only grease trap waste, grit
trap waste, or septage or a combination of these three liquid wastes. For the purposes of this section, grit trap waste
means grit trap waste from commercial car washes and excludes grit trap waste from other generators. Registration ap-
plications shall contain the information specified in §§ 330.59(a) and (e) - (h), 330.61(a) and (b), and 330.63(a), (d)(6),
 Page 3
30 TAC § 330.9

(h), and (j) of this title (relating to Contents of Part I of the Application; Contents of Part II of the Application; and
Contents of Part III of the Application). The following requirements also apply.
(1) Mobile liquid waste processing shall be limited to the processing of liquid waste while at the generator's trap.
(2) Effluent from the processing of the liquid waste must be discharged to the generator's trap or interceptor.
(3) The mobile liquid waste processing units regulated under this section include truck-mounted processes that are
also known as separator trucks, and any other liquid waste processes that are not considered to be fixed to a specific
location.
(4) This section is not meant to supplant rules or ordinances of local governments where stricter standards are in
effect.
(5) This section is not applicable to septage if waste has received only a pH adjustment prior to or during transpor-
tation for disposal at a treatment facility permitted under Texas Water Code, Chapter 26, or other authorized facility.
Transporters who only adjust septage pH during transportation shall register in accordance with § 312.142 of this title
(relating to Transporter Registration).
(i) A registration is required for an MSW Type VI facility that demonstrates new management methods for pro-
cessing or handling grease trap waste, grit trap waste, septage, or a combination of these three liquid wastes. For the
purposes of this section, grit trap waste means grit trap waste from commercial car washes and excludes grit trap waste
from other generators. Those facilities meeting this exemption must obtain a registration by meeting the operational
criteria and design criteria established in § 330.63(d)(9) of this title.
(j) A registration is required for the following material recovery operations from a landfill. The following opera-
tions are subject to the general requirements found in § 330.601 of this title (relating to General Requirements), and the
requirements set for soil end product standards in § 330.615 of this title (relating to Final Soil Product Grades and Al-
lowable Uses), and the air quality requirements in § 330.607 of this title (relating to Air Quality Requirements):
(1) operations that recover reusable or recyclable material buried in permitted or closed MSW landfill facilities, or
MSW landfill facilities that were never permitted;
(2) operations that reclaim soil from permitted or closed MSW landfills, or from MSW landfill facilities that were
never permitted; and
(3) facilities that have received prior approval for excavation of buried materials through permits, permit amend-
ments, or other agency authorization, which are exempt from further authorization requirements, as established in this
subchapter, for the specific authorization received. Soil final product standards shall be applicable for all registered fa-
cilities.
(k) A registration by rule is granted for the owner or operator of a Type IX MSW facility that recovers landfill gas
for beneficial use if all of the following conditions are met.
(1) The owner or operator shall submit the following information at least 60 days prior to commencing operations:
(A) a large-scale plan drawing of the facility showing the following:
(i) facility boundaries (show permit boundaries and/or boundaries and dimensions of tract or land or closed MSW
landfill units on which the gas recovery system is to be developed); and
(ii) landfill gas treatment, gas compression, electrical power generation equipment, and any other beneficial gas-use
equipment, indicating limits of waste placement and additional easements required;
(B) for enclosed structures, provisions for fire control facilities (fire hydrants, fire extinguisher, water tanks, and
waterwell), continuous methane monitoring, and explosion-proof fixtures;
(C) a discussion of the proposed method for condensate disposal, including during the landfill post-closure care pe-
riod;
(D) an estimation of average daily gas production;
(E) an estimation of the design daily gas production;
(F) descriptions of the process units;
 Page 4
30 TAC § 330.9

(G) a cost estimate for closure following the requirements of § 330.505 of this title (relating to Closure Cost Esti-
mates for Storage and Processing Units); and
(H) a description of the financial assurance mechanism required by Chapter 37, Subchapter R of this title (relating
to Financial Assurance for Municipal Solid Waste Facilities).
(2) The owner or operator shall acquire all authorizations regarding air emissions for the facility and comply with
the following regulations:
(A) Subchapter E of this chapter (relating to Operational Standards for Municipal Solid Waste Storage and Pro-
cessing Units);
(B) § 330.459 and § 330.461 of this title (relating to Closure Requirements for Municipal Solid Waste Storage and
Processing Units; and Certification of Final Facility Closure); and
(C) § 330.505 of this title.
(l) A registration by rule is granted for persons that plan to transport untreated medical waste and that are not the
generator of the waste if all of the following conditions are met.
(1) The registrant completes registration forms provided by the commission and provides the following information
at least 60 days prior to commencing operations:
(A) name, address, and telephone number of registrant;
(B) name, address, and telephone number of partners, corporate officers, and directors; and
(C) description of each transportation unit, including:
(i) make, model, and year;
(ii) motor vehicle identification number, if applicable;
(iii) license plate (tag) number, including state and year; and
(iv) name of transportation unit owner.
(2) The owner or operator submits the fee required by § 330.1211(l) of this title (relating to Transporters of Un-
treated Medical Waste) along with the claim for the registration by rule.
(3) Registrations by rule expire after one year. The owner or operator must submit an annual fee in accordance with
§ 330.1211(l) of this title. Failure to timely pay the annual fee eliminates the option to manage wastes until the owner or
operator claims a new or renewed registration by rule.
(4) Persons that claim the registration maintain a copy of the registration form, as annotated by the executive direc-
tor with an assigned registration number, at their designated place of business and with each transportation unit used to
transport untreated medical waste.
(5) The owner or operator submits annual summary reports in accordance with applicable provisions in §
330.1211(m) of this title.
(m) A registration by rule is granted for owners or operators of mobile treatment units conducting on-site treatment
of medical waste who are not the generator if the following conditions are met.
(1) The registrant completes registration forms provided by the commission and provides the following information
at least 60 days prior to commencing operations or expiration of a registration issued under the former rules before the
comprehensive rule revisions in this chapter as adopted in 2006 (2006 Revisions) became effective:
(A) name, address, and telephone number of registrant;
(B) name, address, and telephone number of partners, corporate officers, and directors;
(C) description of each mobile treatment unit, including:
(i) make, model, and year;
(ii) motor vehicle identification number, if applicable; and
 Page 5
30 TAC § 330.9

(iii) license plate (tag) number, including state and year;
(D) name of mobile treatment unit owner;
(E) description of approved treatment method to be employed and chemical preparations, as well as the procedure
to be utilized for routine performance testing/parameter monitoring;
(F) evidence of competency;
(G) a description of the management and disposal of process waters generated during treatment events;
(H) a written contingency plan that describes the handling and disposal of waste in the event of treatment failure or
equipment breakdown; and
(I) an estimate of the cost to remove and dispose of waste and disinfect the waste treatment equipment and evidence
of financial assurance using procedures specified in Subchapter L of this chapter (relating to Closure, Post-Closure, and
Corrective Action Cost Estimates) and Chapter 37, Subchapter R of this title.
(2) The owner or operator submits the fee required by § 330.1221(l) of this title (relating to On-Site Treatment Ser-
vices on Mobile Treatment Units) along with the claim for the registration by rule.
(3) The executive director will send a copy of the registration form, annotated with an assigned registration number,
to the owner or operator,
(4) Registrations by rule expire after one year. The owner or operator must submit an annual renewal fee in ac-
cordance with § 330.1221(l) of this title. Failure to timely pay the annual fee eliminates the option to manage wastes
until the owner or operator claims a new or renewed registration by rule.
(5) The owner or operator submits annual summary reports in accordance with applicable provisions in §
330.1221(m) of this title.
(6) Providers of on-site treatment of medical waste in mobile units notify the executive director, by letter, within 30
days of any changes to their registration if:
(A) the method employed to treat medical waste changes;
(B) the office or place of business is moved;
(C) the name of registrant or owner of the operation is changed;
(D) the name of the partners, corporate directors, or corporate officers change; or
(E) the unit information changes.
(n) A registration is required for facilities that store or process untreated medical waste that is received from off-site
sources. For the purposes of this subsection, off-site shall be based on the definition of on-site found in § 330.1205(b) of
this title (relating to Definitions).
(o) A registration is required for a new MSW transfer station that is used only in the transfer of grease trap waste,
grit trap waste, septage, or other similar liquid waste if the facility used in the transfer will receive 32,000 gallons per
day or less.
(p) A registration is required for a new liquid waste transfer facility to be located on, or at, other commis-
sion-authorized facilities.

SOURCE: The provisions of this § 330.9 adopted to be effective March 27, 2006, 31 TexReg 2502

NOTES:

CROSS-REFERENCES: This Section cited in 30 TAC § 330.3, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 330.52, (relating
to Technical Requirements of Part I of the Application); 30 TAC § 330.66, (relating to Liquid Waste Transfer Facility
Design and Operation); 30 TAC § 330.70, (relating to Registration of Facilities That Recover Gas for Beneficial Use);
30 TAC § 330.71, (relating to Registration for Municipal Solid Waste Facilities That Process Grease Trap Waste, Grit
 Page 6
30 TAC § 330.9

Trap Waste, or Septage); 30 TAC § 330.72, (relating to Registration for Mobile Liquid Waste Processing Units); 30
TAC § 330.73, (relating to Registration of Demonstration Projects for Liquid Waste Processing Facilities); 30 TAC §
330.416, (relating to Registration Application Preparation); 30 TAC § 330.1, (relating to Purpose and Applicability); 30
TAC § 330.5, (relating to Classification of Municipal Solid Waste Facilities); 30 TAC § 330.7, (relating to Permit Re-
quired); 30 TAC § 330.11, (relating to Notification Required); 30 TAC § 330.13, (relating to Waste Management Activi-
ties Exempt from Permitting, Registration, or Notification); 30 TAC § 330.21, (relating to Closure); 30 TAC § 330.61,
(relating to Contents of Part II of the Application); 30 TAC § 330.607, (relating to Air Quality Requirements); 30 TAC §
330.1221, (relating to On-Site Treatment Services on Mobile Treatment Units).
This Chapter cited in 30 TAC § 55.1, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 55.101, (relating to Applicability); 30
TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions To Be Determined for Individual Permits); 30 TAC § 334.483, (relating to Dis-
posal by Generator); 30 TAC § 335.78, (relating to Special Requirements for Hazardous Waste Generated by Condi-
tionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators); 30 TAC § 335.501, (relating to Purpose, Scope, and Applicability); 30
TAC § 336.337, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 350.2, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC §
336.225, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions to be Determined for In-
dividual Permits); 30 TAC § 91.20, (relating to Applicability).

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 21
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

*** This document reflects all regulations in effect as of July 31, 2014 ***

TITLE 30. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 330. MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL INFORMATION

30 TAC § 330.9 (2014)

§ 330.9. Registration Required

(a) Except as provided in §§ 330.7, 330.11, 330.13, or 330.25 of this title (relating to Permit Required; Notification
Required; Waste Management Activities Exempt from Permitting, Registration, or Notification; Relationship with
County Licensing System), no person may cause, suffer, allow, or permit any activity of storage, processing, removal,
or disposal of any municipal solid waste (MSW) unless that activity is authorized by a registration or other authorization
from the commission. In the event this requirement is violated, the executive director may seek recourse against not
only the person that stored, processed, or disposed of the waste but also against the generator, transporter, owner or op-
erator, or other person who caused, suffered, allowed, or permitted waste to be stored, processed, or disposed. No per-
son may commence physical construction of a new MSW management facility subject to this registration requirement
without first having submitted a registration application in accordance with §§ 330.57, 330.59, 330.61, 330.63, and
330.65 of this title (relating to Permit and Registration Application Procedures) and received a registration from the
commission. A person shall include a statement justifying the facility's eligibility for a registration as established under
this section. A person shall submit a claim for a registration by rule in duplicate with one copy sent directly to the ap-
propriate Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regional office.
(b) A registration is required for an MSW transfer station facility that is used in the transfer of MSW to a solid
waste processing or disposal facility from any of the following:
(1) a municipality with a population of less than 50,000;
(2) a county with a population of less than 85,000;
(3) a facility used in the transfer of MSW that transfers or will transfer 125 tons per day or less; or
(4) a transfer station located within the permitted boundaries of an MSW Type I or Type IV facility as specified in
§ 330.5(a) of this title (relating to Classification of Municipal Solid Waste Facilities).
(c) A registration is required to establish a waste-separation/recycling facility established at a permitted MSW facil-
ity if owned by the permittee.
(d) A registration is required for a facility where the only operation is the storage and/or processing of used and
scrap tires as provided for in Chapter 328 of this title (relating to Waste Minimization and Recycling). These facilities
shall be registered with the executive director in accordance with Chapter 328 of this title. Failure to operate such regis-
tered facilities in accordance with the requirements established in Chapter 328 of this title may be grounds for the revo-
cation of the registration.
(e) A licensed hospital may function as a medical waste collection and transfer facility for generators that generate
less than 50 pounds of untreated medical waste per month and that transport their own waste if:
 Page 2
30 TAC § 330.9

(1) the hospital is located in an incorporated area with a population of less than 25,000 and in a county with a pop-
ulation of less than one million; or
(2) the hospital is located in an unincorporated area that is not within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a city with a
population more than 25,000 or within a county with a population of more than one million. The hospital shall submit a
request to the executive director for registration as a medical waste collection station.
(f) A registration is required for any new MSW Type V transfer station that includes a material recovery operation
that meets all of the following requirements.
(1) Materials recovery. The owner or operator must recover 10% or more by weight or weight equivalent of the to-
tal incoming waste stream for reuse or recycling; ensure that the incoming waste has already been reduced by at least
10% through a source-separation recycling program; or, also operate one or more source-separation recycling programs
in the county where the transfer station is located and those source-separation recycling programs manage a total weight
or weight equivalent of recyclable materials equal to 10% or more by weight or weight equivalent of the incoming
waste stream to all transfer stations to which credit is being applied. The owner or operator must demonstrate in the
registration application the method that will be used to assure that the 10% requirement is achieved.
(2) Distance to a landfill. The transfer facility must demonstrate in the registration application that it will transfer
the remaining nonrecyclable waste to a landfill not more than 50 miles from the facility.
(g) Except as provided in § 330.11(d) of this title, a registration is required for an MSW Type V processing facility
that processes only grease trap waste, grit trap waste, or septage or a combination of these three liquid wastes in ac-
cordance with either paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection. For the purposes of this section, grit trap waste means grit
trap waste from commercial car washes and excludes grit trap waste from other generators.
(1) The facility must attain a 10% recovery of material for beneficial use from the incoming waste. Recovery of
material for beneficial use is considered to be the recovery of fats, oils, greases, and the recovery of food solids for
composting, but does not include the recovery of water. The Type V processing facilities issued a registration under a
permit exemption based on 10% recovery of material for beneficial use must maintain records in accordance with the
requirements of § 330.219(b)(9) of this title (relating to Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements). Records and a
report must be provided on a quarterly basis to the executive director that demonstrate that at least 10% of the volume of
the waste received was processed to recover solid material that was recycled or reused. Failure to achieve the relevant
percent recycling rate in any two quarters within any one-year period will cause a registration to terminate and will re-
quire the owner or operator of the facility to obtain a permit to continue facility operations. The quarterly report must
provide the volume received, percent solids, and the method of determining the percent solids, processed, disposed, and
recycled or reused. Records must be kept on a volume basis in gallons except that solids passing the paint filter test may
be reported in cubic yard volume converted to gallons. The methods of recycling or reuse must be specified in the re-
port. Records must be kept for solids and recyclable material leaving these facilities in the form of manifests, shipping
documents, or trip tickets. The quarterly report must include manifests, shipping documents, or trip tickets to show
where the recyclable material was taken for recycling, and the recycled material must be reconciled with the volume of
waste received. Water discharged from processing is not allowed to be counted as part of the 10% recovery of material.
Recovery and recycling or reuse of fats, oils, and greases may be considered a part of recycling for this activity. Com-
posting of solids resulting from waste processing may be considered to be recycling as part of this activity. Any material
such as lime, polymer, or flocculent added as part of the facility process is not allowed to be considered as part of the
10% recovery of material from the waste stream and must be subtracted from the material considered as recycled. Di-
version of material from the waste stream without processing is not considered to be recycling as part of this activity.
(2) The Type V processing facility must be located at a manned treatment facility that is permitted under Texas
Water Code, Chapter 26; is permitted to discharge at least one million gallons per day; and is owned by and operated for
the benefit of a political subdivision of this state. Facilities that have received a permit and wish to add capacity may
apply for a registration in lieu of a permit amendment if the facilities meet the registration requirements established in
this chapter.
(h) A registration is required for a mobile liquid waste processing unit that processes only grease trap waste, grit
trap waste, or septage or a combination of these three liquid wastes. For the purposes of this section, grit trap waste
means grit trap waste from commercial car washes and excludes grit trap waste from other generators. Registration ap-
plications shall contain the information specified in §§ 330.59(a) and (e) - (h), 330.61(a) and (b), and 330.63(a), (d)(6),
 Page 3
30 TAC § 330.9

(h), and (j) of this title (relating to Contents of Part I of the Application; Contents of Part II of the Application; and
Contents of Part III of the Application). The following requirements also apply.
(1) Mobile liquid waste processing shall be limited to the processing of liquid waste while at the generator's trap.
(2) Effluent from the processing of the liquid waste must be discharged to the generator's trap or interceptor.
(3) The mobile liquid waste processing units regulated under this section include truck-mounted processes that are
also known as separator trucks, and any other liquid waste processes that are not considered to be fixed to a specific
location.
(4) This section is not meant to supplant rules or ordinances of local governments where stricter standards are in
effect.
(5) This section is not applicable to septage if waste has received only a pH adjustment prior to or during transpor-
tation for disposal at a treatment facility permitted under Texas Water Code, Chapter 26, or other authorized facility.
Transporters who only adjust septage pH during transportation shall register in accordance with § 312.142 of this title
(relating to Transporter Registration).
(i) A registration is required for an MSW Type VI facility that demonstrates new management methods for pro-
cessing or handling grease trap waste, grit trap waste, septage, or a combination of these three liquid wastes. For the
purposes of this section, grit trap waste means grit trap waste from commercial car washes and excludes grit trap waste
from other generators. Those facilities meeting this exemption must obtain a registration by meeting the operational
criteria and design criteria established in § 330.63(d)(9) of this title.
(j) A registration is required for the following material recovery operations from a landfill. The following opera-
tions are subject to the general requirements found in § 330.601 of this title (relating to General Requirements), and the
requirements set for soil end product standards in § 330.615 of this title (relating to Final Soil Product Grades and Al-
lowable Uses), and the air quality requirements in § 330.607 of this title (relating to Air Quality Requirements):
(1) operations that recover reusable or recyclable material buried in permitted or closed MSW landfill facilities, or
MSW landfill facilities that were never permitted;
(2) operations that reclaim soil from permitted or closed MSW landfills, or from MSW landfill facilities that were
never permitted; and
(3) facilities that have received prior approval for excavation of buried materials through permits, permit amend-
ments, or other agency authorization, which are exempt from further authorization requirements, as established in this
subchapter, for the specific authorization received. Soil final product standards shall be applicable for all registered fa-
cilities.
(k) A registration by rule is granted for the owner or operator of a Type IX MSW facility that recovers landfill gas
for beneficial use if all of the following conditions are met.
(1) The owner or operator shall submit the following information at least 60 days prior to commencing operations:
(A) a large-scale plan drawing of the facility showing the following:
(i) facility boundaries (show permit boundaries and/or boundaries and dimensions of tract or land or closed MSW
landfill units on which the gas recovery system is to be developed); and
(ii) landfill gas treatment, gas compression, electrical power generation equipment, and any other beneficial gas-use
equipment, indicating limits of waste placement and additional easements required;
(B) for enclosed structures, provisions for fire control facilities (fire hydrants, fire extinguisher, water tanks, and
waterwell), continuous methane monitoring, and explosion-proof fixtures;
(C) a discussion of the proposed method for condensate disposal, including during the landfill post-closure care pe-
riod;
(D) an estimation of average daily gas production;
(E) an estimation of the design daily gas production;
(F) descriptions of the process units;
 Page 4
30 TAC § 330.9

(G) a cost estimate for closure following the requirements of § 330.505 of this title (relating to Closure Cost Esti-
mates for Storage and Processing Units); and
(H) a description of the financial assurance mechanism required by Chapter 37, Subchapter R of this title (relating
to Financial Assurance for Municipal Solid Waste Facilities).
(2) The owner or operator shall acquire all authorizations regarding air emissions for the facility and comply with
the following regulations:
(A) Subchapter E of this chapter (relating to Operational Standards for Municipal Solid Waste Storage and Pro-
cessing Units);
(B) § 330.459 and § 330.461 of this title (relating to Closure Requirements for Municipal Solid Waste Storage and
Processing Units; and Certification of Final Facility Closure); and
(C) § 330.505 of this title.
(l) A registration by rule is granted for persons that plan to transport untreated medical waste and that are not the
generator of the waste if all of the following conditions are met.
(1) The registrant completes registration forms provided by the commission and provides the following information
at least 60 days prior to commencing operations:
(A) name, address, and telephone number of registrant;
(B) name, address, and telephone number of partners, corporate officers, and directors; and
(C) description of each transportation unit, including:
(i) make, model, and year;
(ii) motor vehicle identification number, if applicable;
(iii) license plate (tag) number, including state and year; and
(iv) name of transportation unit owner.
(2) The owner or operator submits the fee required by § 330.1211(l) of this title (relating to Transporters of Un-
treated Medical Waste) along with the claim for the registration by rule.
(3) Registrations by rule expire after one year. The owner or operator must submit an annual fee in accordance with
§ 330.1211(l) of this title. Failure to timely pay the annual fee eliminates the option to manage wastes until the owner or
operator claims a new or renewed registration by rule.
(4) Persons that claim the registration maintain a copy of the registration form, as annotated by the executive direc-
tor with an assigned registration number, at their designated place of business and with each transportation unit used to
transport untreated medical waste.
(5) The owner or operator submits annual summary reports in accordance with applicable provisions in §
330.1211(m) of this title.
(m) A registration by rule is granted for owners or operators of mobile treatment units conducting on-site treatment
of medical waste who are not the generator if the following conditions are met.
(1) The registrant completes registration forms provided by the commission and provides the following information
at least 60 days prior to commencing operations or expiration of a registration issued under the former rules before the
comprehensive rule revisions in this chapter as adopted in 2006 (2006 Revisions) became effective:
(A) name, address, and telephone number of registrant;
(B) name, address, and telephone number of partners, corporate officers, and directors;
(C) description of each mobile treatment unit, including:
(i) make, model, and year;
(ii) motor vehicle identification number, if applicable; and
 Page 5
30 TAC § 330.9

(iii) license plate (tag) number, including state and year;
(D) name of mobile treatment unit owner;
(E) description of approved treatment method to be employed and chemical preparations, as well as the procedure
to be utilized for routine performance testing/parameter monitoring;
(F) evidence of competency;
(G) a description of the management and disposal of process waters generated during treatment events;
(H) a written contingency plan that describes the handling and disposal of waste in the event of treatment failure or
equipment breakdown; and
(I) an estimate of the cost to remove and dispose of waste and disinfect the waste treatment equipment and evidence
of financial assurance using procedures specified in Subchapter L of this chapter (relating to Closure, Post-Closure, and
Corrective Action Cost Estimates) and Chapter 37, Subchapter R of this title.
(2) The owner or operator submits the fee required by § 330.1221(l) of this title (relating to On-Site Treatment Ser-
vices on Mobile Treatment Units) along with the claim for the registration by rule.
(3) The executive director will send a copy of the registration form, annotated with an assigned registration number,
to the owner or operator,
(4) Registrations by rule expire after one year. The owner or operator must submit an annual renewal fee in ac-
cordance with § 330.1221(l) of this title. Failure to timely pay the annual fee eliminates the option to manage wastes
until the owner or operator claims a new or renewed registration by rule.
(5) The owner or operator submits annual summary reports in accordance with applicable provisions in §
330.1221(m) of this title.
(6) Providers of on-site treatment of medical waste in mobile units notify the executive director, by letter, within 30
days of any changes to their registration if:
(A) the method employed to treat medical waste changes;
(B) the office or place of business is moved;
(C) the name of registrant or owner of the operation is changed;
(D) the name of the partners, corporate directors, or corporate officers change; or
(E) the unit information changes.
(n) A registration is required for facilities that store or process untreated medical waste that is received from off-site
sources. For the purposes of this subsection, off-site shall be based on the definition of on-site found in § 330.1205(b) of
this title (relating to Definitions).
(o) A registration is required for a new MSW transfer station that is used only in the transfer of grease trap waste,
grit trap waste, septage, or other similar liquid waste if the facility used in the transfer will receive 32,000 gallons per
day or less.
(p) A registration is required for a new liquid waste transfer facility to be located on, or at, other commis-
sion-authorized facilities.

SOURCE: The provisions of this § 330.9 adopted to be effective March 27, 2006, 31 TexReg 2502

NOTES:

CROSS-REFERENCES: This Section cited in 30 TAC § 330.3, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 330.52, (relating
to Technical Requirements of Part I of the Application); 30 TAC § 330.66, (relating to Liquid Waste Transfer Facility
Design and Operation); 30 TAC § 330.70, (relating to Registration of Facilities That Recover Gas for Beneficial Use);
30 TAC § 330.71, (relating to Registration for Municipal Solid Waste Facilities That Process Grease Trap Waste, Grit
 Page 6
30 TAC § 330.9

Trap Waste, or Septage); 30 TAC § 330.72, (relating to Registration for Mobile Liquid Waste Processing Units); 30
TAC § 330.73, (relating to Registration of Demonstration Projects for Liquid Waste Processing Facilities); 30 TAC §
330.416, (relating to Registration Application Preparation); 30 TAC § 330.1, (relating to Purpose and Applicability); 30
TAC § 330.5, (relating to Classification of Municipal Solid Waste Facilities); 30 TAC § 330.7, (relating to Permit Re-
quired); 30 TAC § 330.11, (relating to Notification Required); 30 TAC § 330.13, (relating to Waste Management Activi-
ties Exempt from Permitting, Registration, or Notification); 30 TAC § 330.21, (relating to Closure); 30 TAC § 330.61,
(relating to Contents of Part II of the Application); 30 TAC § 330.607, (relating to Air Quality Requirements); 30 TAC §
330.1221, (relating to On-Site Treatment Services on Mobile Treatment Units).
This Chapter cited in 30 TAC § 55.1, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 55.101, (relating to Applicability); 30
TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions To Be Determined for Individual Permits); 30 TAC § 334.483, (relating to Dis-
posal by Generator); 30 TAC § 335.78, (relating to Special Requirements for Hazardous Waste Generated by Condi-
tionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators); 30 TAC § 335.501, (relating to Purpose, Scope, and Applicability); 30
TAC § 336.337, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 350.2, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC §
336.225, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions to be Determined for In-
dividual Permits); 30 TAC § 91.20, (relating to Applicability).

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 22
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

*** This document reflects all regulations in effect as of July 31, 2014 ***

TITLE 30. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 330. MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL INFORMATION

30 TAC § 330.11 (2014)

§ 330.11. Notification Required

(a) Except as provided by § 330.13 of the title (relating to Waste Management Activities Exempt from Permitting,
Registration, or Notification) and recycling facilities that notify in accordance with § 328.5 of this title (relating to Re-
porting and Recordkeeping Requirements), a person that intends to store, process, or dispose of municipal solid waste
(MSW) without a permit as authorized by § 330.7 of this title (relating to Permit Required), registration as authorized by
§ 330.9 of this title (relating to Registration Required), or § 330.25 of this title (relating to Relationship with County
Licensing System), shall notify the executive director, and any local pollution agency with jurisdiction that has request-
ed to be notified, in writing, that storage, processing, or disposal activities are planned, at least 90 days prior to engaging
in these activities, except for recycling and other activities as may be specifically exempted. Additional information
may be requested to enable the executive director to determine whether such storage, processing, or disposal is in com-
pliance with the terms of this chapter. This information may include, but is not limited to, type of waste, waste man-
agement methods, facility engineering plans and specifications, and the geology and hydrogeology at the facility. Any
information provided under this subsection shall be submitted to the executive director in duplicate with one copy sent
directly to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regional office. A person shall include a statement
justifying the facility's eligibility for a notification as established under this section.
(b) Any person that stores, processes, or disposes of MSW shall have the continuing obligation to provide prompt
written notice to the executive director of any changes or additional information concerning waste type, waste manage-
ment methods, facility engineering plans and specifications, and geology and hydrogeology at the facility additional to
that reported in subsection (a) of this section, authorized in any permit or registration, or stated in any application filed
with the executive director. Any information provided under this subsection shall be submitted to the executive director
in duplicate form with copies sent directly to the TCEQ's regional office and any local pollution agency with jurisdic-
tion that has requested to be notified.
(c) A person that stores, processes, or disposes of MSW shall notify the executive director, and any local pollution
agency with jurisdiction that has requested to be notified, in writing of any closure activity or activity of facility expan-
sion not authorized by permit or registration, at least 90 days prior to conducting this activity. The executive director
may request additional information to determine whether such activity is in compliance with this chapter. Any infor-
mation provided under this subsection shall be submitted to the executive director in duplicate form.
(d) A notification is required for the storage or processing of the following types of MSW: grease trap wastes; grit
trap wastes; or septage that contains free liquids if the waste is treated/processed at a permitted Type I MSW facility.
(e) A notification is required for the following facilities or locations:
(1) a citizens' collection station;
 Page 2
30 TAC § 330.11

(2) a collection and processing point for only nonputrescible source-separated recyclable material, provided that the
facility is in compliance with §§ 328.3 - 328.5 of this title (relating to General Requirements; Limitations on Storage of
Recyclable Materials; and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements);
(3) a facility to treat petroleum-contaminated soil if the contaminated soil is treated/processed at a permitted Type I
MSW facility;
(4) an MSW transfer station in existence prior to the comprehensive rule revisions in this chapter as adopted in
2006 (2006 Revisions) that is used only in the transfer of grease trap waste, grit trap waste, septage, or other similar
liquid waste if the facility used in the transfer will receive 32,000 gallons per day or less. These liquid waste transfer
stations must be designed and operated in accordance with the requirements of Subchapter E of this chapter (relating to
Operational Standards for Municipal Solid Waste Storage and Processing Units);
(5) a temporary storage facility regulated under § 312.147 of this title (relating to Temporary Storage) that stores
8,000 gallons or less for a period of four days or less in containers. This facility is not required to follow the require-
ments of Subchapter E of this chapter;
(6) a liquid waste transfer facility in existence prior to the effective date of the 2006 Revisions located on or at oth-
er commission authorized facilities if the facility is designed and operated in accordance with the requirements of Sub-
chapter E of this chapter; or
(7) a pet cemetery. A person that intends to operate a pet cemetery shall comply with the requirements of § 330.19
of this title (relating to Deed Recordation) and shall ensure that the animal carcasses are covered with at least two feet of
soil within a time period that will prevent the generation of nuisance odors or health risks. A pet cemetery is a facility
used only for the burial of domesticated animals kept as pets and service animals such as seeing-eye dogs. Animals
raised for meat production or used only for animal husbandry may not be disposed of in a pet cemetery authorized under
this subsection.
(f) A generator is required to notify the commission of the operation of an approved treatment process unit used
only for the treatment of on-site generated medical waste, as defined in § 330.1205(b) of this title (relating to Defini-
tions).
(g) An operator is required to notify the commission of the intended operation of a low-volume transfer station
subject to the following conditions.
(1) The operator must own or otherwise effectively control the facility.
(2) Prior to notification, the operator must coordinate with the county authority to ensure compliance with all ap-
propriate ordinances.
(3) The operator must notify the adjacent landowners, by first-class mail, concurrent with commission notification.
(4) Collected waste shall be sent off-site to an authorized facility at least weekly.
(h) Generators that generate greater than 50 pounds per month of untreated medical waste and that transport their
own untreated waste to an authorized medical waste storage or processing facility shall notify the commission.

SOURCE: The provisions of this § 330.11 adopted to be effective March 27, 2006, 31 TexReg 2502

NOTES:

CROSS-REFERENCES: This Section cited in 30 TAC § 330.12, (relating to Relationship with County Licensing Sys-
tem); 30 TAC § 330.7, (relating to Permit Required); 30 TAC § 330.9, (relating to Registration Required); 30 TAC §
330.171, (relating to Disposal of Special Wastes).
This Chapter cited in 30 TAC § 55.1, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 55.101, (relating to Applicability); 30
TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions To Be Determined for Individual Permits); 30 TAC § 334.483, (relating to Dis-
posal by Generator); 30 TAC § 335.78, (relating to Special Requirements for Hazardous Waste Generated by Condi-
tionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators); 30 TAC § 335.501, (relating to Purpose, Scope, and Applicability); 30
TAC § 336.337, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 350.2, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC §
 Page 3
30 TAC § 330.11

336.225, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions to be Determined for In-
dividual Permits); 30 TAC § 91.20, (relating to Applicability).

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 23
 Page 1

1 of 1 DOCUMENT

TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

*** This document reflects all regulations in effect as of July 31, 2014 ***

TITLE 30. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 330. MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL INFORMATION

30 TAC § 330.13 (2014)

§ 330.13. Waste Management Activities Exempt from Permitting, Registration, or Notification

(a) A permit, registration, notification, or other authorization is not required for the disposal of up to 2,000 pounds
per year of litter or other solid waste generated by an individual on that individual's own land and is not required to
comply with § 330.19 of this title (relating to Deed Recordation) provided that:
(1) the litter or waste is generated on land that the individual owns;
(2) the litter or waste is not generated as a result of an activity related to a commercial purpose;
(3) the disposal occurs on land that the individual owns;
(4) the disposal is not for a commercial purpose;
(5) the waste disposed of is not hazardous waste or industrial waste;
(6) the waste disposal method complies with Chapter 111, Subchapter B of this title (relating to Outdoor Burning);
and
(7) the waste disposal method does not contribute to a nuisance and does not endanger the public health or the en-
vironment. Exceeding 2,000 pounds per individual's residence per year is considered to be a nuisance.
(b) A permit, registration, notification, or other authorization is not required for the disposal of animal carcasses
from government roadway maintenance where:
(1) either of the following:
(A) the animals were killed on county or municipal roadways and the carcasses are buried on property owned by
the entity that is responsible for road maintenance; or
(B) the animals were killed on state highway rights-of-way and the carcasses are disposed of by the Texas Depart-
ment of Transportation by burying the carcasses on state highway rights-of-way; and
(2) the waste disposal method does not contribute to a nuisance and does not endanger the public health or the en-
vironment; and
(3) the animal carcasses are covered with at least two feet of soil within 24 hours of collection in accordance with §
330.171(c)(2) of this title (relating to Disposal of Special Wastes).
(c) A permit, registration, notification, or other authorization is not required for veterinarians performing activities
as authorized by Texas Occupations Code, § 801.361, Disposal of Animal Remains. Disposal by burning under this
section must comply only with § 111.209(3) of this title (relating to Exception for Disposal Fires).
 Page 2
30 TAC § 330.13

(d) A permit, registration, notification, or other authorization is not required for on-site storage of medical waste for
a generator that uses a medical waste storage facility only for medical waste generated on-site. Storage of medical waste
generated on-site must be in compliance with § 330.1209(a) of this title (relating to Storage of Medical Waste).
(e) A permit, registration, notification, or other authorization is not required for generators that generate less than
50 pounds per month of untreated medical waste that transport their own waste to an authorized medical waste storage
or processing facility.
(f) Except as required by § 330.7(c)(2) and § 330.9(1) of this title (relating to Permit Required; and Registration
Required), a permit, registration, notification, or other authorization is not required for transporters of municipal solid
waste.
(g) A permit, registration, notification, or other authorization is not required for a collection point for parking lot or
street sweepings or wastes collected and received in sealed plastic bags from such activities as periodic city-wide
cleanup campaigns and cleanup of rights-of-way or roadside parks.
(h) A permit, registration, notification, or other authorization is not required from a car wash facility for drying grit
trap waste as long as these wastes are dried and disposed of in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regu-
lations. Grit trap waste from car wash facilities may be transported for drying purposes to other property if the car wash
facility and the property with the drying bed have the same owner and if the facilities are located within 50 miles of
each other. This subsection is not intended to preempt or supersede local government regulation of grit trap
waste-drying facilities. Drying facilities must comply with Chapter 116 of this title (relating to Control of Air Pollution
by Permits for New Construction or Modification) if applicable.

SOURCE: The provisions of this § 330.13 adopted to be effective March 27, 2006, 31 TexReg 2502

NOTES:

CROSS-REFERENCES: This Section cited in 30 TAC § 330.7, (relating to Permit Required); 30 TAC § 330.9, (relating
to Registration Required); 30 TAC § 330.21, (relating to Closure).
This Chapter cited in 30 TAC § 55.1, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC § 55.101, (relating to Applicability); 30
TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions To Be Determined for Individual Permits); 30 TAC § 334.483, (relating to Dis-
posal by Generator); 30 TAC § 335.78, (relating to Special Requirements for Hazardous Waste Generated by Condi-
tionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators); 30 TAC § 335.501, (relating to Purpose, Scope, and Applicability); 30
TAC § 336.337, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 350.2, (relating to Applicability); 30 TAC §
336.225, (relating to Disposal of Specific Wastes); 30 TAC § 305.127, (relating to Conditions to be Determined for In-
dividual Permits); 30 TAC § 91.20, (relating to Applicability).

LexisNexis 50 State Surveys, Legislation & Regulations
Solid Waste Management
TAB 24
 THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE 1. BILL OF RIGHTS

That the general, great and essential principles of liberty

and free government may be recognized and established, we declare:

Sec. 19. DEPRIVATION OF LIFE, LIBERTY, ETC.; DUE COURSE OF

LAW. No citizen of this State shall be deprived of life, liberty,

property, privileges or immunities, or in any manner disfranchised,

except by the due course of the law of the land.

(Added Nov. 3, 2009.)

Page -1 -