The TCEQ reissued the TPDES Construction General Permit TXR150000 on February 19, 2013. The permit became effective on March 5, 2013. Please refer to our Stormwater section of this website for information on TXR150000.

HC Office of Environmental Compliance Permit Review Process

 
Applicants seeking approvals or permits from Hidalgo County for their development or construction projects are required to meet the requirements of the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) General Permit for Construction Activities TXR150000. Hidalgo County is mandated by the State of Texas to enforce this requirement under our own TPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit TXR040408.

Applicants whose proposed project that will involve construction activities disturbing 1 acre or more of soil by grading, clearing, leveling, excavating, or any other activity that will disturb soil during construction must develop and implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) for the proposed project prior to any disturbance of soil. The SWP3 must be available at the site for review by federal, state, and local authorities. Requirements for the SWP3 may be found in the TPDES General Permit for Construction Activities TXR150000. Please consult the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) website for more information on the SWP3:

TCEQ Stormwater Permits for Construction

The applicant must submit the following to the Hidalgo County Office of Environmental Compliance as part of the subdivision or development permit review process. Failure to do so will delay the review process.

• If a proposed project will be disturbing 1 to 5 acres of soil or it will be part of a larger common plan of development of less than 5 acres:

1. A Small Construction Site Notice signed by the developer and contractor must be submitted to the Hidalgo County Office of Environmental Compliance.
2. The site notice must be posted at the site in a place that is visible to the public.
3. An erosion control plan showing details of the proposed project and placement of the storm water controls must be submitted to the Hidalgo County Office of Environmental Compliance.
4. A copy of the Notice of Termination (NOT) must be submitted to the Hidalgo County Office of Environmental Compliance once final stabilization has been achieved at the construction site.

• If the proposed project will be disturbing 5 acres or more or it will be part of a larger common plan of development of more than 5 acres.

1. A Notice of Intent (NOI) must be submitted to TCEQ by the developer and contractor.
2. The NOI must be submitted to the Hidalgo County Office of Environmental Compliance.
3. The NOI and a Large Construction Site Notice must be posted at the site in a place that is visible to the public.
4. An erosion control plan showing details of the proposed project and placement of the storm water controls must be submitted to the Hidalgo County Office of Environmental Compliance.
5. A copy of the Notice of Termination (NOT) must be submitted to the Hidalgo County Office of Environmental Compliance once final stabilization has been achieved at the construction site.

Construction Practices to Prevent Storm Water Pollution

 
Hidalgo County is a rapidly urbanizing county. Storm water runoff and pollution discharges from construction activities pose a long-term threat to our water quality. Construction processes required to build our homes, businesses, and roads, cause soil disturbances from clearing, grading, and excavation. General construction permits go beyond limiting and controlling erosion and sediment by addressing all potential pollution sources with proper controls and practices.

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans, or SWP3s, are required on all construction sites one acre or more, and erosion and sediment controls (ESC) and other practices are required on all construction activities as necessary.

Some of the most common SWP3 and ESC practices include: