Stormwater Program
The Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES), administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulates stormwater discharges from various sources to surface waters of the State. The nature of TxDOT operations means some of our activities are regulated under this program.
There are two main types of TPDES permits that apply to TxDOT operations, the Construction General Permit and the MS4 Permit.
Construction general permit
TxDOT’s construction operations are regulated by the Construction General Permit (CGP) TXR150000 which applies to stormwater discharges from construction projects that disturb one acre or more of ground. The CGP requires that TxDOT implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) that describes Best Management Practices (BMPs) designed to decrease erosion from and sediment generated by construction projects. To effectively manage construction activities, TxDOT has developed the following resources:
- Construction Best Management practices (BMP) for environmental resource webpage
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) guidance document
- Erosion control approved products list
- Design Division Roadway Standards
- Stormwater training requirements for TxDOT staff and contractors can be found on the Environmental Management System webpage
Municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4)
TxDOT's statewide Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit is required to discharge stormwater from ditches and storm sewers in areas that meet certain population and population density criteria. This permit require that we implement a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) that describes Minimum Control Measures (MCMs) designed to decrease trash and illegal pollutants that come into our storm sewer system, and improve the quality of stormwater that comes out of it.
- TxDOT's Statewide MS4 Permit
- MS4 Stormwater Management Program
- Submitting your Notice of Intent to discharge to TxDOT's MS4
TxDOT is in the process of renewing our Statewide MS4 Permit (WQ0005011000). The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) declared TxDOT’s application administratively complete on March 30, 2022. The permit application can be downloaded. The permit application can also be viewed in person at the following TxDOT District offices after April 29, 2022:
- Abilene District Office
- Amarillo District Office
- Atlanta District Office
- Austin District Office
- Brownwood District Office
- Beaumont District Office
- Bryan District Office
- Corpus Christi District Office
- Dallas District Office
- Fort Worth District Office
- El Paso District Office
- Houston District Office
- Laredo District Office
- Lubbock District Office
- Odessa District Office
- Paris District Office
- Pharr District Office
- San Angelo District Office
- San Antonio District Office
- Tyler District Office
- Waco District Office
- Wichita Falls District Office
- Yoakum District Office
Permit renewal frequently asked questions
- Frequently Asked Questions – English
- Preguntas Frecuentes – Español
- Các Câu hỏi Thường gặp – Vietnamese
Contact us
Public comments and requests relating to the MS4 Permit renewal must be submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality either electronically, or in writing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. Please be aware that any contact information you provide, including your name, phone number, email address and physical address will become part of TCEQ’s public record.
For more information about this permit application or the permitting process, please call the TCEQ Public Education Program, Toll Free, at 1-800-687-4040 or visit their website.
Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040.
لمزيد من المعلومات حول برنامج نظام (4MS) لصرف مياه الأمطار المحلي المستقل ) TxDOT بلغة أخرى بخلاف الإنجليزية، يُرجى
مراسلة تريسي جانوس (Tracey Janus) إلكترونيًا عبر البريد الإلكتروني التالي: MS4@txdot.gov . يُرجى أيضًا تضمين رسالتك
الإلكترونية ما لديك من الاستفسارات ذات الصلة واللغة التي تفضل أن تتلقى المعلومات بها.
有关英语之外语言的 TxDOT's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) 计划的更多信息,请发电子邮件给 Tracey Janus, 地址是 MS4@txdot.gov。请注明您的具体问题以及您希望接收信息的语言。