TCEQ issues preliminary decision on Peninsula RV Resort wastewater permit application, prepares draft permit
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has issued a preliminary decision regarding the Peninsula RV Resort’s wastewater permit application for a Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.
The Peninsula RV Resort is proposed for a location at Hubbard Creek Reservoir, approximately 1.53 miles northwest of the intersection of County Road 315 and Farm-to-Market Road 3099, in Stephens County.
If approved, TPDES Permit No. WQ0016276001 will authorize the discharge of treated domestic wastewater into Hubbard Creek Reservoir (aka Hubbard Creek Lake) with a daily average flow not exceeding 15,000 gallons per day. The application for the permit was submitted to TCEQ on Dec. 16, 2022.
According to a notice posted on the TCEQ website on Thursday, May 18, under the preliminary decision, the treated effluent will be discharged directly into Hubbard Creek Reservoir, specifically in Segment No. 1233 of the Brazos River Basin, which is designated for primary contact recreation, public water supply, and high aquatic life use.
In compliance with 30 Texas Administrative Code § 307.5 and TCEQ’s Procedures to Implement the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (June 2010), an antidegradation review was conducted for the receiving waters. Based on a Tier 1 antidegradation review, it has been preliminarily determined that the existing water quality uses will not be impaired by the proposed permit. Both numerical and narrative criteria for protecting existing uses will be upheld, the notice stated.
Additionally, a Tier 2 review has preliminarily determined that there will be no significant degradation of water quality in Hubbard Creek Reservoir, which has been identified as having high aquatic life uses. The preliminary decision ensures that existing uses will be maintained and protected.
The preliminary determination is subject to reexamination and potential modification if new information is received.
A map of the site’s location (https://gisweb.tceq.texas.gov/LocationMapper/?marker=-98.950555,32.808333&level=18) has been provided by TCEQ as a public courtesy. However, according to the notice, the electronic map is not part of the application; for the exact location, refer to the application, which is available for viewing at the Breckenridge Library or downloadable by clicking the following link: Application for the wastewater treatment permit (10 MB download).
Following the completion of the technical review of the application by the TCEQ Executive Director, a draft permit has been prepared. If approved, the draft permit will establish the conditions under which the facility must operate. The Executive Director has made a preliminary decision that the permit, if issued, meets all statutory and regulatory requirements.
According to the notice, the permit application, Executive Director’s preliminary decision, and draft permit are available for viewing and copying at Breckenridge Library, 209 N. Breckenridge Ave.
The TCEQ is currently accepting comments and additional information related to the preliminary decision. All submissions must be submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk, MC 105, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087 or electronically at https://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/ within 30 days from the date of newspaper publication of this notice. The permit number to reference is WQ0016276001.
The notice states that a public meeting on the application will be held because it was requested by a local legislator. However, a date for that meeting has not yet been made public.
Click the following link to download the complete notice in English and Spanish: https://breckenridgetexan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/TCEQ-Notice-of-Review-andTemporary-Permit-WQ0016276001.pdf
For more information about the Peninsula RV Resort’s wastewater application, click on the following links to previous Breckenridge Texan articles:
Cutline, top photo: This view of Hubbard Creek Lake shows the peninsula where the Peninsula RV Resort is planned and the general area where the wastewater discharge point will be. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
