Texas SWPPP Template — TPDES TXR150000 Compliant
Texas operates its own delegated NPDES program (TPDES). Coverage comes from TCEQ under TXR150000 and the EPA Construction General Permit does not apply. Built to the TXR150000 format — NOI filing through TCEQ ePermits for large sites, automatic authorization by posted TCEQ site notice for small sites, and Texas-specific BMP guidance.
When this template is required
Required for construction projects in Texas disturbing 1+ acre. Texas operates its own delegated NPDES program (TPDES), so coverage comes from TCEQ under TXR150000 and the EPA Construction General Permit does not apply. The small (1 acre up to 5) and large (5 acres or more) definitions are federal — 40 CFR 122.26(b)(15)(i) and (b)(14)(x) — but TXR150000 gives the two tiers different routes to coverage: a large-site primary operator files a Notice of Intent through TCEQ ePermits and pays the fee, while a small-site operator is automatically authorized by implementing the SWP3 and posting the TCEQ small construction site notice, with no NOI and no fee.
Why this template
$6.21 CPC — premium Texas market
Texas construction is a major market and 'swppp texas' has $6.21 CPC. State-specific landing pages outperform generic SWPPP content in TX-targeted search.
TPDES TXR150000 format
Texas operates its own NPDES program through TCEQ. The state CGP (TXR150000) has different format and content requirements than the EPA CGP. The template is built specifically to TXR150000.
Small vs. Large site distinction
The plan content, the erosion and sediment controls and the inspection frequencies are the same for small (1 acre up to 5) and large (5 acres or more) sites. What changes is the route to coverage: an NOI and fee through TCEQ ePermits for large construction, automatic authorization with a posted TCEQ site notice and no NOI for small. The worksheet determines which category applies and which site notice and close-out path to follow.
TCEQ STEERS submission guide
Large-site primary operators file the NOI electronically through TCEQ ePermits, reached via STEERS (State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System); small-site operators file no NOI at all. The template includes the STEERS submission guide and account setup walkthrough.
What you receive
- Texas SWPPP (Word .docx) — TXR150000 format
- Small vs. Large construction site determination worksheet
- Site description and Texas-specific site map elements
- BMP selection guide (Texas conditions — wet/dry climate variability)
- Inspection forms aligned with TPDES requirements
- Notice of Intent (NOI) submission guide via TCEQ STEERS
- Construction Site Notice posting and removal record, with guidance on selecting and completing the correct TCEQ form for the tier and operator role (the notice itself is TCEQ's approved form, obtained from TCEQ)
- Notice of Termination (NOT) procedure
- Operator certification (per TPDES)
- Highway / linear construction adaptation (for TxDOT contractors)
How you get it
This document is written and reviewed against the standard it cites, and it is ready now. The download link is emailed as soon as your payment clears.
Revisions included — if something about your operation changes what the document should say, reply to the delivery email and we will amend it.
Who buys this
- Texas construction GCs and subcontractors
- TxDOT highway and infrastructure construction
- Texas subdivision and commercial development (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin)
- Texas pipeline and utility construction
- Texas commercial site development
Frequently asked
How is Texas SWPPP different from the EPA SWPPP?
Three main differences: (1) Permit citation — Texas operates under TPDES TXR150000, not the EPA CGP; (2) Submission system — Texas uses TCEQ STEERS for electronic NOI; (3) Coverage route — the small (1 acre up to 5) and large (5 acres or more) categories are federal definitions, but TXR150000 gives them different routes to coverage: an NOI and fee for large construction, automatic authorization by posted TCEQ site notice for small. The technical content (BMPs, inspections, recordkeeping) is similar but the format and submission process differ.
What's TPDES?
Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System — Texas's delegated NPDES program, operated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Texas was delegated NPDES authority in 1998 and now operates the program in lieu of EPA Region 6 for most Texas dischargers. Construction projects use the TPDES Construction General Permit TXR150000.
What's the difference between small and large construction sites?
Small construction activity is 1 acre up to (but not including) 5 acres; large is 5 acres or more, counting the whole common plan of development or sale. The plan content, the erosion and sediment control requirements (Part IV applies to all sites) and the inspection frequencies (Part III.F.8(c): at least once every 14 calendar days and within 24 hours of a 0.5-inch storm, or the seven-day alternative) are the same for both tiers. What differs is the route to coverage: a large-site primary operator files an NOI through TCEQ ePermits and pays the fee, while a small-site operator is automatically authorized by developing and implementing the SWP3 and posting the TCEQ small construction site notice, with no NOI and no fee, and ends coverage by removing that notice rather than filing an NOT. A small site working in a listed county and date range with low potential for erosion (Part II.E.1) may need no SWP3 at all. The worksheet in the template determines which category applies.
What's TCEQ STEERS?
TCEQ STEERS — State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System. Required for electronic submission of Notice of Intent (NOI), Notice of Termination (NOT), and various other environmental notifications. The template includes the STEERS submission guide and account setup walkthrough.
Does this work for TxDOT highway projects?
Yes — TxDOT contractors are subject to TPDES TXR150000 for stormwater discharges from construction. TxDOT projects often have additional contract-specific stormwater requirements (Item 506 in TxDOT specifications), which the template can be supplemented with. The template provides the TPDES baseline; TxDOT-specific provisions overlay.