(a) Disposal of oil and gas waste in the coastal zone shall comply with the policies in this section.      
        (1) No new commercial oil and gas waste disposal pit shall be located in any CNRA.       
        (2) Oil and gas waste disposal pits shall be designed to prevent releases of pollutants that adversely affect coastal waters or critical areas.       
      (b) Discharge of oil and gas exploration and production wastewater in the coastal zone shall comply with the following policies.      
        (1) All discharges shall comply with all provisions of surface water quality standards established by the TCEQ under §26.21 of this title (relating to Policies for Discharge of Municipal and Industrial Wastewater to Coastal Waters).       
        (2) To the greatest extent practicable, new wastewater outfalls shall be located where the discharge will not adversely affect critical areas. Existing wastewater outfalls that adversely affect critical areas shall be either discontinued or relocated so as not to adversely affect critical areas within two years of the effective date of this section.       
        (3) The RRC shall notify the TCEQ and the TPWD upon receipt of an application for a new permit to discharge produced waters to waters under tidal influence. In determining compliance with the policies in this section, the RRC shall consider the effects of salinity from the discharge.       
      (c) The RRC shall comply with the policies in this section when issuing permits and adopting rules under the Texas Natural Resources Code, Chapter 91, for oil and gas waste, and under Texas Water Code, Chapter 26, and the Texas Natural Resources Code, Chapter 91, for oil and gas wastewater discharges.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §26.18 adopted to be effective October 6, 2004, 29 TexReg 9407; transferred effective December 1, 2022, as published in the Texas Register October 28, 2022, 47 TexReg 7301; amended to be effective July 10, 2023, 48 TexReg 3671