(a) For facilities listed on the Registry or proposed for listing on the Registry, no person may perform any partial or total removals at such facility or conduct preliminary investigations of any type at such facility until written authorization of the executive director has been received and notice and opportunity for comment has been provided to all other potentially responsible parties.     
      (b) To expedite the executive director's consideration of a proposal to conduct removals or preliminary investigations at a facility, the person proposing such actions shall submit to the executive director:      
        (1) a workplan describing the removal and/or investigation activities proposed;       
        (2) a health and safety plan;       
        (3) a quality assurance project plan; and       
        (4) an implementation schedule for completing various subtasks identified in the workplan.       
      (c) Any authorization by the executive director to perform preliminary investigations, investigation activities, or partial or total removals at a facility does not constitute a finding or determination by the executive director that such preliminary investigation constitutes an approved remedial investigation or that the removal constitutes the final remedial action. An authorization by the executive director to perform any partial or total removals or investigation activities also does not constitute a determination or finding by the executive director that any release or threatened release attributed to the removed materials is divisible as defined in Texas Health and Safety Code, §361.276.     
      (d) Pursuant to Texas Health and Safety Code, §361.133(c)(1) - (4) and (g), the executive director may perform necessary and appropriate removal and remedial action at sites at which solid waste or hazardous substances have been disposed if funds from a liable party, independent third party, or the federal government are not sufficient for the removal or remedial action. The executive director may also perform removals under Texas Health and Safety Code, §361.133(c)(5) to protect human health and the environment.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §335.346 adopted to be effective September 9, 1991, 16 TexReg 4624; amended to be effective July 22, 1998, 23 TexReg 7369; amended to be effective November 15, 2001, 26 TexReg 9135