(a) The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board may enter into and maintain a Memorandum of Understanding with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality which sets forth the coordination of jurisdictional authority, program responsibility, and procedural mechanisms for point and nonpoint source pollution programs.
(b) Adoption of Memoranda of Understanding between the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
  (1) This rule contains the memorandum of understanding ("MOU") between the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which sets forth the coordination of jurisdictional authority, program responsibility, and procedural mechanisms for point and nonpoint source pollution programs.
    (A) Whereas, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (the Board) is the lead agency in this state for planning, management, and abatement of agricultural and silvicultural nonpoint source pollution; and
    (B) Whereas, the Board shall represent the State before the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or other federal agencies on all matters relating to the planning, management, and abatement of agricultural and silvicultural nonpoint source pollution abatement; and
    (C) Whereas, for purposes of this MOU, the Board is responsible for nonpoint source pollution abatement and prevention activities on all agricultural and silvicultural land as required by Texas Water Code §26.1311; and
    (D) Whereas, the Board has established and implemented a water quality management plan (WQMP) certification program, in accordance with Texas Agriculture Code §201.026(g) for agricultural and silvicultural lands; and
    (E) Whereas, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (the Commission) is the state agency with primary responsibility for implementing the constitution and laws of the State related to the quality of water and air; and
    (F) Whereas, the Commission shall coordinate all its activities related to this MOU with the Board; and
    (G) Whereas, consistent with the intent of Federal Clean Water Act §319, the Board and the Commission are committed to coordinate and jointly administer the development and implementation of the Texas Nonpoint Source Management Program; and
    (H) Whereas the Board and the Commission are independently and directly awarded equal halves of the annual Federal Clean Water Act §319 grant program for nonpoint source pollution by the EPA, both agencies independently coordinate and administer the preparation of work projects under the grant; and
    (I) Whereas, for the purpose of this MOU, the Commission is responsible for the enforcement of all laws of the State related to water and air quality including point source and nonpoint source pollution regulations, including agricultural and silvicultural lands; and
    (J) Whereas, consistent with Texas law and public policy, the Board and Commission mutually desire to protect and maintain a high quality environment and the health of the people of the State; therefore
  (2) Now the Parties agree as follows:
    (A) The Commission agrees to:
      (i) Coordinate and administer the preparation of grant work projects for the Federal Clean Water Act §319 grant program that primarily target nonpoint source pollution from sources other than agriculture and silviculture.
      (ii) Execute cooperative agreements, associated amendments, grant awards, and contracts related to grant work projects coordinated and administered by the Commission. For those grant work projects, the Commission is independently responsible for monitoring, implementation, and providing EPA with the required financial and programmatic reporting information.
      (iii) Implement the provisions of the EPA approved Texas Nonpoint Source Management Program for non-agricultural/silvicultural surface and ground water nonpoint source pollution.
      (iv) Develop and maintain state guidance for all nonpoint source pollution abatement projects other than agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint source pollution projects as described by this MOU.
      (v) Coordinate with the Board those compliance and enforcement actions dealing with agricultural and silvicultural pollution.
      (vi) Provide to the Board all current forms, timetables, procedural rules, and any policy documents of the Commission for addressing and processing citizen complaints related to agricultural and silvicultural pollution.
      (vii) Refer to the Board complaints concerning violations of a WQMP or violations of laws or rules relating to agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint source pollution under the jurisdiction of the Board, except for any person referred to the Commission for enforcement action pursuant to clause (ix) of this subparagraph.
      (viii) Retain the responsibility for pursuing any enforcement action related to a violation of state environmental laws and regulations, inclusive of rules, orders, and nonpoint source pollution regulations (including those applied to agricultural and silvicultural lands).
      (ix) Pursue appropriate enforcement action in accordance with Commission rules against any person referred in accordance with paragraphs (4) and (5) of this subsection.
      (x) Ensure that any operation that was previously referred to the Commission by the Board for environmental non-compliance and subsequent decertification of a WQMP has resolved any Commission enforcement issues prior to referring the operation to the Board for WQMP development or investigation. Any such referral shall be accompanied by a letter to the Board stating the operation has resolved its Commission regulated environmental compliance issues.
    (B) The Board agrees to:
      (i) Coordinate and administer the preparation of grant work projects for the Federal Clean Water Act §319 grant program that primarily target nonpoint source pollution from agricultural and silvicultural sources.
      (ii) Execute cooperative agreements and associated amendments; and grant awards and contracts relating to grant work projects coordinated and administered by the Board. For those grant work projects, the Board is independently responsible for monitoring, implementation, and providing EPA with the required financial and programmatic reporting information.
      (iii) Implement the provisions of the EPA approved Texas Nonpoint Source Management Program for agricultural/silvicultural surface and ground water nonpoint source pollution.
      (iv) Provide the EPA with required reports for all agricultural/silvicultural projects funded through the Board by the Federal Clean Water Act §319. Reports will be submitted in accordance with EPA requirements.
      (v) Develop and maintain state guidance for agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint source pollution as described by this MOU and 31 TAC §523.1.
      (vi) Provide to the Commission information about agricultural and silvicultural activities required for the annual evaluation of the state's implementation of the Texas Nonpoint Source Management Program.
      (vii) Process citizen complaints related to agricultural and silvicultural nonpoint source pollution in a manner that is consistent with the practices and standards of the Commission.
      (viii) Schedule and conduct management meetings with the EPA to review the status of agricultural and silvicultural nonpoint source pollution project activities as negotiated with EPA.
      (ix) Develop and maintain a current electronic database to track and document all WQMPs. Data recorded for each WQMP will include, but is not limited to, the name of the WQMP applicant(s), the facility address or location, date of the WQMP application request, the type of operation covered by each WQMP, and the approval date of each WQMP.
      (x) Provide the Commission with documentation Board rules, policies, guidance, etc. concerning the development, supervision, and monitoring of individual certified WQMPs.
      (xi) Investigate complaints concerning violations of a WQMP or violations of laws or rules relating to agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint source pollution under the jurisdiction of the Board, except for any person referred to the Commission for enforcement action pursuant to paragraph (1)(I) of this subsection.
      (xii) Refer to the Commission violations of a WQMP or violations of laws or rules relating to agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint source pollution under the jurisdiction of the Board, where the Board has determined that the necessary corrective action has not been taken. The Board, upon referral, shall provide the Commission documentation, including but not limited to, any original documents or Board certified copies of the original documents; and hard copies of all photographs, correspondence, records, and other documents relating to the violation.
    (C) Both parties agree to:
Cont'd...