(a) Requirements Applicable to All Measures to Control Nuisance Aquatic Vegetation.
  (1) Purpose. The purpose of the state aquatic vegetation plan is to provide for the coordination, oversight, guidance and where applicable public notice and enforcement of all activities related to the management of nuisance aquatic vegetation on public bodies of surface water. This includes, but is not limited to, coordination, oversight, public notification and enforcement of all aquatic herbicide use to protect state fish and wildlife resources and habitat and to prevent unreasonable risk from the use of any aquatic herbicide.
  (2) Standards. All measures that a person undertakes to control nuisance aquatic vegetation shall be consistent with the principles of integrated pest management as defined in §57.930 of this title (relating to Definitions). A guidance document prepared by TPWD will describe measures to control nuisance aquatic vegetation, and the minimum standards applicable to governing entities that regulate a public body of surface water and persons who propose to treat nuisance aquatic vegetation. The guidance document will include:
    (A) Encouragement of the growth and, where lacking, establishment of native aquatic vegetation that provides habitat for fish, the food chain that supports desirable fish populations, other desirable aquatic organisms and wildlife without interfering with reasonable recreational use, navigation, drinking water supply, flow of water to power plants, industrial use, irrigation, or other beneficial uses;
    (B) Encouragement of efforts to address the root causes supporting the overgrowth of nuisance aquatic vegetation;
    (C) Support for continued monitoring and assessment activities to identify new nuisance aquatic vegetation species and act appropriately to eliminate or minimize ecological impacts;
    (D) Support for continued research and evaluation of vegetation control methods that will cause the least possible hazard to persons, property and the environment as required by application of integrated pest management principles;
    (E) Encouragement of public input in decision-making processes;
    (F) Encouragement of ongoing education and outreach efforts as to the importance of managing aquatic vegetation to assure the ecological health of public waters;
    (G) Information to guide individuals wishing to treat nuisance aquatic vegetation; and
    (H) Criteria for choosing management responses to nuisance aquatic vegetation problems based on the uses of the water body and the nature of the problem. These criteria may take the form of a three-tier system: Tier I, which calls for immediate response and eradication; Tier II, which calls for ongoing control where nuisance aquatic vegetation is well-established; and Tier III, which calls for monitoring and a contingency plan in case the problem worsens. The three-tier system is subject to change as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection.
  (3) Modification of Guidance. TPWD will publish notice in the Texas Register and seek input from interested parties when it proposes major modifications to the guidance document such as changes in procedures and notification. Notice shall be provided at least 60 days prior to the effective date of any changes to the guidance document. The notice shall describe the proposed modifications and the reasons for the modifications, and how comments on the proposed modifications may be made to TPWD. Minor modifications such as changes of address, typographical corrections, and addition of species or approved herbicide may be published on the TPWD website without submission to the Texas Register.
  (4) Review by TPWD. Except as provided in paragraph (5) of this subsection, prior to undertaking any measures to control nuisance aquatic vegetation in a public body of surface water, a person operating under the state plan (exclusive of TPWD personnel or its contractors) shall provide to TPWD a treatment proposal, on a form included in the guidance document, no later than the 14th day before the measures are to begin. TPWD will review and may disapprove or amend any treatment proposal and will respond no later than the day before the proposed control measures are to begin. Where appropriate, TPWD will provide technical advice and recommendations regarding prevention of nuisance aquatic vegetation problems. The person submitting the treatment proposal shall have the burden of demonstrating compliance with the state plan. Where a local plan governs, treatment proposals are not subject to TPWD review, approval, and amendment, but are to be submitted to TPWD (pursuant to §57.934(b) of this title, relating to Local Aquatic Vegetation Plan) for informational purposes.
  (5) The owner or manager of a property or their agent, other than persons hired solely for the purposes of removing aquatic vegetation or persons using mechanical harvesters, is not required to submit a treatment proposal for physical removal of floating aquatic plants from public water adjacent to the property, shorelines, docks, or other waterfront infrastructure associated with the property provided these species are possessed, transported, and disposed in compliance with §57.113 of this title (relating to Harmful or Potentially Harmful Fish, Shellfish, and Aquatic Plants).
(b) Additional Requirements Applicable to the Use of Aquatic Herbicides to Control Nuisance Aquatic Vegetation.
  (1) No person shall apply aquatic herbicide in a public body of surface water where the state plan governs unless the herbicide is applied in a manner consistent with the state plan. No person shall apply aquatic herbicide in a public body of surface water where a local plan governs unless the herbicide is applied in a manner consistent with the local plan. Where a local plan has been adopted and approved, the requirements of the local plan supersede the requirements of this subsection.
  (2) All persons intending to apply an aquatic herbicide shall provide written notice to the governing entity, TPWD, all public drinking water providers that have an intake within two river miles of a site at which an application of aquatic herbicide is proposed to occur, and all persons who have requested notice (TPWD will maintain a list) no later than the 14th day before the application is to occur. The notice shall include:
    (A) the dates of the proposed application;
    (B) all label information for the aquatic herbicide to be applied;
    (C) a statement that TPWD's guidance document has been reviewed and the proposed herbicide application is consistent with the principles of integrated pest management as set forth in subsection (a)(2) of this section and that document;
    (D) information demonstrating that the proposed application will not result in exceeding:
      (i) the maximum contaminant level of the herbicide in finished drinking water as set by the TCEQ and the EPA; or
      (ii) if the aquatic herbicide does not have an MCL established by the TCEQ and the EPA, the maximum label rate; and
    (E) TDA applicator license number, if any.
  (3) In Tier I or emergency situations TPWD and/or its contractors may conduct herbicide treatment with only 24 hours notice to controlling authorities and persons on the notification list, provided the treatment is at least two river or lake miles away from an active potable water intake.
  (4) An individual who is not a licensed applicator may not apply aquatic herbicides unless the governing entity affirmatively finds, after receiving the proper notice as provided in subsection (b)(2) of this section, that the application will be consistent with the state plan. The governing entity shall respond to the notice given by an individual who is not a licensed applicator no later than the day before the date the application is scheduled to occur.
  (5) An individual who is a licensed applicator may apply aquatic herbicide after notice consistent with subsection (b)(2) of this section if the governing entity finds that the application would be consistent with the state plan or does not disapprove the application no later than the day before the application is to occur.
  (6) After receiving notice of a proposed application of aquatic herbicide, a governing entity, or TPWD in the absence of such an entity, shall:
    (A) provide the individual proposing the application with the state plan;
    (B) notify the individual in writing that it is a violation of state law to apply aquatic herbicides in a public body of water in a manner inconsistent with the state plan; and
    (C) determine whether the proposed application is consistent with the state plan.
  (7) The governing entity shall prohibit the proposed application of aquatic herbicide if the governing entity finds that the proposed application is inconsistent with the state plan.
  (8) State money shall not be used to pay for treatment of a public body of surface water with an aquatic herbicide unless the application of the herbicide is performed by an applicator licensed for aquatic herbicide application by the TDA.
  (9) Any application of aquatic herbicide shall comply with label rates approved by the EPA.
  (10) Any application of aquatic herbicide shall comply with applicable federal NPDES requirements under the Clean Water Act.

Source Note: The provisions of this §57.932 adopted to be effective February 6, 2001, 26 TexReg 1152; amended to be effective June 29, 2005, 30 TexReg 3728; amended to be effective June 12, 2013, 38 TexReg 3644; amended to be effective June 28, 2022, 47 TexReg 3691