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Oklahoma Agencies

Oklahoma Water Resources Board 

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) was founded in 1957 as the state's water resource planning and development agency. 

 

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality 

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) was founded in 1993. As the State's primary environmental protection agency, it handles permitting, compliance, assessment and monitoring, site cleanup, planning, and outreach related to air, land, and water resources.

 

Oklahoma Conservation Commission

The Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) was founded in 1971. It assists the Oklahoma conservation districts in caring for and monitoring natural resources, including water, as the state's lead agency for the Nonpoint Source Management Program, required by the EPA.

 

Oklahoma Corporation Commission

The Corporation Commission emerged in 1907 to regulate public service companies. Today it has broad regulatory responsibilities in areas like public utilities, oil and gas drilling, pipeline transportation, environmental protection, and more. Relevant to groundwater, the Commission "enforces federal regulations for underground injection of water and chemicals, underground disposal of certain oil and gas waste fluids and remediation of soil and groundwater pollution caused by leaking petroleum products storage tanks."

 

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry was created in 1907 to protect and regulate Oklahoma's agricultural resources. It also protects groundwater and other water resources from harmful animal waste and toxic pesticides.

Oklahoma Groundwater Regulations

The following links go to the Oklahoma Administrative Code on Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute (LII).

Okla. Admin. Code tit. 785 - Oklahoma Water Resources Board

  • Chapter 30 - Taking and Use of Groundwater
    • Subchapter 5 - Groundwater Permits
    • Subchapter 7 - Amendments to Groundwater Rights

Okla. Admin. Code tit. 252 - Department of Environmental Quality

  • Chapter 611 - General Water Quality
    • Subchapter 5 - Groundwater Pollution Control
    • Subchapter 7 - Groundwater Protection
  • Chapter 730 - Oklahoma's Water Quality Standards
    • Subchapter 7 - Groundwater Quality Standards

Oklahoma Resources

Oklahoma Administrative Code

This link goes to the Oklahoma Secretary of State website, which is free and publicly accessible. However, the Oklahoma Administrative Code can also be found on the Cornell Legal Information Institute here, Westlaw, Lexis, and Bloomberg Law.

Texas Agencies

Texas Water Development Board 

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) was created in 1957, following a severe drought. This agency is tasked with conserving and developing the State's water resources, which it does by collecting water data, assisting the state in water supply and flood planning, and financing water projects.

 

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 

Originally established as the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission in 1993, it was changed to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in 2001. This Commission protects public health and natural resources by regulating air, water, and land. 

 

Texas Groundwater Protection Committee 

The Texas Groundwater Protection Committee (TGPC) was created in 1989 to encourage collaboration between various state agencies and state programs engaged in groundwater protection.

 

Texas Department of Agriculture

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) was established in 1907 to encourage agriculture production, consumer protection, and economic growth. The TDA indirectly protects groundwater from contaminants through its regulation of pesticide use and application in agriculture.

 

Railroad Commission of Texas 

The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) was created in 1891 as the State's first regulatory agency. The RRC was originally intended to oversee the railroad industry, but today it has no bearing on railroads and primarily supervises the oil and gas industry and mining operations within the state, including groundwater contamination caused by oil and gas operations. 

Texas Groundwater Regulations

The following links go to the Texas Administrative Code on the Texas Secretary of State website.

Tex. Admin. Code tit. 31, pt. 10 - Texas Water Development Board 

  • Chapter 356- Groundwater Management

Tex. Admin. Code tit. 30, pt. 1 - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

  • Chapter 293 - Water Districts
    • Subchapter C - Special Requirements for Groundwater Conservation Districts
  • Chapter 294 - Priority Groundwater Management Areas

Tex. Admin. Code tit. 31, pt. 18 - Texas Groundwater Protection Committee

  • Chapter 601 - Groundwater Contamination Report

Texas Resources

Texas Administrative Code

This link goes to the Texas Secretary of State website. The Texas Administrative Code is also available on the Cornell Legal Information Institute here, Westlaw, Lexis, and Bloomberg Law.