October 9, 2015 3:58 PM

Multi-agency rule-making begins on marine desalination

The rules will take years to write and span the General Land Office, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Marine desalination added a new chapter to the water code last session, and rulemaking began with an informal stakeholder meeting this week.

Rep. Eddie Lucio III, R-Brownsville, carried House Bill 2031, which sets up the expedited permit process around marine desalination. Like many parts of the water code, rulemaking will cross three agencies: the General Land Office, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority began its study of marine desalination two years ago as part of a study of the Guadalupe basin. Desalination could play a significant role in the region, but nothing in code set parameters for the process.

“Just over a year ago, it dawned on us we had no guidance in this area,” Executive Manager James Lee Murphy told TCEQ staff. “When we started to work with Rep. Lucio and Sen. (Chuy) Hinojosa, and Rep. (Todd) Hunter’s office, we never thought we’d end up here today.”

By Kimberly Reeves