Enforcement Phases: Violations to Actions

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Below is a brief overview of the typical phases of action that can occur when environmental violations are found. For more details on the enforcement process, download a PDF of our publication TCEQ Has Inspected Your Business. What Does This Mean to You?

If you have further questions about the enforcement process, contact our Enforcement Division at 512-239-2545 or oce@tceq.texas.gov.

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Documenting Violations and Determining Appropriate Action

TCEQ’s enforcement process begins when a violation is discovered during an inspection conducted either at the regulated entity’s location or through a review of records at TCEQ offices. Most violations are quickly corrected in response to notices of violation. A Notice of Violation documents the violations discovered during the inspection, specifies a time frame to respond, and requires documentation of compliance.

If serious or continuing violations are identified during an inspection, as defined by Enforcement Initiation Criteria, TCEQ initiates enforcement and the business or individual inspected receives a Notice of Enforcement.

The Notice of Enforcement (NOE) documents the violations and puts the recipient, or “respondent,” on notice that the case has been referred for enforcement. This notice also lets respondents know that they can appeal the NOE by requesting an enforcement review meeting if they believe the violations were cited in error and they have new information that was not previously evaluated by the investigator.

When violations are serious enough to warrant an enforcement action, TCEQ is authorized to enforce correction of the violations and to seek penalties to deter future noncompliance. TCEQ is allowed to pursue penalties in two different types of enforcement actions:

• administrative orders that are issued by TCEQ commissioners; or
• referral of the case to the Office of the Attorney General for enforcement through the courts, including potential civil penalties.

Initiating Enforcement Action

Most enforcement cases are handled through the administrative order process. The first step in this process is to “screen,” or verify, the information documented in the investigation report. The enforcement coordinator then contacts the respondent by phone and explains the enforcement process and what the respondent can expect next, and offers the respondent the opportunity to submit additional information or set up a meeting.

If the case is expected to settle quickly, the enforcement coordinator then drafts an agreed order, which describes the alleged violations and any actions that need to be taken to correct them. The agreed order will also normally include a calculated penalty.

Where possible, TCEQ encourages expeditious settlement of enforcement actions by extending a settlement offer in the agreed order. If settlement does not occur within a short time, the agency will start the process that can lead to an administrative hearing, which is similar to the process used in a court of law for civil cases. TCEQ commissioners have ultimate approval of all administrative enforcement orders.

Expedited Compliance Order

On February 11, 2026, TCEQ Commissioners approved a new process for handling certain enforcement cases with established penalties for specified violations in accordance with Tex. Water Code § 7.006.

Key Eligibility Criteria

• All violations in the Notice of Enforcement must be on the approved violation list.
• All violations must be able to be corrected within 60 days from the date of the settlement offer.
• Violations typically cannot include a suspected or confirmed release or spill or require remediation.
• Enforcement case may not meet Findings Agreed Order criteria.

Key Respondent Considerations

The Respondent(s) may not have:

• Active/Pending matters at the Office of the Attorney General (OAG);
• Pending/Active default or shutdown order; revocations pending at any facility;
• Outstanding delinquent fees or penalties;
• At the same facility for the same violation, been offered an ECO within the last two years; and
• Repeat Violator or Unsatisfactory Performer Compliance History designation.

Additional Important Information

• All ECOs will still be published in the Texas Register for a 30-day public comment period.
• Respondents may still participate in the Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) program. If eligible, respondents will be provided information early in the enforcement process. Additional information may be found here. For questions, contact the Enforcement Division.

Calculating the Penalty

The penalty included in an enforcement action is calculated by the enforcement coordinator according to TCEQ's Penalty Policy. This document contains the elements of Texas Water Code, Section 7.053

• compliance history
• culpability
• a good-faith effort to comply
• economic benefit

• other factors as justice may require
  In addition, the enforcement coordinator also considers the following:

• whether the site of the violation is considered a major or minor source of potential pollutants;

• whether the violation harmed the environment or human health, or has the potential to cause harm; or

• whether the violation was programmatic (usually stemming from errors in paperwork).

Reaching an Agreement

If the respondent agrees with the terms of the agreed order and the penalty amount, the case is set for approval at a Commission or Executive Director agenda.

During the time allowed for settlement, the respondent has the opportunity to discuss the violations with our enforcement coordinator and provide additional documentation that may influence the inspection findings, calculated penalty, or both.

The order is considered settled if the respondent returns the signed order and penalty payment, if applicable. The respondent may choose to agree to the order as proposed by paying the full penalty amount and signing the order, by an authorized signer. There are options regarding the penalty payment from which the respondent may choose, such as paying the penalty in installments or by directing part or all of a penalty to a Supplemental Environmental Project.

A respondent, upon request, is allowed to make installment payments of administrative penalties. Payment schedules may not exceed 36 months, and the monthly payments must be in equal amounts of no less than $100 each with some adjustments needed for the penalty to ultimately be paid in full.

Payment of Enforcement Penalty

As indicated above, the respondents will receive an order and an informational letter that includes penalty amount information. Penalty payments can be submitted online.

• Instructions on submitting penalty payments online through ePay.

Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs)

SEPs are environmentally beneficial projects that a respondent agrees to undertake in settlement of an enforcement action. Dollars directed to TCEQ-approved environmental projects may be used to offset assessed penalties in enforcement actions.

Contesting an Enforcement Action

If the respondent contests the enforcement action, an agency attorney is assigned, who drafts an Executive Director’s Preliminary Report and Petition. This document notifies the respondent of the violations, the penalty assessed, and any corrective actions needed to bring the respondent back into compliance with the regulations.

The respondent may request an administrative hearing, which is held in front of an administrative law judge with the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH)

After the hearing, the judge makes a recommendation to TCEQ commissioners about an enforcement order. The commissioners consider this recommendation and then make the final decision whether to issue, deny, or modify the judge's decision.

Default Actions

If the respondent does not file a timely answer to the executive director’s petition, the commissioners may issue a default order. If the respondent fails to comply with the default order, then the executive director may refer the case to the Office of the Attorney General for civil enforcement in a court of law.

The End of the Process

The proposed order is not effective until approved and signed following a Commission or Executive Director Agenda. Once the respondent complies with the order, including payment of any penalty, the enforcement process ends.

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Enforcement Definitions
Explains the various documents we may issue as part of our enforcement process.

Make an Environmental Complaint
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Track Complaints and Enforcement
Track the status of complaints and pending enforcements actions.