Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

What Texas Commission on Environmental Quality does

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is the Texas state agency with statutory and EPA-delegated primacy over air quality, water quality, and waste/land programs within the state. Established under the Texas Clean Air Act of 1989 (activated 1993) and headquartered in Austin, TCEQ administers the full permitting, compliance monitoring, enforcement, and corrective-action lifecycle for Texas industrial facilities, public water systems, municipal and industrial waste streams, and radioactive materials, and it responds to environmental emergencies such as the 219-county Winter Storm Fern declaration. The agency is governed by three Commissioners — Chairwoman Brooke T. Paup, Catarina R. Gonzales, and Tonya R. Miller — and serves both regulated entities (utilities, manufacturers, oil and gas operators, AI hyperscalers, public water utilities, and waste handlers) and the Texas public through programs including the Texas Emission Reduction Program, the Governor's Award for Excellence in Pollution Prevention, the Texas Annual Permitting Conference, and the Central Registry records database.

TCEQ's technology portfolio is operational rather than differentiating. It operates the State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System (STEERS) for electronic submission of monitoring and compliance data, a Central Registry of regulated sites, public-facing GIS viewers for environmental data, a Compliance Monitoring Data Portal, and per-program databases for dam safety, corrective action, radioactive materials, and air quality. It does not disclose proprietary AI or ML modeling infrastructure; the technology footprint is consistent with a mature, mostly on-premise government technology stack.

Because TCEQ is a state agency, its business model is non-commercial. Funding is drawn from state appropriations, federal grants (e.g., Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act pass-throughs), and regulated fees — including emissions fees, water utility assessments, petroleum product delivery fees, solid waste generator fees, and occupational licensing fees (e.g., asbestos, landscape irrigation, underground storage tank contractors). TCEQ also retains penalty and enforcement revenue. With an agency workforce between 1,001 and 5,000 across headquarters and regional offices, TCEQ operates a scaled, multi-channel service delivery model in which "customers" are regulated entities and the Texas public, and revenue is a policy-driven funding stream rather than a discretionary commercial outcome.

Name

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Legal name

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Website

https://tceq.texas.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Texas state agency with EPA primacy that regulates air, water, and waste through permitting, monitoring, and enforcement. It serves industrial facilities, public water systems, utilities, and the Texas public, funded by state appropriations and regulated fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Regulatory Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Hazardous Waste Management (4955), Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Protection Agencies & Environmental Health Departments (HLAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Enforcement Defense & Consent Order/Settlement Support (NOV Responses, Corrective Action Plans) (EUAHABAI), Regulatory Compliance, Licensing & Enforcement (Public Health) (HLAJAMAE), Public Health & Consumer Confidence Reporting (CCR, boil-water advisories, notifications) (EUANAJAL)

Keywords

• Environmental regulatory services
• Air quality permitting
• Water quality management
• Waste management regulation
• Public drinking water

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Air Emissions and Inspection Fees: Fee based on tons of pollution emitted and assessed for accounts under specific SIC codes for inspection purposes
2. Facility Fees: Fee assessed on each facility holding Class 1 industrial solid waste or hazardous waste permit
3. Public Water System Fees: Fees collected from operators of public drinking water systems including Public Health Service Fee
4. Consolidated Water Quality Fees: Fee collected from entities with individual wastewater permits
5. Petroleum Product Delivery Fees: Fee assessed on delivery of petroleum products received from bulk storage facilities for distribution in Texas
6. Waste Generation Fees: Fee charged on generators of hazardous waste and/or industrial Class 1 waste
7. Occupational Licenses and Registrations: Fees for licensing of individuals and companies across various environmental occupations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

TCEQ is Texas's lead environmental regulatory agency, charged with protecting the state's public health and natural resources by issuing permits, conducting inspections and investigations, enforcing compliance, and administering delegated federal environmental programs. Its core offerings span air emissions and air quality permitting, water quality and water rights, waste management (industrial, hazardous, and municipal solid waste), public drinking water oversight, and public engagement (complaint intake, public notices, hearings). Operationally it delivers these services through standardized electronic systems (STEERS, CMDP, Central Registry) and through 16 regional offices plus a headquarters in Austin.

Product overview

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is a state regulatory agency, not a commercial product company. Its offerings consist of government online services, permitting systems, and public information tools. The core platform is STEERS (State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System), which provides e-Permits/Registrations and e-Reporting for air quality, water quality, hazardous waste, and municipal solid waste. Supporting tools include the TCEQ App (permit-search), Central Registry Query, Commissioners' Integrated Database, and multiple GIS viewers (Edwards Aquifer, Water Districts, Municipal Solid Waste, Water Well). The Compliance Monitoring Data Portal handles drinking water compliance data submissions. These systems serve regulated entities, consultants, and the public for environmental permitting, reporting, and compliance tracking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Take Care of Texas: A statewide initiative encouraging Texans to reduce pollution and conserve resources.
• Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program (MLEIP)

Products and services

• State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System (STEERS) Online portal operated by TCEQ for regulated entities to submit permit applications, reports, registrations, and payments electronically across air, water, and waste programs. Used by Texas businesses and operators to interact with TCEQ permitting and compliance workflows.
• TCEQ App / Permit-Search Application TCEQ's mobile and online application that allows users to search for permits issued by the agency. Designed for industry, consultants, and the public to look up TCEQ permit records.
• Central Registry TCEQ's centralized database of agency records, providing the public and regulated entities with a single point of access to search filings, registrations, and other regulatory data held by the Commission.
• Compliance Monitoring Data Portal (CMDP) TCEQ portal where regulated entities submit compliance and emissions monitoring data, providing a centralized mechanism for compliance reporting to the agency.
• Edwards Aquifer Map Viewer GIS-based online viewer that allows users to access TCEQ geospatial regulatory data for the Edwards Aquifer region. Used by applicants, consultants, and the public to evaluate aquifer-related permitting issues.
• Water Districts Map Viewer GIS-based online viewer providing access to TCEQ's water districts data for use in water rights, district, and supply planning by stakeholders across Texas.
• Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Viewer GIS-based online viewer providing access to TCEQ's municipal solid waste regulatory data, including facility locations and disposal information.
• Water Well Report Viewer GIS-based online viewer providing access to TCEQ's water well report data, supporting source water assessment and groundwater regulatory review.
• Commissioners' Integrated Database Agency-wide integrated database maintained by TCEQ that links regulatory information to support Commission decision-making and agency operations.
• Core Data Form (TCEQ-10400) Standardized TCEQ form (TCEQ-10400) used to collect core site and activity information from applicants and regulated entities as part of TCEQ permitting and reporting processes.
• Public Meeting and Hearing Recordings Archive of audio/video recordings of TCEQ public meetings and hearings, providing public access to agency decision-making proceedings.
• Calendar of Public Meetings and Hearings Public-facing calendar maintained by TCEQ that lists scheduled public meetings and hearings, supporting public participation in agency proceedings.
• Central Registry Query Search interface within the TCEQ Central Registry that allows users to query specific regulatory records held by the agency.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Texas Tech UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Pilot projects testing treatment technologies for oilfield wastewater (produced water) showing initial promise in removing over 99% of salts, organic pollutants, and radioactive contaminants
• Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026Joint publication of annual report on Nonpoint Source Pollution Management in Texas, required for Texas to continue receiving federal Clean Water Act §319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant Program funding from EPA
• Texas Tech University SystemmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2025Partnership in developing Project Matador campus where TCEQ issued Clean Air Permit; Texas Tech providing academic and research support for the 11 GW power generation facility
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partnership for delegated environmental programs under Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, providing grant funding for nonpoint source pollution management and state implementation of federal environmental standards
• State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSOAH conducts contested case hearings on permitting applications, providing independent administrative law judges for quasi-judicial proceedings on complex environmental permitting matters

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA): California's umbrella environmental agency overseeing air, water, waste, and toxics regulation. Directly comparable to TCEQ as a large state-level environmental regulator with EPA-delegated primacy and integrated permitting authority.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The federal EPA delegates primacy to TCEQ and operates as the overarching national regulator. Comparable as the source authority for the same statutory frameworks (CAA, CWA, RCRA) that TCEQ administers.

Direct peers

• Ohio Environmental Protection Agency: Ohio EPA regulates air quality, water quality, and solid/hazardous waste under EPA-delegated authority. Closely comparable agency scope and structure to TCEQ in an industrial Midwestern state.
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP): Florida's integrated environmental agency regulating air, water, and waste with EPA-delegated programs. Highly comparable structure and responsibilities to TCEQ, particularly given the comparable scale and industrial diversity of Florida.
• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: Pennsylvania's DEP administers air, water, waste, mining, and oil & gas programs with EPA primacy, mirroring TCEQ's integrated regulatory model for a major energy-producing state.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC): New York's state environmental regulator with primacy over Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act programs, comparable scope of air/water/waste permitting and enforcement. Most directly analogous state EPA peer to TCEQ.
• Illinois Environmental Protection Agency: Illinois EPA administers air, water, and land protection programs with EPA-delegated authority. Comparable in regulatory scope and integrated permitting framework to TCEQ.
• North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ): NCDEQ is a state environmental agency with integrated air, water, and land programs and EPA primacy. Functions as a structural peer to TCEQ at slightly smaller scale.
• Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD): Georgia EPD regulates air, water, land, and waste with EPA-delegated primacy. Provides a regional peer benchmark for southeastern state environmental agencies comparable to TCEQ.

Regional players

• Railroad Commission of Texas: Texas's sister regulatory agency for oil & gas, surface mining, and pipeline safety. Operates in a complementary jurisdictional space to TCEQ within Texas, regulating upstream oil and gas activities that TCEQ's air and water programs also touch.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TCEQ
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TCEQNews
• Facebookfacebook.com/TexasCommissionOnEnvironmentalQuality
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tceq
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_tceq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Texas Commission on Environmental Quality