TCEQ adopted the new Multi-Sector General Permit on August 14, 2026, and all existing TXR050000 permits are expired. Every covered industrial facility in Texas must now obtain coverage under the new permit: file a new Notice of Intent, prepare an updated SWP3, begin quarterly inspections, and complete employee training under the sector requirements for your specific SIC code.
What happened on August 14, 2026?
The 2021 TXR050000 Multi-Sector General Permit reached the end of its five-year term on August 14, 2026, and TCEQ adopted the renewed 2026 MSGP the same day. Authorizations issued under the 2021 permit are no longer current. Continuing to discharge stormwater from an industrial facility without obtaining coverage under the new permit is a Clean Water Act violation.
This is not a paperwork formality. The 2026 permit carries lower benchmark concentrations, eliminates representative outfall sampling, expands MS4 notification, and updates sector classifications. A SWP3 written against the 2021 permit does not satisfy the 2026 permit, even if nothing at your facility changed.
TXR050000 renewal timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| August 14, 2021 | 2021 TXR050000 MSGP issued, five-year term |
| May 21, 2025 | TCEQ submits draft permit and fact sheet to EPA Region 6 |
| August 18, 2025 | EPA returns a response letter approving the draft 2026 MSGP |
| November 14, 2025 | Notice of the proposed 2026 MSGP published in the Texas Register and the Houston Chronicle |
| December 15, 2025 | 30-day public comment period closes; public meeting held at TCEQ Headquarters |
| August 14, 2026 | TCEQ adopts the 2026 MSGP. All 2021 TXR050000 authorizations expire. |
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What does every existing TXR050000 permittee have to do now?
Four things, and they are sequential. The SWP3 must be updated before the Notice of Intent is submitted, so starting with the NOI is the most common and most expensive mistake.
| Requirement | What it means for your facility |
|---|---|
| New Notice of Intent | Filed through STEERS. The $100 NOI fee applies. A No Exposure Certification (INEC) is the alternative only if every industrial material and activity is fully sheltered. |
| New SWP3 | A plan written to the 2026 permit: updated site map, pollutant inventory, BMPs, the new lower benchmarks, and per-outfall monitoring. Your 2021 plan does not carry over. |
| Quarterly inspections | Routine facility inspections and quarterly visual assessments of stormwater discharges, documented and retained on site with the SWP3. |
| Employee training | Personnel responsible for BMPs, spill response, inspections, and monitoring must be trained, with training records kept on site. |
Every one of these is filtered through your SIC code. The MSGP divides industrial facilities into sectors, and each sector carries its own benchmark parameters, monitoring obligations, and sector-specific BMPs. A concrete plant, a scrap yard, and a chemical warehouse doing the same four steps produce four very different documents. Getting the sector wrong means monitoring the wrong parameters against the wrong benchmarks, which is one of the most common findings in TCEQ inspections.
How long do you have to file?
Existing permittees have 90 days from the August 14, 2026 effective date to submit a new NOI, which places the deadline at approximately November 12, 2026. That window is for the filing. It is not a grace period for the underlying obligations: your updated SWP3 must be complete before the NOI goes in, and inspection and training records begin accruing from the date you obtain coverage.
Facilities that let the window close are discharging without authorization. TCEQ can issue notices of violation, administrative penalties, and orders to cease discharge. Confirm your current status and deadline directly with the TCEQ Stormwater Processing Center at 512-239-3700 or the TCEQ industrial stormwater page.
What is the TXR050000 MSGP?
The Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) TXR050000 covers stormwater discharges from industrial activities. If your facility makes products, stores materials outdoors, or handles chemicals that can wash into nearby water, you need this permit. It applies to dozens of industries, from concrete plants to scrap yards to chemical manufacturers.
The permit is issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. In Texas the plan document itself is called a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, abbreviated SWP3, not SWPPP. TCEQ inspectors, permit text, and STEERS forms all use SWP3.
Who needs MSGP coverage?
Your facility needs the MSGP if it:
- Discharges stormwater associated with industrial activity to surface waters or a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) in Texas
- Falls under a covered Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code or industrial activity code (HZ, LF, SE, TW)
- Is subject to federal effluent guidelines under 40 CFR Parts 400 to 471
Common examples include manufacturing plants, chemical storage, vehicle maintenance yards, and material recycling operations. If you are not sure which SIC code applies to your site, check your business license or your prior NOI. Getting the code wrong leads to the wrong benchmarks and missed monitoring requirements.
What is the No Exposure option?
Some facilities avoid the full MSGP process by certifying no exposure. No exposure means every industrial material and activity is sheltered from rain, snow, and runoff, with nothing outdoors that could touch stormwater. Qualifying facilities file a Conditional No Exposure Certification (INEC) instead of an NOI, and are not required to maintain an SWP3, inspections, or monitoring.
Most industrial sites do not qualify. Outdoor raw material storage, open loading docks, or an uncovered waste pile disqualifies you. The exclusion is also conditional: if a tarp blows off or a bay door stays open during a storm, the exclusion is lost and full MSGP coverage is required immediately.
What changed in the 2026 MSGP?
The 2026 permit is stricter than the 2021 version in four specific ways, and each one changes what your SWP3 has to say.
Lower benchmark concentrations
Benchmarks are reduced for phosphorus, ammonia, iron, cyanide, nitrate-nitrite, and zinc. More facilities will exceed. Every exceedance triggers a required revision of your Best Management Practices and documented corrective action in your SWP3, meaning more sampling, more paperwork, and in some cases additional structural controls specified for your contractor to build.
Expanded MS4 notification
Under the 2021 permit you notified only MS4 operators regulated by TCEQ. The 2026 permit requires notice to all receiving MS4s, including those TCEQ does not regulate. Expect to track down local stormwater contacts and document receipt of each notice.
No more representative outfalls
Sampling one outfall to represent similar outfalls is eliminated. Every outfall must be monitored individually. For a facility with six discharge points, that is six sets of lab fees where one previously sufficed.
Updated NAICS codes and a new prohibition
The permit updates North American Industry Classification System codes, removes an obsolete SIC, and adds a prohibition on discharges from facilities licensed for storage or disposal of high-level radioactive waste under 10 CFR Part 72. If your industry code changed, re-check your sector-specific requirements before filing.
How do you obtain coverage under the new permit?
- Step 1: Confirm your sector. Verify your SIC code and industrial activity code, and review your discharge points. If site conditions changed and you now have zero exposure, file an INEC instead.
- Step 2: Write the new SWP3. Site map, pollutant inventory, BMP descriptions, inspection schedule, monitoring procedures, corrective action protocol, all built to the 2026 benchmarks and your sector’s requirements. This comes before the NOI.
- Step 3: Submit the NOI in STEERS. All forms go through STEERS unless you hold a waiver. Verify your certifying official and contact information early, because account problems discovered on deadline day cost coverage.
- Step 4: Pay the fees. NOI: $100. INEC: $100. Paper submittal surcharge: $200. Annual water quality fee: $200, due each September 1 that coverage is active.
- Step 5: Start the program. Quarterly inspections, employee training, benchmark monitoring, and recordkeeping begin immediately on coverage. Keep every record on site with the SWP3.
Your SWP3 is never filed with TCEQ. It stays at the facility, and inspectors can ask to see it at any time. A missing plan is itself a violation.
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What mistakes cost facilities their coverage?
Assuming coverage rolled over
It did not. The 2021 authorizations ended with the permit term. If you do not file a new NOI or INEC inside the 90-day window, you are discharging without a permit.
Reusing the 2021 SWP3
The plan must be written to the 2026 permit. New benchmarks, per-outfall monitoring, and expanded MS4 notification all change the document. Inspectors compare the plan to the permit and to the site, and mismatches are among the most common findings.
Skipping quarterly inspections and training
These are permit conditions, not best practices. Missing inspection forms and missing training logs are cited on their own, independent of whether your discharges met benchmarks.
Wrong sector classification
The wrong SIC code means the wrong benchmarks and the wrong sector-specific requirements. Verify your classification before filing, not after a deficiency notice.
Claiming no exposure without qualifying
Every condition on the no-exposure checklist must be met, continuously. One uncovered material pile ends the exclusion and requires immediate MSGP coverage.
Why work with Pro SWPPP?
Pro SWPPP is the paperwork, permitting, and inspection-documentation expert. Our CPESC-certified team writes your sector-specific SWP3, files your NOI or INEC in STEERS, builds your quarterly inspection schedule, and sets up your training documentation. Physical installation of BMPs is handled by your site contractor.
You get a plan matched to your SIC code, facility layout, materials, and discharge points, including site maps, BMP checklists, inspection forms, and training records. When regulations change, we update your plan at no extra charge.
For federal context, see the EPA NPDES Industrial Stormwater page. For a deeper dive into Texas requirements, see our South Texas SWPPP requirements guide.
FAQ
Did TCEQ adopt the 2026 MSGP?
Yes. TCEQ adopted the renewed Multi-Sector General Permit on August 14, 2026, the same day the 2021 permit term ended. All authorizations issued under the 2021 TXR050000 are expired, and covered facilities must obtain coverage under the new permit.
Is my existing TXR050000 permit still valid?
No. Coverage issued under the 2021 permit expired with the permit term on August 14, 2026. You must file a new Notice of Intent, or a No Exposure Certification if you qualify, to be authorized under the 2026 MSGP.
How long do I have to file the new NOI?
Ninety days from the August 14, 2026 effective date, which places the deadline at approximately November 12, 2026. Your updated SWP3 must be complete before the NOI is submitted. Confirm your specific deadline with TCEQ at 512-239-3700.
Can I keep using my existing SWP3?
No. The 2026 permit changes benchmark concentrations, eliminates representative outfall sampling, and expands MS4 notification. A plan written to the 2021 permit does not meet the new requirements even if nothing at your facility changed.
What inspections does the 2026 MSGP require?
Routine facility inspections plus quarterly visual assessments of stormwater discharges, documented and kept on site with your SWP3. Frequency and monitoring parameters vary by sector, so your SIC code determines your exact schedule.
Who has to complete employee training?
Personnel responsible for implementing BMPs, conducting inspections, performing monitoring, and responding to spills. Training must be documented and the records retained on site with the SWP3, where inspectors can review them.
Why does my SIC code matter so much?
The MSGP is sector-based. Your SIC code determines your benchmark parameters, monitoring frequency, and sector-specific BMPs. Two facilities completing the same four requirements produce entirely different documents if their sectors differ.
What does MSGP coverage cost?
The NOI fee is $100 and the INEC fee is $100. Paper submittals add a $200 surcharge. A $200 annual water quality fee is due each September 1 that coverage is active. No annual fee applies to INEC filers.
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