Office of the Commissioners

Bryan W. Shaw, Ph.D., Chairman
Buddy Garcia, Commissioner
Carlos Rubinstein, Commissioner
Staff: Address/Phone/Fax
 

Bryan W. Shaw, Ph.D.	Buddy Garcia	Carlos Rubinstein

Three full-time commissioners are appointed by the governor to establish overall agency direction and policy, and to make final determinations on contested permitting and enforcement matters. They are appointed for six-year terms with the advice and consent of the Texas Senate. A commissioner may not serve more than two six-year terms, and the terms are staggered so that a different member’s term expires every two years. The governor also names the chairman of the commission.

The TCEQ commissioners have adopted a mission statement and philosophy that embody their vision of how this agency should conduct its business, and have issued a Resolution Concerning Public Participation at the TCEQ.

The following five offices report directly to the commissioners:

General Counsel

The general counsel is the chief adviser on law and ethics for the commissioners. The general counsel provides legal assistance to the commissioners for their review of permits, proposed enforcement actions, rules, and other matters, in addition to managing the administrative affairs of the commissioners’ office.

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) staff under the general counsel assist permit applicants and persons opposed to the applications in resolving their differences informally, if possible, to avoid the time and expense of a contested public evidentiary hearing. ADR procedures are voluntary, and those participating in ADR do not forfeit their right to a hearing if ADR does not result in a settlement.

Chief Auditor

The Chief Auditor’s Office (CAO) provides assurance and advisory services that help the commissioners and management meet agency goals and objectives. The CAO provides independent and objective information, analyses, and recommendations to assist management in effecting constructive change, managing business risk, and improving the compliance and accountability of the regulated community and business partners.

Chief Clerk

The Office of the Chief Clerk (OCC) issues required notices of applications, public hearings, and public meetings. The OCC also prepares the commission agendas, transmits final decision documents to applicants and other parties, and maintains the official records of pending commission proceedings. The OCC also maintains those pages of the TCEQ’s Web site pertaining to notice searches, OCC database searches, commissioners’ agendas and work sessions and the executive director’s agendas.

See also:
Chief Clerk's Database
Search for TCEQ Public Notices

Director

The Office of Public Assistance (OPA) answers questions about pending TCEQ permits, explains the permitting process and opportunities for public participation, and conducts public meetings around the state on permit applications. The office includes an Environmental Equity Program that helps minority and low-income communities work toward solutions to problems with industries and facilities near their homes. OPA is responsible for distributing the TCEQ Customer Satisfaction Survey, which encourages customers' feedback on their experiences with the agency. Every two years OPA summarizes the most recent biennium's survey responses in a Report on Customer Service to the Legislative Budget Board. The director is the agency's customer service representative, and OPA is the point of contact for all complaints against the agency.

Public Interest Counsel

The Office of Public Interest Counsel was created by the legislature to ensure that the public's interest is represented in issues considered by the commission. The office does not formally represent individuals at commission proceedings. However, citizens who have questions about the legal aspects of dealing with the TCEQ, its hearing process, and its rules can obtain help from this office. Assistance is available to anyone who is affected by a particular permit application or other agency authorization. The staff of the Public Interest Counsel also assists people with questions about enforcement proceedings.