Texas Health and Safety Code - HEALTH & SAFETY § 361.196. Remediation: Permits Not Required; Liability

(a) Potentially responsible parties shall coordinate with ongoing federal and state hazardous waste programs although a state or local permit may not be required for any removal or remedial action conducted on site.

(b) Subject to Section 361.193, the state may enforce any federal or state standard, requirement, criterion, or limitation to which the remedial action would otherwise be required to conform if a permit were required.

(c) An action taken by the person to contain or remove a release or threatened release in accordance with an approved remedial action plan may not be construed as an admission of liability for the release or threatened release.

(d) A person who renders assistance in containing or removing a release or threatened release in accordance with an approved remedial action plan is not liable for any additional remediation costs at the facility resulting solely from acts or omissions of the person in rendering the assistance in compliance with the approvals required by this section, unless the remediation costs were caused by the person's gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

(e) Except as specifically provided by this section, these provisions do not expand or diminish the common law tort liability, if any, of private parties participating in a remediation action for civil damages to third parties.