Texas Water Code - WATER § 5.506. Emergency Suspension of Permit Condition Relating to, and Emergency Authority to Make Available Water Set Aside for, Beneficial Inflows to Affected Bays and Estuaries and Instream Uses

(a) The commission by emergency or temporary order may suspend a permit condition relating to beneficial inflows to affected bays and estuaries and instream uses if the commission finds that an emergency exists that cannot practicably be resolved in another way.

(a-1) State water that is set aside by the commission to meet the needs for freshwater inflows to affected bays and estuaries and instream uses under Section 11.1471(a)(2) may be made available temporarily for other essential beneficial uses if the commission finds that an emergency exists that cannot practically be resolved in another way.

(b) The commission must give written notice of the proposed action to the Parks and Wildlife Department before the commission suspends a permit condition under Subsection (a) or makes water available temporarily under Subsection (a-1).  The commission shall give the Parks and Wildlife Department an opportunity to submit comments on the proposed action for a period of 72 hours from receipt of the notice and must consider those comments before issuing an order implementing the proposed action.

(c) The commission may suspend a permit condition under Subsection (a) or make water available temporarily under Subsection (a-1) without notice except as required by Subsection (b).

(d) The commission shall notify all affected persons immediately by publication.