Another important aspect of this issue is the apparent shift of freshwater inflows from east to west. 
The main source of freshwater inflows to Galveston Bay historically has been from the east via the 
Trinity River. As Houston's population has been growing westward so has its associated return 
flows. These return flows are becoming an increasingly significant input of water to the bay system 
and may eventually exceed river flows. What is the implication to the existing salinity regime and, 
perhaps more importantly, existing and projected pollution problems? 
It is these and the other questions that resource managers are being forced to answer. Answers 
that must be provided now, not in the future, because decisions about this estuary's resources are 
being made now, not in the future. 
Current Status of Management 
The governmental organization within the state is such that resource responsibilities are divided 
among several agencies. Additionally, there is no coordinating body or program, like a coastal zone 
management program, other than the state legislature or governor, with overall management 
responsibility for the estuary. 
The following synopsis of agencies and responsibilities is illustrative of state management efforts 
in Galveston Bay. 
Texas Air Control Board 
The Texas Air Control Board (TACB) operates under statutory authority of the Texas Clean Air 
Act. Permits for construction or operation of any facility that has the potential to emit pollutants into 
the atmosphere are required, and are issued by the TACB using guidelines and performance 
standards contained in Board rules. Consultations are held with local pollution control agencies prior 
to permit issuance. All permit applications undergo a review process to evaluate facility plans and 
specifications prior to issuance. Operation permits must be obtained within 60 days after a facility 
begins operation unless an extension is granted by the Board. The TACB also does engineering 
studies for Point Source Discharge (PSD) permits that are issued by the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency. 
Texas Historical Commission 
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) is responsible for preserving and protecting the state's 
historical and archaeological resources, and operates under authority of the National Historic 
Preservation Act of 1966. Federally sponsored projects, such as reservoir construction and surface 
mining activities, are reviewed and permits are required by the THC as necessary to protect state 
resources. The Texas Antiquities Committee (TAC), a division of the THC, deals with projects not 
receiving federal funds and operates under statutory authority of the Texas Antiquities Code. 
The TAC regulatory process plays a key role in protecting archaeological and cultural resources 
such as sunken ships, buried treasures, art works and prehistoric habitation sites in the coastal area 
(see Appendix I). The Committee issues eight types of permits covering virtually every aspect of 
historical and archaeological investigation, and may also require pre-project archaeological surveys 
to determine if sensitive resources will be affected by construction, dredging or filling activities 
related to private or federal projects in submerged areas. Rules and regulations established by the 
Committee outline detailed specifications for investigators and require comprehensive reporting of 
survey results. 
General Land Office and School Land Board 
The Texas General Land Office and School Land Board manage surface and mineral resources of 
state-owned lands that have been dedicated to the state's public school fund. This includes 
approximately 860,000 acres of uplands and 4 million acres of submerged land in rivers, bays and the 
Gulf of Mexico. 
The three-member School Land Board, which is chaired by the Commissioner of the General Land 
Office, issues grants of interest on state-owned upland property for various purposes including oil 
and gas production, hard mineral production, hunting, timber harvest, and grazing. Permits are also 
issued for activities on submerged lands, including exploration and development of hydrocarbon 
reserves, dredging of channels, and construction of various structures such as piers, docks, wharves 
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