Opinion ID: 1376983
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Qualifications or Training

Text: Section 26.179 does not require landowners to possess any special qualifications or training in land use planning, water quality management, or public health, safety, and welfare management. Therefore, ordinarily, this factor would weigh against the delegation. Nevertheless, the statute does require landowners to hire registered professional engineers to review their water quality plans and amendments. Accordingly, although the statute does not require the delegate to have relevant qualifications or training, it requires the delegate to hire a professional who does. Because engineers have a professional obligation beyond their employers' self-interest, requiring their review makes it more likely that landowners will achieve section 26.179's water quality objectives than would requiring the landowners themselves to have engineering expertise. Specifically, the statute requires that a professional engineer certify that a landowner's water quality plan achieves one of section 26.179's standards, either maintaining background levels of water quality or retaining rainfall. See TEX. WATER CODE § 26.179(g). Further, in zones purporting to maintain background levels of water quality, if data on background levels are unavailable, an engineer must calculate and certify the background levels to maintain. See TEX. WATER CODE § 26.179(b). And, a professional engineer must acknowledge that the landowner's subdivision plat complies with the water quality plan. See TEX. WATER CODE § 26.179(j)(2). Therefore, the statute provides a check on the landowner's discretion in formulating a water quality plan and a subdivision plat to comply with that plan. In contrast, neither the engineer nor any other party with qualifications or training has any role in the landowner's decisions about which municipal regulations the landowner's water quality and land use plans will comply with and are therefore enforceable on its property. Therefore, we conclude that this seventh factor weighs neither for nor against the delegation.