| TIDRC,
principle instructor John Ockels provide all levels of
training for active enforcement officers and policy
officials responsible for providing these programs to
their citizens.
Illegal
Dumping Enforcement Training
These full-day classes
provide basic training for enforcement officers in Texas
criminal laws best suited to be used to control illegal
dumping and illegal burning. The course focuses on Texas
Health & Safety Code Chapters 341,
343, and 365
as well as Texas Water Code Chapter
7(E) and the Texas Outdoor Burning rule [30 Texas
Administrative Code 111(b)]. Participants include local
criminal environmental enforcement officers, police
officers and deputy sheriffs, sheriffs, police chiefs,
mayors, city managers, and municipal code enforcement
officers. In addition to teaching the elements of
anti-dumping laws in Texas and discussing effective means
of enforcing these laws, the class also provides civil
municipal code enforcement officers an excellent
opportunity to learn how they can work with their police
department to move "beyond code enforcement" in
particularly difficult cases.
Senior
Official Illegal Dumping Workshops
These short ( three-hour) workshops provide the
opportunity for senior elected officials and professional
staff to come together with an expert facilitator from
TIDRC to focus on local anti-dumping programs. The object
is to learn about enforcement options, ask questions, and
generally work through the policy issues involved in
establishing or growing an effective local enforcement
program. Participants commonly include county judges,
commissioners, sheriffs, county and district attorneys,
misdemeanor and felony judges, police chiefs, county
planners, city managers and enforcement officer
management. Topics and issues generally touch on program
funding options, public education, internal reporting
structure for enforcement officers, and facilitating local
prosecutors in working these crimes against property and
health into their normal processes. This short course is
provided in "pairs," usually one in the morning
and another in the afternoon at the same or other nearby
location.
Illegal
Burning Update
These three-hour workshops are designed for any government
official or employee to discuss and learn the new
provisions of the Texas Outdoor Burning rule. The
differences between TCEQ administrative enforcement and
local jurisdiction criminal enforcement of the rule will
be discussed. All aspects of the revised rule are
addressed, and those provisions permitting burning of
plant growth waste – both inside and outside cities –
are fully reviewed. Participants from cities wishing to
prohibit or otherwise regulate burning plant growth waste
through local ordinance are encouraged to discuss their
current ordinance with their city attorney. The class will
also focus on understanding the felony burning provisions
of Texas Water Code Secs. 7.182 and 7.183, and local
enforcement of these two burning criminal laws will be
discussed. This course is ideal for volunteer and paid
fire fighters. This short course is provided in
"pairs," usually one in the morning and another
in the afternoon at the same or other nearby
location.
Illegal
Dumping Enforcement Policy Workshop
This class seeks to gain the best of both of the above by
focusing efforts on one county or city. It lasts a full
day, but is divided into two parts. The first four hours
are for local elected officials, senior staff,
prosecutors, judges, and officers having direct
street-level responsibility for illegal dumping
enforcement. During this phase of the workshop, the focus
is on particular local enforcement issues and problems,
and in developing possible policy responses. The second
phase, which lasts the rest of the day, is a concentrated
training session for street officers needing to learn,
review or sharpen their understanding of the laws
underlying illegal dumping and burning enforcement.
Special
Projects
TIDRC also works with Keep Texas Beautiful and other
organizations to provide specialized training and develop
enforcement material. If you have a special project in
your jurisdiction that includes illegal dumping education,
please give the opportunity to get involved. |
