Pamela Aguirre Small Business and Local Government Compliance Assistance Specialist

 Local Governments, small, independently owned and operated businesses, Independent School Districts.  Free and Confidential.  Identify Compliance Issues.  69 site visits were conducted in the Border regions during the FY 2011.

 Environmental consultants, attorneys, engineers and operators.  Volunteer a minimum of 20 hours per year.  Match area of expertise with need of small business.  Also, “confidential” work, does not lead to inspections or citations.  There have been 14 completed matches made in the Border regions in FY 2011to present.

  8:00 AM-5:00 PM (Central time) Monday – Friday.  Live person!  Technical, confidential compliance assistance. 

 Border Workshops have included such topics as: Petroleum Storage Tanks (PST’s), Outdoor Burning, Storm Water and Wastewater, and in 2011 we added Oil & Gas Workshops.

 12 TCEQ sponsored community clean ups in the El Paso region.  Partnered with Keep El Paso Beautiful, El Paso Water Utilities, City and County of El Paso.  Over 500 volunteers, schools, neighborhood associations and corporate sponsors.  400,000 tons of trash and debris collected and disposed of.

 Picture of large illegal dump site

 Picture of volunteers gathering for clean up

 3 clean ups held summer  Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) Funds used- $76,000 for disposal of trash, debris and tires.  Over 600 tons of trash was disposed of and 7000 tires sent for beneficial use.

 Picture of participants collecting trash & tires at Sparks clean up

 Annual Environmental Summit since 2001, in conjunction with then Senator Eliot Shapleigh, and now with Senator Jose Rodriguez.  Approximately 400 attendees each year.  Target specific environmental issues in the community, especially Illegal Dumping.  Working groups that get things done.  Numerous successes have come out of past Summits.

 Picture of Commissioner  And elected officials

 Picture of recycle “trashion” show.

 Free and Confidential  One on One Assistance  Many Useful Tools  Total Border Assistance FY2011 to Present: 866 calls

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDRESSING ILEGAL DUMPING ON DISTRIC DRAINAGE CANALS 1-ESTABLISH A COALITION OF TCEQ, EL PASO HEALTH DEPARTMENT, LOWER VALLEY WATER DIST.. AND EL PASO COUNTY WATER IMPROVEMENT DIST. NOTE: EPCWID#1 I SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD AND CALL A MEETING OF THIS AGENCIES. A) LOWER VALLEY WATER DIST. HAS INDICATED AN INTEREST IN HELPING TO CLEAN THE DRAINS B) EL PASO COUNTY HEALTH AND TCEQ. CAN HELP ENFORCE THE LAWS DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM 2-SOLICIT THE HELP OF BORDER PATROL TO PROVIDE SURVILIANCE AND REPORT TO EPCWID#1 ANY EVIDENCE OR ILEGAL DUMPING. NOTE: BORDER PATROL AGENTS ARE ON PATROL 24 HOURS 7 DAYS ALL OVER THE BORER. 3-POSIBLE REMEDIAL ACTIONS ( BEGIN IN WORSE AREAS. SEE MAP) A) PURSUE LEGISLATION REQUIRING ALL TIRE DEALERS TO PROVIDE PROF OF LEGAL DISPOSAL OF TIRES B) SEND LETTERS TO RESIDENTS WICH LIVE ALONG THE DRAINS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM THE FINE FOR ILEGAL DUMPING AND HELP TO REPORTING DUMPING, TO EPCWID#1 C) CREATE A PATROL TEAMS FROM EPCWID#1 AND LVWD. TO BE ON DUTY DURING WEEKENDS ( 24 HOURS A DAY FRI. SAT. SUNDAY.) D) USE NEWS MEDIA TO INFORME THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS PROBLEMAND PENALTIES E) INSTALL MORE GATES IN WORSE AREAS F) ASSIGN DIST. EMPLOYEES TO CLEAN DRAINS. PURSHASE NEW EQUIPMENT IF WE NEEDED. ( 2 MOWER TRACTOR ) G) A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM LIKE ( ADOPT A DRAIN) H) APPROACH EL PASO COUNTY DETENTION CENTER FOR POSIBLE USE THE INMATES TO HELP WITH CLEANING TRASH.

 This year’s El Paso Environmental Summit will be held on October 12,  NEW LOCATION!! El Paso Marriott-Airport.  Hosted by EcoWise El Paso and the TCEQ.  Contact: Pamela Aguirre 

 September 28th, 2011, McAllen, Texas  Sponsored by State Representative Eddie Lucio III.  210 Attendees.  Issues discussed: Scrap Tires, Plastic bags, Recycling programs and challenges, as well as energy & water conservation.  This year’s Summit will be held October  25th, 2012 in Brownsville, Texas.  Contact: Imelda Pena, 

 October 20th, 2011, Sponsored by State Senator Judith Zaffirini.  230 Attendees.  Issues Discussed: 50 year water plan and conservation, City of Brownsville’s Plastic Bag Ordinance, and Recycling  This year’s Summit will be held on October 18th, 2012 at Texas A& M University.  Contact: Carmen Ramirez 

 Pamela Aguirre Pamela Aguirre  Small Business and Local Government Compliance Assistance Specialist  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality  Region 06- El Paso  

 Picture of “Community First “ sign