Funds can be used for projects which contribute to the prevention of illegal dumping of municipal solid waste, including liquid wastes. Funding recipients may investigate illegal dumping problems; enforce laws and regulations pertaining to the illegal dumping of municipal solid waste, including liquid waste; establish a program to monitor the collection and transport of municipal liquid wastes, through administration of a manifesting system; and educate the public on illegal dumping laws and regulations.
Funds may not be expended to any law enforcement agency regulated by Texas Occupations Code, Title 10, Chapter 1701, unless: (a) the law enforcement agency is in compliance with all rules on Law Enforcement Standards and Education; or (b) the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education certifies that the requesting agency is in the process of achieving compliance with such rules.
When funding is to be provided for salaries of local enforcement officers, the funds recipient must certify that at least one of the officers has attended or will attend within the term of the funding agreement the TCEQ’s Criminal Environmental Law Enforcement Training or equivalent training.
Local enforcement vehicles and related enforcement equipment purchased entirely with funds provided under this Agreement may only be used for activities to enforce laws and regulations pertaining to littering and illegal dumping, and may not, to the extent practicable, be used for other code enforcement or law enforcement activities. Vehicles and equipment that are only partially funded must be dedicated for use in local enforcement activities for a percentage of time equal to the proportion of the purchase expense funded.
Entities receiving funds for a local enforcement officer, enforcement vehicles, and/or related equipment for use by an enforcement officer, must investigate major illegal dumping problems, on both public and private property, in addition to investigating general litter problems on public property.
Entities receiving funds to conduct a local enforcement program must cooperate with the TCEQ’s regional investigative staff in identifying and investigating illegal dumping problems. Lack of cooperation with the TCEQ staff may constitute a reason to withhold future funding to that entity for local enforcement activities.
Funds may not be used for investigation and enforcement activities related to the illegal dumping of industrial and/or hazardous waste. Instances where industrial or hazardous waste is discovered at a site do not preclude the investigation of that site, so long as the intent and focus of the investigation and enforcement activities are on the illegal dumping of municipal solid waste.
Funds may not be used to purchase ammunition, firearms, or HazMat gear.