ENVIRONMENTAL

The Center for Environmental Excellence at the Division for Enterprise Development serves the public through relevant environmental projects funded by regulatory entities such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as well as projects sponsored by other private and public entities. Offices and staff resources in Houston and Austin, in addition to our Arlington location, support a variety of these efforts (active project highlights below).

PETROLEUM STORAGE TANK (PST) INVESTIGATION PROGRAM

Assist the TCEQ with compliance with EPA and Federal Energy Act of 2005 requirements to conduct Petroleum Storage Tank (PST) investigations of all facilities in Texas. Investigations consist of the Initial On-site, Follow-Up and Record Review followed by data entry for all tasks.

BARNETT SHALE AutoGC PROJECT

Assist the TCEQ to collect, validate, and report with regards to the ambient air in the Barnett Shale region. Perform TCEQ field services for comprehensive air quality data collection and management at four monitoring stations equipped with Automated Gas Chromatograph (Auto GC) instruments.

HOUSTON LOCAL AIR PROGRAM (LAP)

Provide the TCEQ with Stage II Vapor Recovery Compliance Program services within the City of Houston including responding to all Stage II complaints, conducting Stage II Compliance Evaluation Investigations (CEI), data entry and performing follow-up investigations for facilities receiving a Notice of Violation (NOV).

SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM

The Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange (P2Rx) is a national partnership of regional pollution prevention information centers funded in part through grants from EPA. They build networks, deliver P2 information, and measure P2 program results. The Southwest Network for Zero Waste is a group of environmental professionals dedicated to finding money-saving options for conserving natural resources. It is part of a nationwide network working to identify pollution prevention options for large and small businesses as well as consumers and is able to provide high quality pollution prevention information.

STORM WATER PERMIT CENTER (SWPC)

Provide a Storm Water Permit Processing Center for General Construction Permit (CGP) and Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP). The SWPC processes incoming applications, changes and terminations for Storm Water Permits from across the state. The SWPC also provides phone and email support to online users of the State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System (STEERS).

CONCENTRATION TIME (CT) STUDIES

Provide technical support to the TCEQ on projects such as Concentration Time (CT) Studies, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Intended Use Plans (IUP), and Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey (DWINS).

UTILITIES AND DISTRICTS

Provide technical support to the TCEQ for Utilities and Districts (U&D) Inventory by reviewing U&D requests for registration changes and determining accuracy of data consistent with Central Registry (CR), Water Utilities Database (WUD), TCEQ and EPA data standards.

INVENTORY AND ENFORCEMENT

Provide technical support to the TCEQ on compliance projects such as Public Water Systems (PWS) Inventory, PWS Compliance, Total Coliform Rule and Ground Water Rule Assistance. Provide technical support to the TCEQ for database management and maintenance.

The Safety Health and Environmental Professional (SHEP) program offers an OSHA certification program designed for the professionals in the field.

The SHEP program consists of the OSHA courses listed below:

• Introduction to EHS
• Risk Management Course
  
  And one of these three courses:
  • CEE 2101 Waste management
  • CEE 2201 Fundamentals of Air Quality
  • CEE 2301 Basic Water and Wastewater Regulations