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Officers Handbook of Controlling
Illegal Dumping: Texas 2012 Edition

Buy now from Amazon ... $9.99 Kindle Only

Previously published under the name Local Control of Illegal Dumping, this is the primarily reference book for Texas enforcement officers. It covers health nuisances, criminal illegal dumping and water pollution and a wide range of policy and practice issues. Includes current copies of Texas environmental laws most useful to control local pollution.

Available in Kindle edition (can be used on any computer or cell phone) from Amazon.com for $9.99. Soon available in print format for $25.

Click here to download a free Kindle reader app for you computer or phone.

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Controlling Illegal Dumping
Citizens Guide: Texas 2012

Buy now from Amazon ... $9.99 Kindle Only

Having local problems with illegal dumping? This is the book you want to start with. It's an overview of how local governments in Texas can use existing state laws to fight illegal dumping, water pollution, and similar activities.

It is useful for citizens needing an overview of available options, and is also very useful to local elected officials, peace officers, deputies, code officers and others in government management needing a basic understanding of overall local enforcement options. Click here for more information.

Click here to download a free Kindle reader app for you computer or phone.

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Oil and Gas Waste Problems
Just about all kinds of illegal dumping can be controlled by local governments, including sloppy oil and gas waste hauling as shown here in Jim Wells County. Local governments in the oil patch can exercise criminal enforcement powers to keep their communities clean (shown here: multiple criminal violations of Texas Water Code Chapter 29, handled at the county level). Classes on this and other kinds of dumping provide continuing education credits to code enforcement officers and registered sanitarians (approved by the Department of State Health Services) and peace officers (TCLEOSE). Here are the subjects our classes cover.
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Substandard Structures and
Other Nuisance Violations
Or maybe your community is struggling with how to proceed following the Texas Supreme Court's ruling in City of Dallas v. Stewart. Our class on dealing with substandard structure and all other forms of ordinance abatement will give you a 22-step way to proceed with preparing cases for review and prosecution by your city or county attorney. Click on the link above to download and read the full decision of the court.
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Host a Class in Your City
Hosting a class in your city is easy and makes great economic sense, especially with today's tight budgets. This might be the easiest and least expensive way to assure that your officers get the information, and continuing education hours, they need.
How To Host a Class
Others Who Have Already Done It
Request a Class
Laws and Other Resources
Looking for copies of the most frequently used anti-pollution laws or need other resources to become better informed or to do a better job? Here we post copies of relevant laws and rules, discussion papers on various topics, presentations, and our popular field guides for officers and officials. Feel free to download and use this material to fight local pollution with local resources.
Frequently used environmental laws
Additional useful resources
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Contact Us
Please feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions on illegal dumping or other forms of pollution, to discuss the political issues that surround local empowerment, to send us pictures of dumping, or just to have a private conversation about a situation. The people working on these issues around our state are absolutely amazing, and we love to hear from you. So tell us about your successes and challenges, and maybe we can help. My email address is ockels@tidrc.com

News

The whole project of local enforcement fails unless you get your prosecutor involved.
John Ockels
Feb 9, 2012
Check out the proposed amendment to Rule 330.7 on the Resources page. This would authorize disposal on city or county owned property of debris from city or county demolished nuisance/abandoned buildings in arid areas, when the prior owner can't pay for hauling and disposal. This could affect as many as 630 cities/counties and may be effective as soon as mid-August 2012.

Feb. 8, 2012
On January 27th the State Supreme Court withdrew their July 1, 2011 opinion in City of Dallas v. Stewart and issued a new opinion on the case. Click here to read a copy of their new opinion.

Jan. 15, 2012
Advanced Substandard Structure Investigation
This is a class that you, your city attorney, and your elected officials all need to take. Many cities in the state are planning to ignore the requirements set forth by the Texas Supreme Court in City of Dallas v. Stewart concerning forced abatement of nuisance houses and other property. This can ONLY get you in trouble. This class will help you and your city/county attorney set a reasonable process that conforms to Stewart. Click here for classes.

Jan. 5, 2012
The location of the class "Local Control of Oil and Gas Waste" scheduled for Thursday, Jan 12th, has been determined: Jim Wells County Sheriff's Department (Training Room); 300 North Cameron; Alice, 78332.

Dec. 27, 2011
Jim Wells County officers report that using TWC Chapter 29 to deal with sloppy oil and gas waste haulers is working fine. Several haulers were recently charged with violations including disposing oil and gas waste on streets (Sec. 29.044), hauling without a permit (Sec. 29.043), and using unmarked vehicles (Sec. 29.045). Some paid $500 fines + $400 costs and others have hired attorneys. The county attorney is on-board with using this approach to keep the streets and highways clean of oil and gas waste. This will work in your city or county too. Click here for a copy of the relevant TWC Chapter 29 sections.

Dec. 24, 2011
Check out the new calendar and map of classes.