Environmental Service & Solid Waste Management Program

Solid Waste

Under the authority of Subchapter 0 of the “Texas Solid Waste Management Regulations”, the Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) has prepared a Regional Solid Waste Management Plan for the Texas counties in our Region (Bowie, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar, Morris, Red River and Titus). The Regional Solid Waste Plan focuses on the reduction of the disposal of solid waste. Under the guidance of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, the plan defines long term goals and objectives, and provides funding to cities and counties for projects to meet those goals.

Water Quality

The Clean Rivers Program of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is a state fee-funded program for water quality monitoring, assessment, and public outreach. It provides citizens the opportunity to approach water quality issues within a watershed or river basin at the local and regional level. River basin authorities in our region include the Sulphur River Basin Authority, Red River Authority and the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District.

Brownfields

The goal of this project is to coordinate the work of area environmental service firms to conduct Phase I and II site assessments. It will coordinate clean-up activities and other activities to encourage potential economic development and job creation, reuse of existing infrastructures, and overall will improve community needs, as well as encourage healthy and safe environments. ATCOG has again been awarded the EPA Brownfields Combined Hazardous Substance and Petroleum Assessment grant funds for grant period September 2009 through August 2012.

Lead Based Outreach and Training Project

The goal of this project is to educate low-income segments of the communities of the dangers of lead poisoning and to identify and reduce the likelihood of incidences of elevated blood-lead levels in residents with poor housing in the communities. Because many communities that are disproportionally affected by childhood lead poisoning contain under-served populations, EPA desires to reach communities that are new to lead awareness programs. As part of this effort, the current project’s goals are to decrease the number of children exposed to lead hazards and to increase the number of individuals who will be trained in lead-safe work practices. Homeowners, renters, contractors, do-it-yourself workers, and realtors will all be targeted with outreach and training on lead-safe work practices at the community level.

Small Business and Local Government Assistance

Resources that are available to assist small businesses and local governments comply with environmental regulations.