Controlling Illegal Dumping: Citizens Guide Texas 2012

This book is 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 useful to local elected officials, peace officers and deputies, and others in government management needing a basic understanding. The book emphasizes that environmental enforcement and pollution control is primarily a responsibility of local government, rather than a job for the state. It includes material on administrative enforcement by state agencies, but focuses on the tools available to local government: municipal code enforcement, local enforcement of state criminal laws by sworn officers, and the use of major civil suits by cities and counties to address violations of state environmental statutes, and the rules, permits, and orders based on those statutes. It also includes material on how cities and counties can use existing criminal laws to stop oil and gas waste dumping and sloppy hauling. If you need an overview of locally available environmental enforcement powers, this is the book for you.