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EPA enforcement actions in Texas cut pollution, restore environment

Release Date: 11/15/2006
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or [email protected]

(Dallas, Texas – November 15, 2006) More than $4.9 billion in environmental improvements were secured and more than 890 million pounds of pollution were reduced as a result of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enforcement activities this year.

A total of $1.3 billion in environmental improvements and 181 million pounds in pollution reductions were realized across the region comprising Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

“We could not have achieved this successful level of results without the teamwork of our state environmental departments,” EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene said. “Our enforcement professionals work very closely and very effectively with their state counterparts to ensure a cleaner environment and healthier communities.”

EPA’s enforcement numbers were released today by its Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance as part of its end-of-year report for fiscal year 2006, which ended September 30.

Among the Agency’s enforcement achievements for Texas is working with its state counterparts to reduce phosphorus levels in the Bosque watershed. Management practices developed by EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to improve the watershed have been expanded statewide.

EPA also helped improve state water quality as part of an agreement with the city of Dallas. The city will spend about $3.5 million in a comprehensive effort to prevent more than 127,000 pounds of pollution from entering its storm water system. Under the agreement, the city will also construct two water purifying wetlands along the Trinity River and Cedar Creek near the Dallas Zoo.

In addition to enforcement actions, EPA provided help to more than 7,228 regional businesses and individuals in understanding and complying with environmental responsibilities during the past year.

The EPA enforcement program is a vital tool in ensuring compliance with the nation’s environmental laws and inspiring businesses, governments, and others to focus on pollution prevention. More information on the EPA FY2006 enforcement and compliance program is available at https://www.epa.gov/region6/6en/06-axn-highlights.html#tx.

For more information about activities in EPA Region 6, please visit https://www.epa.gov/region6.