Environmental Law

Texas Gets Serious About Criminal Enforcement

By Walter James

On November 20, 2009, Travis County (in cooperation with the TCEQ) announced the creation of an environmental crimes prosecutor and appointed Patty Robertson, an experienced white collar crime prosecutor, to fill the position.  According to the Travis County District Attorney?s press release, although located in Travis County, Ms. Robertson will prosecute cases throughout the state, as the Travis County District Attorney?s Office has statewide venue on most environmental crimes under the Texas state law provisions.

Ms. Robertson has been an assistant district attorney since 1987.  For the past 15 years, she has volunteered to take environmental cases on top of her regular caseload and has substantial experience working closely with the rest of the Texas Environmental Enforcement Task Force.  Cases will be referred to Robertson by the TCEQ and task force member organizations.  The USEPA is on record that it will also have the option of sending cases to Travis County for prosecution.

The Travis County District Attorney?s Office has worked with the TCEQ and the Texas Environmental Task Force since 1994 in the investigation and prosecution of environmental crimes occurring throughout Texas.  The offenses have included the illegal storage and transportation of hazardous waste, the unauthorized discharge of waste and pollutants into the waters of the state, fraud involving TCEQ programs, public drinking water violations and illegal dumping.

The new position is funded by a grant from the TCEQ.  

Maybe Texas is finally getting serious about enforcement.

More later.

As always, feel free to contact me via e-mail at walter.james@jamespllc.com.

Full post as published by Environmental Crimes Blog on December 02, 2009 (boomark / email).