• Solid Waste Management

The RGCOG administers a regional solid waste management program funded through a share of solid waste disposal fee revenues from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  The RGCOG is the state's designated regional solid waste planning agency, and was responsible for the preparation in 1996 of the regional solid waste management plan "Municipal Solid Waste Plan for Far West Texas".  The regional plan was amended in 2002 to include updated baseline planning information.  The regional goals for solid waste management activities were also revised to reflect regional progress toward previously-set goals.  The plan identifies issues and proposes solutions for regional solid waste management and recommends strategies for improving current management practices to accommodate future disposal needs.

The purpose of the solid waste grants program is to support local and regional solid waste projects that address the goals of the regional plan.  These goals are promoted through pass-through grants that support the plan and serve to implement its regional recommendations.  The recipients of these grants represent an array of stakeholders including cities, counties, water districts with solid waste responsibilities, and school districts.

The RGCOG has also finalized an inventory of closed landfills in the region, which was incorporated into the 2002 regional plan.  The inventory entailed field verification of closed landfill units, preparation of a GIS database and site mapping.

The RGCOG will also provide regional outreach, education, technical assistance, informational programs and training activities.

• Far West Texas Water Planning Group

• Urban Emergency Preparedness

In June 2002, The Governor’s Office requested that all Councils of Governments develop regional homeland security plans as part of a state planning initiative.  Since that time, Regional services assisted city and county governments in various activities related to emergency preparedness/homeland security.  In 2011, Environmental Services and Special Projects Division will assist in the expansion of community emergency preparedness services by providing liaison, project management, and other support duties as assigned for the El Paso Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) as directed by the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS), State Administrative Agency (SAA), and El Paso Urban Area Security Initiative management. 

• Citizen Corps Council/Community Emergency Response Teams

The Environmental Services and Special Projects Division and Regional Services Division will partner in administering the Regional Citizen Corps Council.  Environmental Services and Special Projects Division will support the El Paso UASI Citizen Corps Council, Ready Team program, UASI CERT/CERT Reserves, and the Citizen Preparedness Council. 

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program trains volunteers to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities.  When emergencies happen CERT members give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site.  CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.

• Special Projects:  The U.S./Mexico Sister Cities of Presidio, Texas and Ojinaga, Chihuahua Cross Border Contingency Plan Update

The Border Environmental Cooperation Commission/ Comisión de Cooperación Ecológica Fronteriza, an “international organization created pursuant to the Agreement between the Government of the United States of American and the Government of the United Mexican States concerning the Establishment of a Border Cooperation Commission and North American Development Bank, [… and through Protocol of Amendment] was signed November 25 and 26,2004.

The BECC/COCEF has awarded the Rio Grande Council of Governments, Environmental Services and Special Projects Division funds to update the bi-national contingency plan, known as: The U.S./Mexico Sister Cities of Presidio, Texas and Ojinaga, Chihuahua Cross Border Contingency Plan Update.  The performance period of this award officially started April 17, 2012 and will end on September 2013. 

Throughout this project, the Rio Grande Council of Governments, Environmental Services & Special Projects Division hopes to foster and strengthen international relationships between stakeholders in cross-border preparedness and response for the Cities of Ojinaga and Presidio. If you would like to be involved in the updating of The U.S./Mexico Sister Cities of Presidio, Texas and Ojinaga, Chihuahua Cross Border Contingency Plan Update, please contact the Project Manager, Ms. Grace Muñoz via email at: gracem@riocog.org by phone at: 915-533-0998 ext. 138.

The Environmental Services and Special Projects Division looks forward to hearing from residents within our region (El Paso County to Presidio County) for any feedback, input, or concerns regarding the updating of this plan.

Contingency Plan 2004