• 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

Previous Meeting Minutes - November 17, 2011; 1:00 P.M.; El Paso Water Utilities, TecH2O Center

Upcoming Meeting - January 12, 2011

• 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.

• Interoperable Emergency Communications Program

The purpose of the Interoperable Emergency Communications Program is to provide governance, planning, training, and exercise funding to local and tribal governments.  Funding will be utilized to carry out initiatives to develop and enhance interoperable communications region wide, including communications in collective response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.