This site visit program offers free, confidential, on-site,
compliance assessments of facilities that are owned or operated by
local governments, independently owned and operated businesses, and
independent school districts. Those who successfully participate in
the program receive a Compliance Commitment (C2) certificate and can
earn a one-year exemption from routine investigations.
How to get a site visit
- The facility's owner or operator (representative) signs up for
a free, confidential, compliance site visit, during which
environmental compliance issues are reviewed using an appropriate
checklist.
- The representative receives a written report describing all
compliance-related findings and recommendations for achieving
compliance with the checklist (possibly including ways to reduce
pollution and waste).
- The operator or owner corrects all compliance deficiencies the
TCEQ
contractor noted.
- The contractor verifies, in a second free visit, that the
operator or owner corrected all deficiencies.
Site visits are conducted by an environmental consultant under
contract with the TCEQ.
Who is eligible for site visits
To qualify for a site visit, the owner of or operator of the
site or facility must:
- Employ a company-wide total of 100 or fewer employees;
- or
- Be operated by a small local government
(a county with a population of 100,000 or fewer people; a city with
a population of 50,000 or fewer people);
- or
- Be an independent school district
(ISD) serving a
student population of 100,000 or fewer students;
- and
- Participate in at least one site visit,
- Correct all compliance issues (deficiencies) found during site
visits,
- Not owe the TCEQ ny fees and penalties, and
- Not be under an active enforcement review by the TCEQ or other
regulatory environmental organization.
Eligible Facilities
Who is not eligible for site visits
- Facilities and local governments that owe fees and penalties
to the TCEQ
- Facilities or businesses under active enforcement review by the
TCEQ or other regulatory environmental organization
How to earn an exemption from routine inspections
If all compliance issues are corrected, the TCEQ awards the
facility or site a certificate from the C2 Program. With a C2
certificate, recipients receive a one-year exemption from routine
investigations. PST facilities are not eligible for C2
certificates.
In addition to the TCEQ, the following programs also recognize
the C2 certificate:
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- City of Corpus Christi—Storm Water Department
- City of Dallas—Air Pollution Control
- City of Dallas—Public Works and Transportation
- City of Dallas—Storm Water Management
- City of Fort Worth Department of Environmental Management
- City of Houston—Bureau of Air Quality Control
- City of Houston—Public Works and Engineering
- City of Pasadena—Public Works and Engineering
- Brazoria County Environmental Health Department
- El Paso, City-County Health and Environmental District
- Fort Bend County Environmental Health Department
- Galveston County Health District
- Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services,
Pollution Control Division
- Montgomery County Environmental Health Services
Retracting an Exemption
The exemption from routine inspections is void in the event of
imminent threat or danger to human health and the environment,
catastrophe, formal complaints, or a follow-up on previously cited
violations.
