Environmental law enforcement training slated in Perkins

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

If you take a drive down the back roads of Oklahoma, it is likely you will find an illegal dump site. While they are unsightly, illegal and can cause damage to the environment, they also are unattractive to those who already live in or might choose to move into a community.

In an effort to help prevent these dump sites from popping up, the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are joining forces to host Environmental Law Enforcement Trainings around the state. The next training is slated July 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will take place at the Vassar Community Center, located within the Oklahoma Territorial Plaza, 750 N. Main, Perkins. The workshop is limited to 25 participants.

Michael Freeman, senior criminal investigator with the ODEQ, will be the law enforcement presenter. He will speak about agency jurisdictions and environmental crime statutes, and give an overview of illegal dumping and environmental crime awareness.

Lynn Malley, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension assistant state specialist, solid waste management programs, will present information about Extension and the roles citizens can take in helping to control illegal dumping.

Malley said the workshop is open to all citizens and recommended it for anyone interested in environmental law or those with a responsibility for preventing illegal dumping in their county.

“We encourage law enforcement officers, tribal environmental representatives, county commissioners, city officials and local citizens to attend,” Malley said. “Illegal dump sites have been an increasing problem across the state for several years and cost taxpayers thousands of dollars to clean up.”

In addition, illegal dump sites can cause contamination of soil, ground water, drinking water wells, streams and rivers. Other side effects include possible injury to children playing on or around the dump site, damage to plant and wildlife habitats and decrease in the quality of life to nearby residents and the local community.

At the training, participants will learn about illegal dumping and other environmental crimes, investigation and enforcement responsibilities and prevention resources.

The training is free and lunch is $10 if registered by July 21. Registration may be done online on the OSU Solid Waste Management Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OkstateSolidWasteManagement or the website at www.agecon.okstate.edu/waste. For additional information please contact Malley at lynn.malley@okstate.edu.