By Sandra Iruegas

The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) will present the Winter 2002 Criminal Environmental Law Enforcement Training Conference at Laredo Community College February 26-28 and are inviting Texas peace officers to attend.
This unique training opportunity is offered to Texas peace officers currently involved in the investigation of environmental crimes or officers representing departments who have expressed an interest in developing environmental crime programs.
Goals of the Criminal Environmental Law Enforcement Training Conference are to
o facilitate the recognition of environmental crime as a threat to public safety and to encourage and support enforcement of environmental statues at the local level by increase awareness and defining the scope of environmental crimes in Texas;
o strengthen the abilities of local officers to interpret and apply environmental statutes;
o enhance skills in the use of safe, innovative enforcement and investigate techniques;
o build capacity for enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels; and
o establish partnership between traditional law enforcement officers and environmental enforcement officers throughout Texas.
Conference coordinators for this event include TNRCC Special Investigation Section training coordinator Dan McReynolds, team leader Phil Bynum, administrative assistant Suzi Sparks, and manager Barbara Foreman.
Sponsors for the training conference are the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission Special Investigations Section, Southern Environmental Enforcement Network, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Texas Environmental Enforcement Task Force, and Laredo Community College.
For more information about the conference or to register call the TNRCC office in Laredo at 791-5255 or contact Suzi Sparks at (512) 239-3405.
The Holiday Inn-Civic Center is offering state rates for those planning to attend from out of town. Reservations must be made by February 15 by calling (956) 727-5800, ext. 216.