Some History...
The very first environmental summit was held in El Paso, Texas in January of 2000. The El Paso Pride Environmental Summit was the result of several grassroots and community organizations coming together at the request of the local Senator, Eliot Shapleigh, assisted by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Small Business and Local Government Assistance staff and the El Paso County Attorney’s office. Representatives of these groups formed a steering committee to identify the primary local environmental challenges and their potential solutions. Those issues then became the focus of the Summit.
These annual events have grown from 100 participants to 350 strong and bring together neighborhood associations, colonia residents, non-profits, federal, state and local government agencies, local business leaders, high school students, and elected officials for the common goal of tackling issues such as illegal dumping in the community.
Successes as a result of El Paso citizens working together in this venue include:
· The formation of the very first Environmental Court in the State of Texas
· A grease waste program, or FOG (fats, oils, and grease) implemented by El Paso
· Water Utilities , resulting in a 60% reduction of grease related blockages within the City sewer system
· An emission trading program with Mexico
· Citizen Collection Stations throughout the City of El Paso
· Four major community cleanup projects per year that include all area high schools
These annual events have grown from 100 participants to 350 strong and bring together neighborhood associations, colonia residents, non-profits, federal, state and local government agencies, local business leaders, high school students, and elected officials for the common goal of tackling issues such as illegal dumping in the community.
Successes as a result of El Paso citizens working together in this venue include:
· The formation of the very first Environmental Court in the State of Texas
· A grease waste program, or FOG (fats, oils, and grease) implemented by El Paso
· Water Utilities , resulting in a 60% reduction of grease related blockages within the City sewer system
· An emission trading program with Mexico
· Citizen Collection Stations throughout the City of El Paso
· Four major community cleanup projects per year that include all area high schools
Our Mission Statement
The mission of the Laredo Environmental Summit is to engage and empower our citizens, elected officials, business sectors, and grassroots leaders to identify environmental issues and tangible solutions that will bring positive and sustainable change to our environment
Steering Committee Members
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Jean Carmona
City of Laredo Health Department Jose L. Ceballos Totem Strategies Alice Garcia Office of Webb County Commissioner Pct. 2 Rosaura "Wawi" Tijerina Webb County Commissioner Pct. 2 Sylvia Garza City of Laredo Solid Waste Department Melisa Montemayor, Mike Graham, & Chris Kloss Texas Department of Transportation-Environmental Section Nancy Nuche ICF International |
Lynne Nava
Keep Laredo Beautiful Jorge Negrete Office of the Secretary of State-Colonias David Ramirez Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Tomas M. Rodriguez, Jr. City of Laredo Utilities Department Riazul Mia City of Laredo Environmental Services Victor Wong Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Tricia Cortez Rio Grande International Study Center |
