 Turn it up! The highly anticipated radio and TV public service announcement featuring recording artist Kevin Fowler can now be heard and seen on radio and TV stations across Texas. This is your chance to be one of the first to see the new PSA and the “behind the scenes” video now on the TCOT website.
At a news conference held Tuesday, June 4, Kevin Fowler along with representatives from the campaign’s partner agencies, TCEQ and Texas Parks and Wildlife, spoke about why this message is important and timely.
"Kevin's jingle is not only a catchy song, but it's also a very noteworthy message," said TCEQ Executive Director Zak Covar. "Through this statewide campaign, we hope that everyone who enjoys the abundant outdoor recreation opportunities here will do their part to conserve and protect those natural resources."
“I love Texas, and I think we should all do the best we can to take care of it and pass it on to future generations, said Kevin Fowler. “That’s why it’s important to me to be a part of this campaign.”
The PSA urges Texans to get outdoors, visit a state park, and enjoy our clean air, rivers, lakes, and bays. It also asks everyone to go online and pledge to do their part to keep Texas great. To say thank you for taking the pledge, we’ll mail you a FREE Texas Parks Guide. Go online and pledge today!
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As part of the PSA campaign, the Take Care of Texas website has been updated with a new look and new content, and more responsive design for easier mobile-phone viewing. The site’s graphic design better reflects the new, overall campaign brand, which includes a refreshed logo. New to the site are the Texas-sized success stories—a place for promoting the cutting-edge technology, sound science, and common sense approach Texas companies and agencies are using to conserve water and ensure clean air and water. We’ve also added an air quality page, the new online pledge, updated videos, and more! Please link to the new site as an additional resource to teach your coworkers, neighbors, students, and friends about water and energy conservation, keeping the air clean, and getting outdoors in this great state.
Monday, June 10 – 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Texas A&M University, Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Bldg. 3007
TCEQ Commissioner Toby Baker, who serves as Governor Rick Perry’s designee on the Restoration Council, will join federal officials to take public comment on the Restoration Council’s Draft Initial Comprehensive Plan to restore the ecosystem and economy of the Gulf Coast Region. The public also can submit comments on the plan online.
The Council released the Draft Initial Comprehensive Plan on May 23. To view the plan and associated documents, and to get additional details on the upcoming public meetings as they become available, visit RestoretheGulf.gov.
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council is composed of governors, or their designees, from five affected Gulf Coast states, the secretaries from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Commerce, Agriculture, and Homeland Security, as well as the secretary of the Army, and the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The council is chaired by the secretary of the Department of Commerce.
See more details on the June 10 meeting.
Summer months mean more fishing, which provides the perfect opportunity to do your part to help keep the Texas air clean. Try repowering your boat with a more fuel-efficient motor, making the move from an oil-burning two-stroke motor to a cleaner-running four-stroke motor, or even both. Running a smaller boat also helps because you don’t need a big V8 truck or an SUV to tow it to and from your favorite fishing hole. Some anglers might also consider running an electric trolling motor.
Did you also know fishing line that is a single filament, nylon product can be recycled? Texas has collection bins set up at local tackle shops, boats ramps, and marinas. Find a collection bin nearby.
One more helpful hint: all owners of boats with marine sanitation devices and owners of pump-out stations are required to obtain a decal, self-certifying that the MSD or pump-out station is operating properly to prevent the discharge of sewage into Texas waterways. The program is required under Texas law and is intended to protect and improve the quality of water in Texas.
 View video of Oscar’s accomplishments on TCEQNews.
What can one motivated 11-year-old do? Ask Oscar Medina IV. When, in 2011, Medina showed an interest in helping Keep Laredo Beautiful, his parents helped him create a nonprofit organization called Oscar’s Clean Up Club. As president, Medina rallies members of the community to volunteer on projects promoting recycling, picking up trash, planting trees and gardens, and sharing information at local festivals. In 2012, Medina and volunteers conducted cleanups, tire collections, and tree and wildflower plantings; planted a vegetable garden for a preschool; and created a butterfly garden.
This young dynamo doesn’t let visual and physical impairments stop him. And his work has not gone unnoticed. Last year he received two awards: the Ruthe Jackson Youth Leadership Award from Keep Texas Beautiful and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Outstanding Service Benefitting Local Communities from the Jefferson Awards for Public Service. Medina was one of only five recipients of this prestigious national award.
Applications for 2014 TEEA awards will be accepted from Aug. 5 to Oct. 4, 2013, at www.teea.org.
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TCEQ is holding a series of one-day workshops around the state for dam owners. The workshops will educate dam owners about state dam safety laws and regulations, dam failure modes and case histories, owner responsibilities/liabilities and security issues, dam operations, maintenance and inspections, and developing and implementing emergency action plans.
Lunch and refreshments are included in the registration fee. Participants will also receive a copy of the Dam Owner and Operator Safety Workshop Participant Manual, and have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with TCEQ dam safety personnel.
Early registration cost for the workshop is $49. Workshop hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with registration sign-in beginning at 8:00 a.m. Walk-in and on-site registrations will be accepted.
Registration is available online. For questions, please send us an e-mail.
June 27, 2013--Tyler
Holiday Inn South Broadway
July 18, 2013—New Braunfels
Civic Convention Center
Aug. 1, 2013--Brownwood
4-H Conference Center
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