CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE


Center for Environmental Excellence homepage banner

The Center for Environmental Excellence (CEE) at the University of Texas at Arlington provides consulting services, field work, project management, and staffing with specialists in a broad range of environmental disciplines. The CEE serves the public through relevant environmental projects funded by regulatory entities such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as well as projects sponsored by other private and public entities. Offices and staff resources in Houston and Austin, in addition to our Arlington location, support a variety of these efforts.

Main Services


Petroleum Storage Tank (PST) Investigation

Assist the TCEQ with technical compliance with EPA and Federal Energy Act of 2005 requirements in conducting Petroleum Storage Tank (PST) investigations of facilities in Texas. Investigations include a field visit, follow-up activities and record review, plus data entry into the Consolidated Compliance and Enforcement Data System (CCEDS). All activities are performed as directed by the TCEQ.

Houston Local Air Program

Provide the TCEQ with Stage II Vapor Recovery Compliance Program services within the City of Houston including conducting Stage II Compliance Evaluation Investigations (CEI), data entry and performing follow-up investigations for facilities receiving a Notice of Violation (NOV). All activities are performed as directed by the TCEQ.

Water Quality Permitting/TMDL

Provide technical support to the TCEQ’s Water Quality Division to process water quality permit applications associated with the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permitting program. Assist the TCEQ’s Water Quality Planning Division with technical guidance in the development of the 303(d) list and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) programs strategy, maintenance and timelines.

Storm Water Permit Center (SWPC)

Provide TCEQ with a Storm Water Permit Processing Center for Construction General Permit (CGP) and Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP). The SWPC processes incoming applications, changes and terminations for Storm Water Permits from across the state. The SWPC also provides phone and email support to online users of the State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System (STEERS). All activities are performed as directed by the TCEQ.

Water Quality Support Services

Provide technical support to the TCEQ's Water Quality Division to perform tasks associated with the implementation of the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) and Texas Land Application Program (TLAP). Assists with review of applications and reports of Industrial Wastewater Permitting, Pretreatment, Storm Water Permitting and Water Quality Standards Implementation Teams. All activities are performed as directed by the TCEQ.

Concentration Time (CT) Studies

Provide technical support to the TCEQ on projects such as Concentration Time (CT) Studies, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), Intended Use Plans (IUP), and Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey (DWINS). All activities are performed as directed by the TCEQ.



Utilities And Districts

Provide technical support to the TCEQ for Utilities and Districts (U&D) Inventory by reviewing U&D requests for registration changes and determining accuracy of data consistent with Central Registry (CR), Water Utilities Database (WUD), TCEQ and EPA data standards. All activities are performed as directed by the TCEQ.



Inventory And Enforcement

Provide technical support to the TCEQ on compliance projects such as Public Water Systems (PWS) Inventory, PWS Compliance, Total Coliform Rule and Ground Water Rule Assistance. Provide technical support to the TCEQ for database management and maintenance. All activities are performed as directed by the TCEQ.



Sustainability

The Zero Waste Network is a group of environmental professionals dedicated to finding money-saving options for conserving natural resources. It is part of a nationwide network working to identify pollution prevention options for large and small businesses as well as consumers and is able to provide high quality pollution prevention information. Zero Waste is part of the national Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange (P2Rx), a national partnership of regional pollution prevention information centers funded in part through grants from EPA.

Remediation Staff Services

Provide subject matter experts to assist the Remediation Division by conducting technical reviews of Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP) related reports, draft appropriate responses, prepare case file memoranda, and enter information into the TCEQ technical databases within the timeframe specified by section standards. All activities are performed as directed by the TCEQ.




Accounting Services

Provide assistance to the TCEQ for agency accounting services including processing and identifying revenue related mail, run account totals on deposit batches, providing documentation of revenue and non-revenue receipts and to prepare deposits and maintain records with data entry or revenue receipts. All activities are performed as directed by the TCEQ.




Texas Optimization Program (TOP) Support

Provide training and training materials to the TCEQ staff and contractors in all 16 Regions of the State. Assist the TCEQ by developing written guidance materials in the form of Directed Assistance Modules (DAM) and by presenting Training Modules (TM). DAMs to be developed by UTA include Filtration, EPA Method 334, Disinfection, and others as required. DAMs include both classroom and on-site training for PWS personnel. Completed DAMs are used by the TCEQ's Financial, Managerial, and Technical (FMT) contractor and presented to PWS for the purpose of assisting system personnel to optimize their water system performance. All activities are performed as directed by the TCEQ.


CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS


SER Logo
Specialist in Environmental Regulations (SER)

This certification introduces three key areas within the environmental industry: Air, Water, and Waste. Earn your SER by completing four (4) required fundamental regulatory courses. Once you complete these requirements, you are only four (4) additional courses away from completing your Environmental Regulatory Professional (ERP) or Environmental Science Professional (ESP) requirements, and five (5) additional courses away from completing your Environmental Management Professional (EMP).

ERP Logo
Environmental Regulatory Professional (ERP)

This certificate program focuses on providing a professional with tools to understand and implement environmental regulatory requirements. To receive this designation, the ERP will have completed a set of core required courses and four electives based on their interests and/or industry. A listing of the curriculum requirements is provided below. The certificate consists of taking four required courses and four electives.

ESP Logo
Environmental Science Professional (ESP)

For those environmental professionals seeking information on the science behind the regulations, the Environmental Science Professional certificate program has curriculum to support this goal. With a base knowledge of the regulatory requirements, this certificate program includes electives specific to the ESP. A listing of the curriculum requirements is provided below. The ESP certification requirements are met when the four required courses and four electives are completed.

EMP Logo
Environmental Management Professional (EMP)

Environmental professionals looking for tools to manage their environmental duties will find this advanced level certification program is aligned with their goals. The management of environmental issues requires skills that include: regulatory knowledge, leadership, communication and planning. This certificate program has courses to support the development of these skills. The EMP certification requirements are met when the six (6) required courses and three (3) electives are completed.

MC Logo
Master Certification (MC) in Environmental

The Master Certification is our most advanced level of certification with tracks available in Safety and Health, Environmental, and Risk Management. The foundation of this advanced certification is the Management System Design for EHS course made up of three sessions with hands-on application work completed by the participants between sessions. To complete the Master Certification, participants must complete all requirements and required electives in their selected track.

 




yes

Arrow to top