Two bags of trash thrown along side a country road next to a sign on a post that reads no dumping. — Oklahoma State University Extension will partner with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development to host a free Oklahoma Environmental Law Enforcement Training Seminar in Durant, Oklahoma, on July 25. (Photo by Shutterstock)

Environmental law enforcement is the focus of free, upcoming seminar

Friday, June 14, 2024

Media Contact: Trisha Gedon | Sr. Communications Specialist | 405-744-3625 | trisha.gedon@okstate.edu

To help combat the issue of illegal roadside dumps, Oklahoma State University Extension is partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development to host an Oklahoma Environmental Law Enforcement Training Seminar on July 25 in Durant, Oklahoma.

What: Law enforcement professionals, city officials, tribal environmental representatives, county commissioners and anyone interested in learning about environmental law enforcement are invited to participate in the free workshop. Chad Keller, senior environmental specialist at the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, will instruct the class. He has been an investigator with the DEQ for 29 years and is a sergeant with the Criminal Investigation Unit.

When and where: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 25, at the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Headquarters, 1802 Chukka Hina Dr., Durant, Oklahoma. Testing and certification will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. There is a one-hour break from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch on your own.

Why: Roadside dumpsites are not only unsightly and illegal, but they also wreak havoc on the environment. These sites can cause contamination of soil, groundwater, drinking water wells, streams and rivers. Other side effects include possible injury to children playing in or around the site, damage to plant and wildlife habitats, and a decrease in the quality of life for nearby residents and the local community. Participants will gain expertise in environmental crime investigations involving the following topics and more:

What is environmental crime
Dealing with hazardous waste
Air and water pollution
Safe Drinking Water Act
Oklahoma’s littering and dumping laws
Agency jurisdictional issues
Open burning

Participants will also learn more about identifying resources for improving local enforcement programs and have an opportunity to network with others involved in law enforcement.

For more information or to register for the free workshop, contact Keima Borsuah at 405-744-9827.