Florida celebrates a year of crime-fighting success during environmental crimes prevention week thanks to DEP
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is recognizing the 8th Annual Environmental Crimes Prevention Week, April 12-18, 2009 by celebrating a successful first year of DEP, Florida’s new tool for protecting the state’s natural resources. Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Environmental Crimes Prevention Week is designed to increase awareness of environmental criminal activity and stress the importance of reporting such activity to the proper authorities.
“Environmental crimes can have serious consequences, such as harming the health of humans, wildlife and the environment,” said DEP Division of Law Enforcement Director Henry Barnet. “Floridians and visitors alike can help us protect Florida’s natural resources by dialing #DEP when they recognize potential violations allowing officers to respond quickly and efficiently to environmental crimes.”
Introduced on April 14, 2008, #DEP is an emergency line designated for reporting Florida environmental crimes. The program allows for statewide consistency in the way Floridians and visitors, particularly motorists with cell phone access, report environmental crimes. The State Warning Point, the contact center in Florida for communications between local governments, emergency agencies, state government agencies, and the federal government, answers the calls and forwards the information to DEP law enforcement personnel or emergency responders for investigation.
In 2008, DEP’s Bureau of Emergency Response responded to more than 2,100 incidents, while the Bureau of Environmental Investigations conducted more than 400 criminal investigations. Many of these responses and investigations were received through #DEP and the State Warning Point.
Environmental crimes are violations of state or federal environmental laws that could impact public health and the environment, such as illegal dumping or improper disposal of used oil. Signs that an environmental crime has taken place could include corroded, leaking or abandoned waste containers; fish kills; illegal debris dumping in a natural area; or foul smelling or unsightly discharges or visible sheens on the ground or water body.
DEP’s Division of Law Enforcement is responsible for statewide environmental resource law enforcement, as well as providing law enforcement services to Florida’s state parks and greenways and trails. Special Agents investigate environmental resource crimes and illegal dredge and fill activities, respond to natural disasters, civil unrest, hazardous material incidents and oil spills that threaten the environment.
To report an environmental crime, wireless customers can now dial #DEP. Callers can also report environmental crimes to the State Warning Point by calling (877) 2-SAVE-FL (1.877.272.8335). General environmental inquiries should be directed to DEP district offices during business hours.
For more information about DEP’s Division of Law Enforcement, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/law . To view the Governor’s Proclamation, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2009/04/files/ec_prevention_week.pdf.
Source: The Department of Environmental Protection