>> YOU SHOULD'VE SEEN IT
LAST TIME.
>> HIS SHIRT MAY SAY POLICE...
>> HOW FAR UP WE WANT TO GO,
ALL THE WAY?
>> ...BUT THIS OFFICER
IS MORE SPECIFICALLY A TEXAS
PARKS AND WILDLIFE GAME WARDEN,
PATROLLING THE HOUSTON SHIP
CHANNEL AS PART OF
THE TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL
CRIMES TASK FORCE.
>> WHO BETTER TO PROTECT
THE NATURAL RESOURCES THAN
STATE GAME WARDENS?
>> WE'RE GOING DOWN CHANNEL.
>> 10-4.
>> POLLUTION PATROL IS NOT
TYPICAL WORK FOR MOST GAME
WARDENS, BUT THE THREAT
TO FISH AND WILDLIFE
FROM POLLUTERS IS EVERY BIT
AS REAL AS FROM POACHERS.
AND THOSE WHO ILLEGALLY FOUL
OUR AIR AND WATER ENDANGER
HUMAN SAFETY AS WELL.
>> THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS
CONSTANTLY HAVING TO PUT OUT
FISHING BANS BECAUSE OF SOME OF
THESE TOXINS THAT ARE GETTING
INTO THE SHIP CHANNEL
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THERE
TO TRY TO PREVENT.
IT SMELLS NASTY.
'COURSE EVERYTHING OUT HERE
SMELLS NASTY.
>> ALONG WITH LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, THE FBI, EPA,
TCEQ AND AN ALPHABET SOUP
OF OTHER AGENCIES,
A SELECT FEW SPECIALLY TRAINED
GAME WARDENS ARE HELPING KEEP
OUR WATERWAYS SAFE BY CATCHING
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW BREAKERS.
>> IT'S A DIFFERENT APPROACH
TO THE PROTECTION OF FISH
AND WILDLIFE IN TEXAS.
(music)
>> I THINK WE HAVE JOB SECURITY.
WE COULD USE A FEW MORE OF US
AS WELL, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE
THERE'S ENOUGH WORK OUT THERE.
(music)
>> ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT CAN BE
AN EXCITING FIELD.
BUT EVERY DAY IN THE FIELD
IS NOT ALWAYS EXCITING.
STAKEOUTS ARE A NECESSARY PART
OF DOCUMENTING ILLEGAL
ACTIVITIES.
>> WE DO SO MUCH DOCUMENTATION
NOW WITH LIVE VIDEO,
DIGITAL CAMERAS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT,
YOU JUST CAN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE
WITHOUT IT.
IT'S A VERY HOT DAY,
YOU'VE JUST GOT TO HAVE PATIENCE
AND A LITTLE BIT OF
PERSEVERANCE, AND,
WE'RE WAITING ON A TRUCK AND
HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE HERE SOON.
>> WE'VE HAD A LONG-TERM
SURVEILLANCE ON THIS PARTICULAR
SITE IN FRONT OF US.
THEY'RE USING IT TO DUMP
WASTEWATER TREATMENT SLUDGE.
THEY HAVE A PERMIT
TO BE OUT HERE,
EXCEPT THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING
THE PERMIT GUIDELINES.
IT'S AN UPPER END OF
A WATERSHED,
SOMETIMES TEN TRUCKS COME OUT
HERE A DAY.
MULTIPLY THAT BY 8,000 GALLONS,
THAT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE A RIVER
ROLL ON ITS OWN.
IT'S MAKING POLLUTION CONTACTING
PUBLIC WATERS,
SO WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
>> OF COURSE SOME KINDS OF
SURVEILLANCE ARE MORE EXCITING
THAN OTHERS.
>> WE HAD A FLIGHT OPERATION
THIS MORNING WHICH WAS GEARED
FOR SURVEILLANCE PHOTOS,
AND THE HELICOPTER WAS
THE BEST PLATFORM TO USE.
THE FACILITY THAT WE FLEW OVER
TODAY,
THEY'RE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR
UNAUTHORIZED DISCHARGES.
BASICALLY POLLUTING,
AND IT'S IMPACTING OUR WATERS.
WE CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS FROM
THE GROUND,
BUT WE'D HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE
TO GET A TOTAL LAYOUT OF
THE FACILITY OTHERWISE TO SEE
WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITY THEY HAD
GOING ON THERE.
(music)
>> REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY
ARE GATHERED,
VIDEOTAPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS
ARE CRITICAL TOOLS FOR
INVESTIGATORS AND PROSECUTORS.
ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES UNIT
CAPTAIN MARVIN TAMEZ REVIEWS
VIDEO EVIDENCE FROM PAST CASES.
(voice on tape) >> WE'RE NOW ON TOP OF THE BARGE.
>> WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT
HERE IS A DISCHARGE OF WATER
FROM A CLEANING
OPERATION ON A BARGE.
IN THIS INSTANCE THEY ARE
ILLEGALLY DISCHARGING IT INTO
THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL.
COULD BE HAZARDOUS; IT IS
MOST DEFINITELY A POLLUTANT.
HERE THEY DISCOVERED A
SANDBLASTING OPERATION IN
PROGRESS WITHOUT THE PROPER
SHROUDING IN PLACE IN ORDER TO
CONTAIN ALL THE PAINT AND RUST
THAT'S COMING OFF THE SIDE OF
THAT BARGE.
(voice on tape) >> THAT CAN'T GO INTO THE WATER.
>> LANDFILL DUMP SITE.
APPARENTLY A LANDOWNER WITH AN
EMPTY CITY LOT WAS ACCEPTING
GARBAGE FROM PEOPLE FOR PAY.
UNFORTUNATELY THAT CONSTRUCTION
DEBRIS, ALTHOUGH WRONG TO
BURY IT IN THE FIRST PLACE,
ALSO CONTAINED ASBESTOS.
(voice on tape) >> YOU CAN SEE THE ASBESTOS
FIBERS STICKING OUT OF IT.
>> TO OPERATE A LEGAL LANDFILL
YOU NEED PERMITS FROM
THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.
YOU JUST CANNOT DIG A HOLE
AND BURY YOUR GARBAGE IN IT.
(birds singing)
>> YOU ALSO CAN'T DUMP TRASH,
BURN HAZARDOUS MATERIALS,
AND CONTAMINATE A RIVER.
BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S
HAPPENING HERE ON THE OUTSKIRTS
OF AUSTIN.
>> THERE'S ANOTHER PILE
RIGHT THERE; WHAT A MESS!
>> INVESTIGATORS ARE ESPECIALLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THESE CHARRED
REMNANTS OF TELEPHONE AND
ELECTRICAL WIRE.
>> THEY'RE BURNING THE
PLASTIC OFF SO THEY CAN
GET TO THE COPPER WIRE,
AND IN THESE ASH PILES
WE HAVE LARGE AMOUNTS
OF CONTAMINANTS -
HAZARDOUS LEVELS OF LEAD.
>> A LITTLE RAIN MAKES MATTERS
WORSE.
>> NOW THAT'S JUST BEEN
INTRODUCED INTO THE DRINKING
WATER FOR PEOPLE DOWNSTREAM.
>> IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US
TO TRY TO CATCH THIS GUY AS FAST
AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN TRY
TO GET THIS MATERIAL CLEANED UP.
>> TO THE LEFT JUST A LITTLE
BIT.
>> ONCE AGAIN, A VIDEO CAMERA
SEEMS THE BEST WAY TO CATCH
THEIR POLLUTER IN THE ACT.
>> THAT'S GOOD!
>> I'VE GOT A FEELING HE'LL DO
SOMETHING THIS WEEKEND.
>> I THINK WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE,
I THINK THAT'S CONCEALED ENOUGH.
>> THESE AREN'T YOUR TRACKS
ARE THEY?
>> SOME DETECTIVE WORK YIELDS
OTHER CLUES.
IN ALL THE DEBRIS,
RECEIPTS ARE FOUND THAT
MAY IDENTIFY THEIR SUSPECT.
>> THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST
CURRENT LEAD THAT WE HAVE FOUND.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE
EVIDENCE BEHIND,
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY THE CASE
HERE; THAT HELPS.
>> COULD BE A BREAK, HUH?
>> IT COULD BE.
>> ...POINT 383 WEST.
>> BACK ON THE HOUSTON SHIP
CHANNEL...
>> IT'S FOAMY AND BROWN.
>> ...SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS HAS
BEEN SPOTTED.
>> I THINK WE MIGHT WANT
TO LOOK AT IT.
>> WE FOUND ONE DISCHARGE POINT
OF A FACILITY AND TOOK SOME
SAMPLES.
THAT'LL GO BACK TO OUR
LABORATORY,
AND THERE MAY NOT BE ANY KIND OF
VIOLATION, WHICH IS GOOD.
THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE FOR.
HIGH VISIBILITY,
IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
THAT'S THE GOAL HERE,
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE OUT
LOOKING FOR POLLUTERS,
WHETHER IT'S INDIVIDUALS
OR FACILITIES.
IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN
PREVENT IT,
THAT'S A GOOD ACCOMPLISHMENT.
THEN HOPEFULLY ONE DAY THE SIGNS
CAN COME DOWN.
>> MEANWHILE,
ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER,
ALL SIGNS POINT TO ONE SUSPECT,
IDENTIFIED BY THOSE RECEIPTS.
>> WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.
THIS PERSON, HE'S BEEN ARRESTED
DOWN HERE BEFORE.
THE EXACT SAME THING
AS FIVE YEARS AGO,
SO THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE
THAT LED US TO THIS INDIVIDUAL.
>> THINK TWO'S ENOUGH, DANNY?
>> WE GOT AN ACTUAL I.D.
WE KNEW THEN, WE HAD A FACE,
A NAME,
WE JUST NEEDED TO GET
ON HIS TRAIL.
>> APPEARS TO BE SOME CABLE.
>> STARTED SOME SURVEILLANCE.
WE FOUND FRESH EVIDENCE AT THE
RESIDENCE THAT HE WAS STAYING AT
AT THE TIME.
HE GOT A TAXI CAB THAT
AFTERNOON, WENT BACK,
SOLD ANOTHER COUPLE
OF HUNDRED DOLLARS' WORTH.
>> THERE HE IS.
>> WE HAD BEEN GOING TO
THE RECYCLERS AND TRYING TO
FIND OUT ANY UPDATES,
AND LO AND BEHOLD THIS LAST
SATURDAY WE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHIC
EVIDENCE OF A VAN COMING DOWN
HERE WITH WIRE, BURNING IT,
SO NOW WE'RE JUST A DAY OR SO
BEHIND THIS GUY.
>> THAT'S DEFINITELY HIM.
>> THIS IS JUST ONE GUY DOING
ONE THING IN ONE TOWN,
THAT HAS A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON
OUR WATER QUALITY.
>> OKAY, THAT'S TO COOL IT OFF.
THERE HE GOES.
>> THE THREAT IS REAL,
AND THE EVIDENCE CLEAR.
WITHIN WEEKS,
THE WIRE BURNER IS CAUGHT
RED-HANDED.
>> WE GOT HIM.
IT'S SATISFYING WHEN YOU SEE A
WHOLE TEAM COME TOGETHER.
IT JUST SHOWS THAT THE TASK
FORCE WORKS.
>> AT THIS TIME, MR. PARKER,
I AM GOING TO ACCEPT THE STATE'S
PLEA BARGAIN AGREEMENT THAT
YOU'VE ENTERED INTO WITH THEM.
AND I AT THIS TIME DO ACCEPT
YOUR GUILTY PLEA.
AT THIS TIME, SIR,
I DO SENTENCE YOU TO SIX YEARS
CONFINEMENT IN TEXAS DEPARTMENT
OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE,
INSTITUTIONAL DIVISION.
>> BECAUSE HE WAS A CAREER
CRIMINAL,
WE'RE HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS.
THE THREAT TO THE COLORADO
HAS BEEN MINIMIZED.
BUT WHERE HE STOPS,
SOMEBODY ELSE BEGINS.
>> YOUR MAIN GOAL IS TO GET IT
CLEANED UP.
>> EVEN AFTER EXTENSIVE
CLEANUP,
THIS LAND ALONG THE COLORADO
MAY NEVER BE THE SAME.
BUT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
THE TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL
ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE WILL
CONTINUE STRIVING TO STOP
AND PREVENT ILLEGAL POLLUTION.
AND THAT IS COMFORTING IN
SPITE OF THE ODDS.
>> I DON'T THINK WE'LL EVER SAY
WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED OUR JOB.
I THINK WE CAN SAY WE'RE
FIGHTING TO DO OUR JOB
EVERY DAY.
MY MOTIVATION IS KNOWING I'M
MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
>> WE HOPE WE'RE PRESERVING
THE WATER,
WE HOPE WE'RE PRESERVING
THE WILDLIFE AND THE HABITAT
FOR YEARS TO COME.