Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs)

SEPs are environmentally beneficial projects that a respondent agrees to undertake in settlement of an enforcement action. Dollars directed to TCEQ-approved environmental projects may be used to offset assessed penalties in enforcement actions.

A respondent in an enforcement action may negotiate an agreement to perform a SEP to offset a portion of the assessed administrative penalty. All proposed SEPs should have a direct and measurable environmental benefit.

The SEP program offers three types of SEPs:

Contribution SEP whereby the Respondent contributes to a pre-approved SEP performed by a Third-Party;
Custom SEP whereby the Respondent (non-profit or government) performs the project using their own resources;
Compliance SEP whereby an eligible Local Government may correct the violations alleged in the enforcement action or remediate environmental harm caused by the alleged violations.

See some examples of SEPs

Review the SEP Statute

Read our SEP Guidance (publication GI-352)