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) for an overview of the SEP Program.