ENVIRONMENTAL HEADLINES, JANUARY 26 – FEBRUARY 1

EXXON MOBIL BREAKS ITS OWN PROFITS RECORDS
Houston Chronicle 2/1/08
Last year’s surge in crude prices sent Exxon Mobil Corp.’s annual profits soaring to new records for the highest quarterly and annual profits ever earned by a U.S. company.

SHORTAGE OF ADDITIVE MAY CAUSE GAS PRICE SPIKE
Huston Chronicle 1/30/08
Experts are predicting that prices, which jumped by almost a dollar a gallon in each of the last two springs in many parts of the United States, will spike again this year as refiners and gas stations switch from winter- to summer-blended fuels.

RIDE-SHARING PROGRAM SEEKS MORE PASSENGERS
Huston Chronicle 1/28/08
Area governments are pushing a computerized ride-sharing program that lets users choose their traveling companions while earning meals, movies and other benefits as they ride.

TRANS-TEXAS CORRIDOR PLAN MET WITH MORE LOATHING
Houston Chronicle 1/29/08
In what is becoming a regular occurrence in Southeast Texas, more than 1,000 Austin County residents and interested outsiders jammed a county fairgrounds exhibit hall Monday night to let a panel of state transportation officials know that the Trans-Texas Corridor was not welcome here.

PERRY PICKS REPLACEMENT FOR LATE TRANSPORTATION CHIEF

GALVESTON’S LEAD-POISONING RATES 10 TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE
Houston Chronicle 1/27/08
Nearly one in five children in Galveston has enough lead in their blood to cause learning disabilities and behavioral problems – an alarming statistic that officials have known for years but have done little to improve.

DIGEST: LAWMAKERS PUSH MATTEL ON LEAD ISSUE

COUNCIL LEANING TOWARD SEAWALL HIGH-RISE BAN
Galveston County Daily News 1/30/08
The city council seems to favor development restrictions that would limit construction on the seawall to eight stories or fewer.

FORUM: TOURISM IS “GATEWAY” TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS, LEADERS
Fort Bend Herald and Texas Coaster 1/30/08
About 60 community leaders from Fort Bend and surrounding counties, all of whom have an interest in tourism for their areas, gathered at the Texian Tourism Rally Tuesday at George Ranch Historical Park.

DOW TABS FREEPORT FOR PLANT
Brazosport Facts 1/30/08
In the midst of massive investments overseas, Dow Chemical Co. announced Tuesday it will build a new plant in Freeport to the tune of 500 new construction jobs, Dow officials say.The new technologically advanced chlor-alkali plant will cost about $900 million, said Dow Texas Operations Vice President Gary Hockstra.

US SCRAPS PLAN FOR BIGGEST CLEAN-COAL POWER PLANT
Reuters 2/1/08
Ballooning construction costs that nearly doubled the price tag for building the world’s cleanest coal-burning power plant to US$1.8 billion prompted the US Energy Department on Wednesday to pull the plug on funding the project.

SCORES OF LIVE OAKS TO FACE AX IN PROJECT TO WIDEN KIRBY
Houston Chronicle 1/26/08
Scores of stately live oaks lining upper Kirby Drive will hit the chipper in the coming months as work begins on a nearly $50 million project to widen the busy thoroughfare and install new sewers and underground utility lines.

50,000 TREES PLANTED IN TRINITY RIVER WILDLIFE REFUGE
WOULD MORE HOUSING RULES RAISE HOUSTON COSTS?
Houston Chronicle 1/26/08
D. David Robinson has sampled both extremes of American urban growth policies.