ENVIRONMENTAL HEADLINES, MARCH 29 – APRIL 4
RESEARCH CONFIRMS RECURRING ‘DEAD ZONE’
Galveston County Daily News 4/2/08
A&M researchers confirmed that a “dead zone” has existed off the Texas coast for at least the past 23 years and will likely remain there.
DEAD ZONES REGULARLY HAUNT TEXAS COAST, A&M FINDS
SHOULD YOU PUT YOUR LAWN ON A SCHEDULE?
NEW RULE LETS BUILDERS ‘BANK’ EFFORTS TO RESTORE WETLANDS
New York Times 4/1/08
The Bush administration announced requirements on Monday to encourage builders to compensate for destroying wetlands or streams by paying to restore or create wetlands elsewhere.The policy encourages builders to compensate for wetland destruction. Critics say it will make it difficult to argue for requiring on-site preservation.
TUNA FROM 6 HOUSTON SUSHI SPOTS HIGH IN MERCURY
Houston Chronicle 4/2/08
Samples of bluefin tuna purchased recently from six Houston-area restaurants had mercury levels above federal guidelines, according to laboratory tests performed for the Houston Chronicle. An additional five showed mercury levels just below the federal standard.
RAIL CENTER MAY GENERATE 2,000 JOBS
Fort Bend Herald and Texas Coaster 4/2/08
A national rail line today announced construction plans for a large distribution park and rail facility that will bring up to 2,000 jobs and spark significant economic development in far west Fort Bend County.
REJUVENATED LINE WILL RETURN LOCAL RAIL SERVICE OPTION
SOUTH TEXAS LEADERS BLAST PLAN TO SPEED UP BORDER FENCE
Houston Chronicle 4/1/08
Texas border land owners, mayors and wildlife groups blasted the Bush administration’s sweeping plan to waive nearly three dozen federal laws to speed construction of a border fence by year’s end.
TEXAS LAND OFFICIAL BACKS DOWN ON CHRISTMAS MOUNTAINS
BELLAIRE PLAYGROUND FIRE CALLED ‘SUSPICIOUS’
Houston Chronicle 3/31/08
The smell from a weekend fire that destroyed a popular Bellaire playground still hung heavy in the air Monday as Genene Gordon gingerly led her father around the ruins, now wrapped in vast sheets of melted <
LEADERS HOST AIR QUALITY FORUM
Baytown Sun 4/4/08
The Greater Houston Partnership and Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia Garcia last week held the first of a series of planned public forums on regional air quality.
TCEQ DELAYS E-WASTE ACTION
Brazosport Facts 4/3/08
The state’s environmental agency will wait until May to pass new rules governing electronics waste disposal so it can give the law more teeth.
CITY WINS ROUND AGAINST ANTI-TAX ACTIVIST IN COURT
Houston Chronicle 4/3/08
Anti-tax activist Bruce Hotze lost a legal battle with the city on Thursday, but said he will continue to fight for a cap on all city revenues.
BIRDS GET THE CREDIT, BUT BATS EAT MORE BUGS
Reuters 4/4/08
Bats play a bigger role than birds do in controlling tropical insects, and the loss of bats might mean that morning cup of coffee gets more expensive, researchers said on Thursday
OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR: DID YOUR SHOPPING LIST KILL A SONGBIRD?
New York Times 3/30/08
Migratory songbirds are suffering mysterious population declines, and pesticides may well be to blame.