• 713-524-4CEC (4232)
  • info@cechouston.org
January 29, 2013

Houston Environmental News Update January 28, 2012

CEC NOTES

  1. Save the Date: Visions for a Greener Houston, March 12, 2013, 1:00 pm
    to 6:00 pm.

COALITION NOTES

  1. Houston Audubon Class: Wintering Waterfowl
  2. Whole Foods Katy and Katy Prairie
  3. KPC Unplugged Adventure: Duck, Duck, Goose
  4. 2013 State of the Air Luncheon
  5. Texas Climate Issues
  6. Healthy Communities Indicators Symposium 2013
  7. Guided Trail Hike at Armand Bayou
  8. Local Outdoor Grants
  9. Trees For Houston and Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve

COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Green Drinks Houston
  2. Biomimicry: Emulating Nature’s Genius to Inspire Innovation for a
    Sustainable Future
  3. 2013 OHBA Summit
  4. 2013 Tree Planting Competition
  5. Electronic Waste Recycling
  6. The Urban Houston Framework Project
  7. Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame – Edward Parten
  8. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife
  9. Air Quality Forecast

NEWS HEADLINES

  1. If Texas Water Plan Is Funded, Where Will The Money Go? (Mose Buchele
    – StateImpact, 1/24/13)
  2. Another Coal–fired Power Plant Bites the Dust (Larry R. Soward – Air
    Alliance Houston, 1/24/13)
  3. Heroes are Zero (Waste) (Earth Share, 1/24/13)

GREEN JOBS

  1. New! Texas Coastal Watershed Program (TCWP) seeks Graduate Student
    Intern
  2. Updated! Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership seeks Watershed Director
  3. Galveston Baykeeper seeks a Baykeeper/Wetland Watch Coordinator
  4. HARC seeks a GIS/Remote Sensing Research Associate
  5. Houston Endowment is seeking a Vice President For Programs
  6. The Woods Project seeks Club Program Directors

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE INSTRUCTIONS

CEC NOTES

  1. Save the Date: Visions for a Greener Houston, March
    12, 2013, 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Once again the CEC will be bringing
    together Houston’s Environmental community for a series of discussions
    aimed at fostering dialogue, interaction, and strength in numbers in
    order to identify and set goals to alleviate the pressing issues facing
    our community. Building on the success of our first summit in February
    2012, we will have updates and success stories, compare progress, and
    discuss hot issues confronting the quality of life in our growing
    region.

Back to top

COALITION NOTES

  1. Houston Audubon Class: Wintering Waterfowl. The Upper
    Texas Coast is an amazing area for wintering waterfowl. Each year there
    are thousands of ducks (24 species possible) and thousands of geese (5
    species possible) and mergansers (2 species) in the area. While the
    identification of male ducks is often straightforward, the same cannot
    be said of the more cryptically colored females. Therein lies the
    challenge and fun of duck identification. Class participants will learn
    techniques for separating the 24 species of ducks, the different species
    of geese, and the mergansers. The class will meet on January 29th and
    February 5th, with field trips on February 2nd and 9th. There is a $150
    fee for Houston Audubon members ($175 for non-members). Learn more and
    register at http://www.houstonaudubon.org/.
  2. Whole Foods Katy and Katy Prairie. On January 31,
    2013, Whole Foods Katy is giving 1% of their net sales to support
    educational programing on the Katy Prairie Conservancy. KPC staff and
    volunteers will be at the store from 10 am – 8 pm talking to customers
    and running fun activities for shoppers. Come out to support one of your
    favorite causes while you get your shopping done! The store opens on
    January 30th and is located at 6601 S Fry Rd. More at http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/.
  3. KPC Unplugged Adventure: Duck, Duck, Goose. Waterfowl
    have flocked back to scenic Warren Lake this winter. Come out and enjoy
    a leisurely hike around this birding hotspot and enjoy a colorful
    variety of native ducks, geese, and water birds under a big Texas sky.
    Katy Prairie Conservancy guides are no quacks. They will teach you
    helpful hints for identifying some of our feathered friends. The
    adventure will take place on February 2, 2013, 10:00-11:30am. Register
    at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/.
  4. 2013 State of the Air Luncheon. The 2013 Air Alliance
    Houston State of the Air Luncheon will take place on February 5, 2013,
    11:30am-1pm, at United Way. The keynote speaker, Toby Baker, TCEQ
    Commissioner, will share his thoughts on the state of the Houston
    region’s air quality. $30 registration with lunch included. Register at
    http://airalliancehouston.org.
  5. Texas Climate Issues. Did climate change help bring
    about the devastating Texas heat wave of 2011? In February, Texas State
    Climatologist John Neilsen-Gammon will walk through some of the science
    behind what has happening with our climate, particularly the 2011 heat
    wave that continues to impact The Woodlands vegetation and water
    resources. He will illustrate how researchers use computer models to
    better understand our climate and its changes. His lecture is part of
    the Going Green Sustainability Series organized and sponsored by The
    Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. In cooperation with The Woodlands Township
    Environmental Services Department. The lecture will be held at 7:00 pm,
    February 19, 2013 at the South Montgomery County Library. For more
    information, contact Cinda Hitchcock at (281) 363-2723 or http://www.thewoodlandsgreen.org.
  6. Healthy Communities Indicators Symposium 2013. After
    a year of deep-dive research on the indicators that measure the health
    of our region, Center for Houston’s Future will present its findings on
    February 22 at the 2013 Healthy Communities Indicator Symposium, at the
    George R. Brown Convention Center, hosted by Honorary Chair Dr. John
    Mendelsohn, along with prominent national and regional experts. Join
    policy makers, national experts, healthcare professionals, elected
    officials, and community leaders as we examine how the intersection of
    People and Place creates sustainable and healthy communities. Learn more
    at http://www.futurehouston.com/.
  7. Guided Trail Hike at Armand Bayou. Visitors to Armand
    Bayou Nature Center enjoy walking the over 5 miles of hiking trails that
    take them through the different ecosystems (prairie, forest, and bayou).
    White-tailed deer are commonly sighted at the nature center, as are a
    wide variety of songbirds, and the informative and welcoming
    interpretive center houses a variety of native reptiles and amphibians.
    Every Saturday join the Nature Center staff for a guided trail hike at
    10:00am and 2:00pm to learn more about the habitat and wildlife of
    Armand Bayou. More at http://cechouston.org/.
  8. Local Outdoor Grants. The Texas Parks and Wildlife
    Commission on Thursday approved $1.3 million in competitive grants for
    city and county parks across the state, funding 12 out of 35 funding
    requests. Money for the 10 Outdoor Recreation Grants and 2 Urban Outdoor
    Recreation Grants comes from the federal Land and Water Conservation
    Fund (LWCF). Program funding is appropriated annually by Congress. TPWD
    is the pass-through agency for local governments in Texas. Of the 12
    grants, one is the the greater Houston region. An Urban Outdoor
    Recreation Grant, which is given to municipalities with a population
    exceeding 500,000, was awarded to Houston. Houston has been granted
    $220,000 to support the development of Shady Lane Park located in the
    northern part of the city. The proposal includes a playground, plaza
    seating, benches, trail, play hill, stepping stone path, log tunnel,
    climbers, native plants, irrigation, park entry columns, landscaping,
    trash receptacles and program sign. More at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.
  9. Trees For Houston and Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve.
    Trees For Houston has selected Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve as
    a tribute site for the 2013 planting season. A Tribute Grove is a
    designated area in which donors to Trees for Houston can purchase trees
    in commemoration of special occasions or as a memorial. The first trees
    in the Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve have been planted alongside
    Gasmer Street (east of Westbury High School). Eighty volunteers
    participated in the initial tree planting on Saturday December 8, 2012.
    The spring planting season will continue until mid-March and additional,
    trees will be planted in late fall 2013. Read more at http://www.guidrynews.com/.

Back to top

COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Green Drinks Houston. On January 29, 2013, from 6-8
    pm, join Green Drinks Houston in “The Lab” at Down House to hear a few
    words from Chris Cusack, co-owner of Down House, a local restaurant that
    features competition-level coffee, locally sourced cuisine, and a
    quality-focused bar program. Next, hear from the dynamic Sherry
    Eichberger about building a business focused not only on profits, but
    people and our planet too. Sherry Eichberger is the founder of One Green
    Street, a shop with purpose! One Green Street is an authentic Triple
    Bottom Line Business. More at http://cechouston.org/.
  2. Biomimicry: Emulating Nature’s Genius to Inspire Innovation
    for a Sustainable Future.     Learn about biomimicry at an adult
    lecture with Linda Paisley on February 6, 2013, at 7pm at the Nature
    Discovery Center (7112 Newcastle Street). Biomimicry offers a holistic
    and deeply rooted method for achieving true sustainability. Nature
    embodies more than four billion years of experience perfecting the
    designs and behaviors that make organisms and living systems thrive.
    Biomimicry is the investigation and search of nature for solutions to
    humanity’s form, process, and system design challenges. Attend for an
    exciting talk about cutting edge theory for urban planning,
    architecture, home living, and meeting environmental challenges. Linda
    Paisley is a certified Biomimicry Specialist, she has participated in
    Biomimicry Workshops in Peru, Arizona, and in Austin, Texas. Linda also
    serves on the Boards of the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center and the
    Blackwood Land Institute. Light refreshments are served. More
    here    .
  3. 2013 OHBA Summit. The Organic Horticulture Benets
    Alliance (OHBA) hosts their annual OHBA Summit on February 9, 2013. The
    organic education conference will be held at the United Way Building,
    located at 50 Waugh Dr, Houston TX, 77007 from 7:30 AM- 4:45 PM. OHBA
    Summit is a valuable and intense series of educational seminars for
    elite horticulture professionals. Attendees are encouraged to create a
    personalized agenda for the day, to leave the Summit with solutions
    specic to ones professional and personal needs. Five of the most
    respected and inuential educators in the eld of Organics have been
    chosen to present proven results along with break-out Round Table
    Discussions to provide interactive, solution-based exchanges in a
    smaller setting. Learn more and register at http://www.ohbasummit.org/.
  4. 2013 Tree Planting Competition. The Houston Area
    Urban Forestry Council and Harris County Flood Control District are once
    again sponsoring the Texas Urban Forestry Council’s Regional Tree
    Planting Competition to be held in conjunction with local Arbor Day
    celebrations. This event is a regional competition and the 3 fastest
    planting times will be forwarded to the State as Regional winners where
    their times will be included in the finals for the State Competition.
    Each team will consist of 10 planting members and a non-working captain
    and scoring will be based not only on time, but also on correct hole
    depth/width, mulching, planting techniques, etc. The Houston Area Urban
    Forestry Council will be supplying the judges and timers for the event
    and again, the 3 top times will be sent to the TUFC for consideration in
    the State Award for best time. The competition will be on February 9,
    2013, at the HCFCD Retention Basin. More at www.haufc.org.
    Contact Mickey Merritt, 713-688-891 or Matt Weaver, 713-688-8932 for
    more information.
  5. Electronic Waste Recycling. The City of Houston Solid
    Waste Department and CompuCycle are providing monthly one day
    E-Recyclable collection events on the first Saturday of the month
    (February 2, 2013), 9am-3pm, at the Kingwood Metro Park & Ride lot.
    This is primarily for City of Houston residents, but CompuCycle says no
    one will be turned away. There will also be a mobile hard drive shredder
    to shred hard drives on-site for residents. For more information and a
    list of accepted items, visit http://cechouston.org/.
  6. The Urban Houston Framework Project. The Urban
    Houston Framework project is looking at “urban centers” and developing a
    framework for urban areas that encompasses regional sustainability
    principles. The framework developed from this study, with the help of
    your provided participation, will be used to assist the City in revising
    and/or developing new policies and a toolbox for each tier – large,
    medium and small – that promotes urban centers which encourage combined
    activity of “live, work and play.” Recommendations from this 5-10 min
    poll will help provide housing choices for everyone; promote more
    walkable, bikeable areas with a balance of housing and jobs; and provide
    safe, reliable and economical transportation choices to decrease
    household transportation costs, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse
    gas emissions and promote public health. Take the poll at http://www.urbanhouston.metroquest.com/.
    The poll closes on January 30th. For more information email
    urbanhoustonframework@houstontx.gov.
  7. Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame – Edward Parten.
    Edward Parten of Kingwood, owner of a construction firm, has been
    selected as the 2013 inductee into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of
    Fame. Parten has worked to improve many important issues concerning
    fisheries. He collaborated with TPWD on such issues as possession
    limits, the freshwater fishing stamp and grass carp control. He also
    worked on fish habitat improvement projects on a number of Texas
    reservoirs and helped raise funds for projects at the Texas Freshwater
    Fisheries Center. Honors Parten has received for his efforts include
    being named to the Texas State Bass Tournament Hall of Fame and
    Conservationist of the Year Award from the Texas B.A.S.S. Federation
    Nation. Read more at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.
  8. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT
    Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on cable channels in Baytown,
    Deer Park, Seabrook, and on HCC. More info on the TPWD
    website     (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). This
    week’s broadcast will include:

    • Working on the Mountain
    • Parks & Wildlife People: John Taylor
    • Cedar Hill Bike Trails
    • The Virtual Bat
  9. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html.
    Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.

    • January 29: Green–Good.
      Moderate to strong winds and low incoming background levels should
      help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • January 30: Green–Good.
      Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to
      keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • January 31: Green–Good.
      Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to
      keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.

Back to top

ECONOTES Featured News
Articles–For dozens of additional headlines, visit the CEC
website. (You can let us know about articles, too. E-mail news@cechouston.org).

  1. If Texas Water Plan Is Funded, Where Will The Money Go?
    (Mose Buchele – StateImpact, 1/24/13) The Texas State Water Plan has
    been described as a $53 billion dollar wish list, full of local projects
    that remain largely unprioritized and unfunded. If Texas gets a proposed
    $2 billion from the state’s rainy day fund, those regional entities
    could jumpstart their water projects. However, these projects would be
    prioritized, ranked by their timing, presumably how fast they could be
    ramped up, how much they are needed, and the degree to which they rely
    on conservation. http://stateimpact.npr.org/
  2. Another Coal–fired Power Plant Bites the Dust (Larry
    R. Soward – Air Alliance Houston, 1/24/13) Industry’s aggressive
    resistance to environmental regulations is not the “burdensome
    regulations,” it is profit. Coal plants are not competing well with new
    cleaner sources of power like natural gas, wind and other renewable
    energy sources. In early December Houston-based NRG Texas Power LLC
    announced that it has dropped the planned $1 billion, 800-megawatt
    expansion of its coal-fired power plant in Limestone County, 120 miles
    upwind of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. http://airalliancehouston.org/
  3. Heroes are Zero (Waste) (Earth Share, 1/24/13) What
    if we changed our mindset from recycling single-use products to
    replacing these products with those that can be reused or upcycled over
    and over again, before biodegrading harmlessly in the environment? In
    other words, what if we moved to a zero waste economy? A zero waste
    mindset can start at the design end of the production cycle. It starts
    by asking questions like: “What is this packaging made of?”, “Why do I
    need to replace my entire computer when it dies?” http://www.earthshare.org/

Back to top

GREEN JOBS Tell them you
heard about it from us! Job listings can be found at CEC’s
Green Jobs page.

  1. New! Texas Coastal Watershed Program (TCWP) seeks Graduate
    Student Intern.     This fall the Texas Coastal
    Watershed Program (TCWP) will be hiring a graduate student intern. TCWP
    is a program of Texas A&M University that works on projects
    concerning wetland restoration and wetland education. The program is
    located in Houston, TX. Graduate students in wetland ecology, wetland
    restoration and wetland education are encouraged to apply. Interns will
    assist with several ongoing projects, focusing on the development of an
    Operations and Maintenance plan for restored wetland habitat at Sheldon
    Lake State Park. This task is to be completed in cooperation with Texas
    Park and Wildlife staff. This primary task will involve technical
    writing, research, numerical analysis, and some field work, and will
    require solid organization and writing skills. Internship will begin in
    early January and will conclude by the end of summer term 2013.
    Compensation is hourly, and the position is 20 hours per week.
    Employment will be at our office in Houston. Applicants should submit a
    resume, a 1-page cover letter, and a 2-page (max) writing sample.
    Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate studies program at the time of
    hire. Application packets or questions about the positions can be sent
    to m-sipocz@tamu.edu, subject line: tcwp internship. Visit
    agrilife.urbannature.org; wetlandteam.ning.com.
  2. Updated! Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership seeks Watershed
    Director.     The mission of the Armand Bayou Watershed
    Partnership is to “improve the quality of life in our communities by
    protecting, enhancing, and restoring the ecological integrity and
    natural benefits of the Armand Bayou watershed.” The Watershed Director
    is responsible for the overall administration and management of the
    Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership, including fundraising/grantwriting
    and business operations. Areas of responsibility include planning and
    evaluation, policy and program development and administration, personnel
    and fiscal management, and public relations. This is a full-time
    position, hired by and directly accountable to the Armand Bayou
    Watershed Council, communicating regularly with its elected Council
    chair. The Watershed Director implements policies approved by the
    Council, manages the organization’s programs and operations (including
    implementation of its Strategic Plan), and represents the organization
    in the community. Cover letter, resume, and written answers to the
    questions below should be submitted via e-mail to:
    linda.shead@sheadconservation.com. The questions are: 1. Based on the
    “Ability to create and foster teams to solve watershed problems,” how
    have you used this skill in the past, and what would you do differently
    in the future? 2. Tell about past experience with outside consultants
    and contractors.
  3. Galveston Baykeeper seeks a Baykeeper/Wetland Watch
    Coordinator.     Part time position. Galveston Baykeeper, a
    member of the global Waterkeeper Alliance, is a grassroots organization
    committed to preserving and protecting the health of Galveston Bay and
    its watershed for our children, our economy and our future, through
    advocacy and education, and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
    Galveston Baykeeper is particularly focused on wetlands, but all threats
    to the aquatic integrity of the Galveston Bay and bayou system are its
    concern. The Galveston Baykeeper speaks for the Bay, and is the public
    face of the Galveston Baykeeper organization. The Galveston Baykeeper
    keeps abreast of threats to the Bay, and works to mobilize citizens in
    defense of the Bay, through partnerships and direct action. The
    incumbent of this position will also manage the Wetland Watch program, a
    citizen-staffed effort to monitor and report unauthorized fill of
    wetlands in the lower Galveston Bay watershed. The GBK/WWC must have
    excellent people and organizational skills, as well as a real passion
    for our Gulf Coast habitat. Experience in water or natural resource
    areas required. Should have solid computer skills and grant writing
    experience. Send resume and cover letter to John Jacob, GBK Board Chair,
    jingleheimer53@gmail.com.
  4. HARC seeks a GIS/Remote Sensing Research Associate.
    HARC is a non-profit research hub located in The Woodlands, TX dedicated
    to performing independent analysis for people and institutions seeking
    scientific answers in support of a sustainable future. HARC’s research
    focuses on clean air, clean water, and clean energy. We are seeking a
    person with an educational background and work experience in GIS,
    Geography, Environmental Science, Biology or related disciplines and
    skills in ArcGIS for Desktop, ArcGIS Server, and other ESRI products.
    Major duties will include creation of digital mapping products for use
    in reports, proposals, websites and presentations; design, creation and
    maintenance of interactive mapping applications for distribution via the
    internet; and quantitative and statistical analyses on geospatial
    datasets. For more information about the position and to upload a
    resume, please visit http://mitchell.harc.edu/.
  5. Houston Endowment is seeking a Vice President For Programs.
    The Vice President for Programs works closely with the President to
    develop and implement foundation strategies. The Vice President manages
    the foundation’s day-to-day grantmaking activities in keeping with
    current policies and procedures and coordinates the work of the entire
    program staff to meet the highest standards. The Vice President develops
    and maintains strong relationships with peer foundations and community
    leaders and effectively articulates foundation goals and programs. The
    search for the ideal candidate will remain open until the position is
    filled. Qualified applicants should forward a cover letter and resume
    to: Deborah Bessire, Human Resources Manager, Houston Endowment Inc.,
    600 Travis Street, Suite 6400, Houston, TX 77002;
    dbessire@houstonendowment.org.
  6. The Woods Project seeks Club Program Directors. The
    Woods Project is seeking part-time (approximately 6 hrs/wk) Club Program
    Instructors to teach one or more of our weekly afterschool club programs
    for the 2013 spring semester. The right candidate will be an
    outdoorsperson with experience working with high school youth,
    preferably some experience with at-risk youth. Some additional
    requirements are flexible weekly schedule, access to personal
    transportation, must be comfortable with camping/backpacking gear, enjoy
    being in a mentor/leadership role. Duties will include travelling to
    schools to teach an hour club, working with existing curriculum as well
    as developing new research-based lessons. Instructors must commit to the
    remainder of the 2012-2013 school year, attend one spring semester
    camping trip, and are highly encouraged to participate in the 2013
    summer trip to places in Northern California or Montana. Ability to work
    independently and with confidence is a requirement of the job, as is the
    ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. For
    more information about The Woods Project and the Club Program Instructor
    position, please visit www.thewoodsproject.org.
    Interested candidates should contact Brittany White, Director of
    Programs, at brittany@thewoodsproject.org.

Back to top

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

CEC is sharing information during the session about what
bills our member groups and readers are tracking. More information is
available at cechouston.org/category/texas-legislature/.
As of January 28, 2013, 286 bills have been filed by the Senate (up from
201) and 748 bills have been filed by the House (up from 626). Learn more at
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Reports/General.aspx.
The following are bills (SB=Senate Bill, HB=House Bill, and HJR=House Joint
Resolution) which may be of interest to the region’s environmental community
and which have been filed in the past week:

  • SB
    186    : Relating to the abatement of mosquitoes in stagnant water
    located on certain uninhabited residential property.
  • SB
    198    : Relating to restrictive covenants regulating
    drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving turf.
  • SB
    199    : Relating to the evaluation by applicants for permits for
    certain electric generating facilities of water-efficient cooling
    technologies.
  • SB
    224    : Relating to the availability of money from the economic
    stabilization fund to be used for the purposes of projects in the state
    water plan.
  • SB
    234    : Relating to the creation, purpose, implementation, and
    funding of the County Park Beautification and Improvement Program.
  • SB
    235    : Relating to the creation of regional authorities for water
    infrastructure projects.
  • SB
    241    : Relating to the authority of an electric customer to choose
    not to have a utility’s advanced meter.
  • SB
    269    : Relating to an exemption for land owned by a school from the
    additional tax imposed on the change of use of land appraised for ad
    valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land.
  • SB
    272    : Relating to water well recordkeeping and reporting
    requirements, including the production, use, and withdrawal of
    groundwater.
  • HB
    597    : Relating to boater education and examinations on preventing
    the spread of exotic harmful or potentially harmful aquatic plants,
    fish, and shellfish.
  • HB
    611    : Relating to the regulation of subdivisions in counties,
    including certain border and economically distressed counties.
  • HB
    622    : Relating to the report by the General Land Office to the
    legislature on the effectiveness of the coastal management program.
  • HB
    629    : Relating to the regulation of dangerous wild animals.
  • HB
    635    : Relating to the sunset review of the Lower Colorado River
    Authority.
  • HB
    648    : Relating to prohibiting the land disposal of computer
    equipment and certain television equipment.
  • HB
    677    : Relating to the regulation and enforcement of dam safety by
    the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
  • HB
    725    : Relating to the establishment of a community development
    grocery store revolving loan fund program.
  • HB
    727    : Relating to restrictive covenants regulating
    drought-resistant landscaping.
  • HB
    752    : Relating to the types of entities that are considered
    municipal water suppliers for purposes of the law governing the effect
    of the subdivision of certain land on certain irrigation water rights.
  • HB
    754    : Relating to prohibiting the use of eminent domain to take
    private property for recreational purposes.
  • HB
    756    : Relating to the establishment of a program to refund annually
    certain dedicated tax or fee revenues that remain unspent for the
    particular purposes or entities for which they were collected.

No further actions have been taken on bills identified in CEC updates,
although keywords have been assigned to many of the bills. Committees of
both the house and senate have been identified, and some legislators have
been assigned to those committees.

Back to top

UPCOMING EVENTS If you
attend one of these events, please let them know you heard about it here!
Visit the new calendar at cechouston.org.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Friday, January 25, 2013

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Monday, January 28, 2013

 

Tuesday, January 29, 2012

Back to top

ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION This weekly update is brought
to you by the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, established as a 501(c)3 in
1971. CEC is a coalition of over 100 environmental organizations dedicated
to fostering dialogue, education, and collaboration on environmental issues
in the Houston / Gulf Coast region. Visit the CEC on line at cechouston.org.
Do you know of something great going on? News? Events? Accomplishments?
Jobs? Let us know! Send submittals to news@cechouston.org.
If possible, send information by Friday for inclusion the following Tuesday.
We especially like short paragraphs, catchy titles, third person, and links
to more information, but we will work with whatever you send us. Calendar
items can be submitted up to two years in advance. We are always looking for
volunteers to help keep our calendar up to date.

Donate Now!

CEC and other leading environmental organizations participate in payroll
contribution plans at many Texas workplaces through Earth Share of Texas.
Find out how you can support CEC at 800-GREENTX or www.earthshare-texas.org.

Earth Share Logo

CEC agencies receive donations when you choose Green Bank. Visit www.greenbank.com or more information about the program.

Shawn McFarland, Interim Executive Director
Rachel Powers, Volunteer Editor-in-Chief
Page Slocum, Newsletter Editor
Rachel Tardiff, Calendar Editor
(713) 524-4232
news@cechouston.org

Back to top