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February 26, 2013

ECONOTES 2013-02-25: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region

Featured

  1. New TLCV Recycling Study Shows Positive Economic Impact Through A Beverage Container Deposit Program (TLCV News, 2/20/2013)
    Implementing a refundable deposit on beverage containers in Texas would provide a significant, positive impact to the state through increased economic activity, job creation, and reduced litter, according to a study released today by the Texas League of Conservation Voters. The State of Texas and its local governments would also see an increase it their revenues through such a program, as well as a cost savings through reduced litter clean up costs.
    http://www.tlcv.org/
  2. Ruling: Houston can’t void state air permit (Mike Morris – Houston Chronicle, 2/15/2013)
    The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that Houston may not effectively void a state air pollution permit. The justices agreed with Southern Crushed Concrete that Houston’s 2007 law restricting the location of concrete-crushing facilities violates state statute by nullifying a permit issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. State law requires rock crushers to be more than a quarter-mile from residential areas, while the city ordinance calls for a buffer of 1,500 feet from the company’s property line, not the crushing machinery itself. Southern Crushed Concrete’s facility meets the state’s requirement, but not the city’s.
    http://www.chron.com/
  3. Deep Yet Silent No Longer: Texas Artificial Reefs Launch New Website, Facebook Page (Texas Parks & Wildlife, 2/18/2013)
    For more than thirty years, the Texas Artificial Reef program has generally run silent and deep – deep in its positive impact on marine ecosystems, recreational fishing and diving and coastal economies, silent because it’s probably largely unknown to most people. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department scientists hope that will change soon with a major website overhaul and new Facebook page.
    http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/

EcoNotes