Community Notes 03-25-2013

1. Texas Bottle Bill. The Bill will be Heard on Tuesday! The refundable deposits bill (HB 1473) is now scheduled for a hearing. Many people have made great efforts to help the bill which strives to make Texas a cleaner state and more open to environmentally conscious entrepreneurs! Texas needs more jobs and cleaner waters, highways and playgrounds. The best way that individual taxpayers can help the bill now is to contact the legislators on the House Environmental Regulation Committee.
2. Heights-Northside Mobility Study Public Meeting. The purpose of the Heights-Northside Mobility Study is to identify near and long range projects intended to promote better mobility, and to consider and to develop a multi-modal plan to accommodate cars, bikes and buses for streets within the study area. The area to be studied is known as the Heights-Northside study area and is bounded on the east by US 59, on the west and north by IH 610 and on the south by IH 10. Your participation is important. The City of Houston wants to hear about existing issues and challenges in your neighborhood in order to promote better mobility choices within the Heights-Northside Mobility study area. The public meeting will be held on March 26, 2013, 6-8pm, at Lamar Hall (1703 Heights Blvd). RSVP here.
3. Weekly Bird Walk at Kleb Woods. Kleb Woods Nature Preserve is a county park in Tomball which opened in the 1990s. Visitors have compiled an impressive list of birds that they have seen on the property. You can join them at any of their walks, which generally happen each Wednesday (currently scheduled for 8:30am) plus on the first Saturday of each month at 8am. The next walk will take place on March 27, 2013, 8:30am-9:30am, at the Kleb Woods Nature Preserve. More at http://cechouston.org/.
4. Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream – Educational Symposium. Where on earth are we going, and what can we do about it? The Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium is a profound inquiry into a bold vision: to bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on Earth. The symposium will be held on March 30, 2013, at the Green Building Resource Center (1002 Washington Ave), from 9am-2pm. Learn more at http://www.greenhoustontx.gov/.
5. Loblolly Pine Tree Seedlings. Harris County Sheriff’s Department has approximately 10,000 – 20,000 8″-10″ Loblolly Pine Tree seedlings to distribute to public projects on public land, or land with public access, in Harris County (parks, medians, bayou waterways). Trees are available for planting by the inmate worker program. If you are interested in getting more information please contact Rick Medina at rick.medina@sheriff.hctx.net.
6. 25,000 Fewer Tires — and Counting! Thanks to a partnership between Bridgestone-Firestone and River Network, local river guardians have pulled some 25,000 tires out of streams over the past year via 80 stream cleanups across the U.S.! As part of Bridgestone’s goal to reclaim one tire for every tire sold, 100% of the tires will become part of playground surfaces or other beneficial everyday items. Does your community have a cleanup planned this spring or summer? Fill out the Community Event Request form and Bridgestone will collect your tires for free!
7. Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program University Challenge. EPA is looking to academic institutions to help build a diverse portfolio of practical and replicable projects that benefit communities, the environment, academic institutions, and the TRI Program. EPA welcomes the submission of any project proposal that advances the knowledge, use and understanding of TRI data and related information. The deadline to submit applications is May 13, 2013. Learn more at http://www.epa.gov/tri/university/.
8. 2013 WaterWeek. The WaterWorks Education Center is now accepting exhibitor reservations for the 2013 WaterWeek – April 29, 2013 through May 3, 2013. WaterWeek focuses on spreading insight into the importance of conserving drinking water resources. The week-long festival will be held at the WaterWorks Education Center. Applications are now being accepted for exhibitors. More than 1500 students and educators are expected to come through. Remember, exhibit space books up quickly, so act soon to reserve your space! Learn more and download a registration form at http://www.houstonwaterworks.org/#waterweek.
9. The Flexible Workplace Initiative – Sloan Awards. The Flexible Workplace Initiative is pleased to invite local Houston and surrounding community employers that have distinguished themselves as leading practitioners of workplace flexibility in Houston, Texas and across the nation to apply for the Alfred P Sloan Award. The Sloan Awards are part of When Work Works, a research-based initiative to highlight how effective and flexible workplaces can yield positive business results and help employees succeed at work and at home. The deadline to apply is April 5, 2013. More at http://www.flexworks.org/.
10. TCEQ’s The Advocate. The latest issue of TCEQ’s The Advocate (quarterly rules updates for small businesses and local governments) is now available. Read the issue at http://links.govdelivery.com/. The topics in this issue include:
    • Texas Leads the Way
    • Enforcement Criteria Changes for Wastewater Treatment Plants
    • Have You Started Your Testing for Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts?
    • Rule Changes for On-site Sewage Facilities (OSSFs)
    • Construction Stormwater Permit Renewed
    • Standard Permit for Concrete Batch Plants Amended
    • TCEQ Amends Permit by Rule to Include Medium- Sized Batch Mixers; and
    • Requirements for Used and Scrap Tire Generators.
11. 2012 Annual Report on Managing Nonpoint Source Pollution in Texas. Managing Nonpoint Source Pollution in Texas: 2012 Annual Report is now available. It is jointly published by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB). The federal Clean Water Act requires States to develop a program to protect the quality of water resources from the adverse effects of nonpoint source water pollution. The Texas Nonpoint Source Management Program is the State’s comprehensive strategy for addressing nonpoint source water pollution. The 2012 Annual Report is the latest update on the progress toward achieving the goals and objectives of the Program.
12. 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:
    • Bastrop, Back to Its Roots
    • Wyman Meinzer’s West Texas
    • Casting Call – Neighborhood Fishing Program
13. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
    • March 26: Green–Good. Moderate winds, cold temperatures, and low background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • March 27: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • March 28: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.