Houston Environmental News Update February 11, 2014

Houston Environmental News Update February 11, 2014

COALITION NOTES

1. Gardening Daze at Jones Park. Join horticultural coordinator Teri MacArthur for plant identification and weeding in the native flower beds surrounding the Jesse H. Jones Park Nature Center on February 12, 2014, at 8:30am. Later, help tend the demonstration heritage vegetable garden in the pioneer homestead beginning at 9:30am. Participants are encouraged to wear closed-toed shoes, and bring gloves, a hat, and sunscreen. www.hcp4.net
2. Houston Zoo Educator Workshop. Ever wonder if your students are getting it? Join the Houston Zoo to explore various assessments that help you connect the dots from your lessons to their understanding. Assessment strategies for all subjects and grade levels will be presented. The workshop will be held on February 13, 2014, from 9am-3pm. Registration includes admission to the Zoo, lunch, giveaways, and so much more! Earn 6 credit hours. The cost is $20. Register at http://houstonzoo.doubleknot.com.
3. Eco-Ology Radio Program on KPFT. Eco-Ology is back! The program will now be on Tuesday afternoons from 3-4pm. Eco-Ology is dedicated to local heroes at the forefront of environmental action, ecology in and for the community, social justice, health, and spirit. Tune in every Tuesday to explore what is happening in the community and who is doing something about it. Eco-Ology welcomes ecologists, economists, environmentalists, religious and spiritual leaders, peace givers, progressives, conservatives, liberals – everyone who is deeply entrenched in living now and believes a future is possible. Water, local farmers, green building, children, recycling, hydrocarbons in Our air, landfills, recipes for preparing green leafys, biodiversity. Eco-Ology is a coalition of solution based citizens from a variety of environmentally-related organizations, focusing on ecological issues, exposing their interdependent relationship. Bringing people and their stories to folks. Just regular people, who from life experience, exposed problems and strived to solve them, making a difference in the community of the earth. If you can’t catch the program at the new time, download it at http://eco-ology.org.
4. Dinner and a Cruise with Hermann Park Conservancy and Pinewood Cafe. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Hermann Park Conservancy and Pinewood Cafe at the second annual “Dinner and a Cruise” on February 14, 2014. Make a lunch reservation or a dinner reservation for 5:30pm or 7:00pm. Visit Hermann Park for a charming and romantic Valentine’s Day complete with pedal boat rides! On this special day, guests can take in the sunset on the patio overlooking McGovern Lake, or enjoy a casual lunchtime rendezvous, savoring a three-course meal of picnic-style fare from Pinewood Cafe. Beer and wine will be available for purchase and live music will entertain guests throughout the evening. After the al fresco meal, lovebirds can continue the celebration with a fun (and romantic) half hour cruise around the lake on Hermann Park’s pedal boats. The price is $50 per couple. Space is limited; advance ticket purchase for dinner is required. Purchase tickets here.
5. Discussion on Memorial Park’s Ecology. As part of the long-range master planning effort, the Memorial Park Conservancy is sponsoring an dialogue on the ecology of Memorial Park. The Master Planning team invites those with knowledge of, expertise in and / or a strong interest in Memorial Park’s ecology to participate. The Conservancy seeks your input, concerns and requests and will facilitate a conversation in which everyone all learn from each other. Help us identify issues and opportunities that need to be considered in Master Planning that relate to the park’s ecology. Additionally, the Master Planning team will deliver a short presentation on how the planning process works with respect to ecology. The meeting will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2014, from 9-11am. Location is TBD. Please RSVP by February 5, 2014 if you plan to participate by emailing the Conservancy at info@memorialparkconservancy.org OR by calling 713/863-8403, extension 1. Learn more about the Master Plan at www.memorialparkconservancy.org.
6. Wild West Tour: Winter Waterfowl. Become better acquainted with your waterfowl and bird friends at Katy Prairie Conservancy’s (KPC) upcoming Wild West Tour, “Winter Waterfowl.” Join Master Naturalist and bird expert Glenn Olsen for the tour of the Katy Prairie on February 16, 2014, from 1-5pm. You will visit some of KPC’s wetland-filled preserves in search of ducks, geese and other migratory waterfowl that call the Katy Prairie home during the winter. Cost for the Wild West Tours is $50 per person, and a portion of that fee goes toward funding KPC educational programs. The tour starts at the Indiangrass Preserve, 31950 Hebert Road, in Waller. The Wild West Tours are for adults only. Water is provided, and light snacks are also available. A limited number of binoculars will be available to first-time birders; however, participants are encouraged to bring their own to better enjoy the experience. You can also bring a camera to take photos. www.katyprairie.org
7. Rainwater Harvesting Workshop. Going “green” by using organic lawn care products and less labor-intensive practices is just the first step in the process to convert your unsustainable lawn into a less-thirsty native plant landscape. Go “greener” by harvesting rainwater to nourish your soil, reduce your water bill and water in between downpours. The Rainwater Harvesting Workshop will be held on February 16, 2014, 2-5pm, at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. Part 1: Learn about how one ancient civilization built a catchment system whose basic features remain the core of any successful rainwater harvesting system today. Part 2: You will be guided through the 10 steps to convert a food-grade plastic barrel into your very own barrel guaranteed not to leak or breed mosquito! Cost for Part 2 includes one barrel and conversion kit. The cost is $20M/$30NM (Part 1); $80M/$95NM (Part 2); $90M/$115NM (Part 1&2). Register here.
8. Houston Green Film Series: Story of Stuff Film Festival. The Houston Green Film Series will continue on February 19, 2014, from 6:30-9:30pm at the Rice Media Center. Transition Houston and partners in the Houston Green Film Series will screen four of Annie Leonard’s Story of Stuff videos interleaved with conversations between Steve Stelzer and experts about the topics presented. According to the Story of Stuff website, “We have a problem with Stuff. We use too much, too much of it is toxic and we don’t share it very well. But that’s not the way things have to be. Together, we can build a society based on better not more, sharing not selfishness, community not division.” A light dinner will be served, courtesy of Dr. Pat Speck and Dry Bones Cafe. The film is free to the public, though donations are suggested and kindly appreciated. Learn more at www.facebook.com.
9. Call of the Wild Speaker Series: Dr. George Archibald. Dr. George Archibald co-founded the International Crane Foundation (ICF) in the spring of 1973, as the world center for the study and preservation of cranes. Today he continues to advance ICF’s mission in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Cuba, China, India, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, South Korea and Russia. Join the Houston Zoo as Dr. Archibald migrates through Houston on his way to Port Aransas, Texas, home to the annual Whooping Crane Festival. The event will be held on February 19, 2014, 6:30-8:30pm at the Brown Education Center. Register at www.houstonzoo.org.
10. Mandell Park Groundbreaking. Friends of Mandell Park will officially break ground on the renovation of Mandell Park on February 20, 2014, at 11am. City officials, including Houston Parks and Recreation Department Director Joe Turner, are scheduled to speak at the ceremony. The 1.2-acre site of Mandell Park, located on the southeast corner of Richmond Avenue and Mandell Street, was not originally intended to be a city park. The half commercial/half residential property was purchased by the City of Houston in the 1980s to build a library. However, when a nearby building became available for the library, the plans were scrapped, and the abandoned corner became a dumping ground. Neighborhood citizens started a city-wide community organic garden, known as Meredith Gardens, on the suitable portion of the land. Through their persistence, the property was transferred to the Houston Parks and Recreation Department in 2004 and subsequently cleared of all debris. With no city money to make further improvements, an ever-broadening group of concerned citizens mobilized to form Friends of Mandell Park to create an urban green space that would feature the Meredith Gardens. A master plan was developed by the landscape architecture firm Asakura Robinson, winner of a design competition for the park. When completed by fall 2014, the park will include an expanded organic community garden with handicap accessible, raised planting beds; a state-of-the-art compost station; and a meadow bordered by a curving seat wall and tree-lined walkway. Additionally, the park will maintain its pocket prairie, a project of Katy Prairie Conservancy and Houston Audubon Society. The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony at Mandell Park, 1501 Richmond Ave. The event should last approximately 30 minutes. www.friendsofmandellpark.org
11. Houston Wilderness Annual Luncheon. The Houston Wilderness Annual Luncheon will be held on February 20, 2014, at the River Oaks Country Club from 11:30am-1pm. This luncheon has always been an outstanding and very well attended event, and this year the event will include the presentation of the inaugural Houston Wilderness Wild Life Award. Houston Wilderness has developed this award to honor those who make significant contributions to protecting, preserving and raising awareness of the 10 precious ecoregions in the 24-county Greater Houston region. In the same collaborative spirit, Houston Wilderness works throughout the region with a broad-based alliance of business, environmental and government interests to convene a range of stakeholder groups to promote, protect and preserve the biodiversity in the 10 ecoregions; provide collaborative problem-solving opportunities on critical environmental issues; and educate the public on the many exciting outdoor opportunities in the Greater Houston Region and the health benefits associated with nature. These efforts yield decreased repetitive flooding, improved water quality, increased ecotourism and overall economic growth for our region. Learn more about the luncheon here.
12. Bike Friendly – Region, Communities and Businesses. On Friday, February 21, 2014, the Houston-Galveston Area Council will host a bike friendly workshop and breakfast at the Westin Memorial City from 8:30am-12pm. Bike Friendly – Region, Communities and Businesses will feature presentations by prominent local and national experts with encouraging information about becoming more bike friendly within our region. This half-day event will be a collaborative forum for those interested in approaches to providing a more bike friendly environment. Local governments, transportation agencies, community leaders and area businesses, as well as elected and appointed officials are invited to learn about how our region can continue to grow, while enhancing a high quality of life for our residents through bike accessibility. A dynamic group of speakers will be led by Bill Nesper, Vice President of Programs for the League of American Bicyclists. Mr. Nesper directs the Bicycle Friendly America program with a particular focus on growing the program as a tool for new communities, businesses and universities. Learn more and register here.
13. Volunteer for Annual Abandoned Crab Trap Removal. Each year, Texas Parks and Wildlife announces a 10-day period of time when good samaritans may legally collect and properly dispose of abandoned crab traps in Galveston Bay. Crab traps left in the bay after crabbing season can endanger important wildlife like the diamondback terrapin, entangle other wildlife, or get tangled up in boat propellers. On February 22, 2014, the Galveston Bay Foundation will host a crab trap removal and disposal site at Fort Anahuac Park. GBF is now recruiting volunteers, airboats, kayaks, and other small flat-bottom boats to assist with this vital project. To learn more and to sign up to volunteer, visit galvbay.org.
14. 2014 Bayou Adventure Race. BPA’s 2014 Bayou Adventure Race will be held on February 22, 2014, from 9am-2pm. The 2014 Third Annual Bayou Adventure Race will consist of three legs. The first leg will be a 5K run along the South and North banks of Buffalo Bayou from Dairy Ashford to Highway 6. As runners arrive at Highway 6 they will quickly grab their boats and paddle down the Buffalo Bayou for 5K until they reach the Dairy Ashford takeout. After carrying their boats up to the transition area, competitors will switch to their mountain bikes and race for 10K to 15k around the dirt trails of Terry Hershey Park and return to where it all began to declare a winner. This year on top of the normal three legged adventure race, there will also be a 10K run, a Duathalon consisting of just two events, an adventure race relay where three member teams will compete, each doing one section of the adventure race, and finally a Half Marathon! Come Join the fun and test your abilities at the 2014 Third Annual Bayou Adventure Race! Register at www.bayouadventurerace.org.
15. Design the Prize. The Rice Design Alliance invites Houston-area architecture students and young design professionals to design and fabricate the prize that will be awarded to SPOTLIGHT winners for the next five years. Students at the Rice School of Architecture, the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture at the University of Houston, the School of Architecture at Prairie View A&M University, and design professionals residing in the Houston area who graduated from an accredited program since 2000 may submit digital conceptual drawings and descriptions of their three-dimensional object January 27 through March 17, 2014. The competition will occur in two phases: design and production. Evaluated by a seven-member RDA competition jury, these phases will proceed according to the following schedule: Call for entries: January 31; Deadline: March 17; Announcement of semi-finalists: April 4; Deadline for semi-finalists to submit prototype: May 19; Announcement of winner: May 30; Deadline for winner to complete and deliver first award: August 8. The remaining four awards must then be delivered to RDA in Anderson Hall at Rice University by January 31, 2015. Learn more here.
16. Walk for the Woods Project – Save the Date! The 3rd Annual Walk for the Woods Project will be held on April 5, 2014, at 10am at Neighborhood Centers, Inc – Ripley House. Walk for the woods is a 5K walk that will take you on a journey through Houston’s historic East End, where many of The Woods Project’s students live and play. This walk raises money for The Woods Project, which is an organization that seeks to develop leadership capacity and life skills in low income youth through a series of outdoor education/environmental awareness programs at wilderness sites in the United States. Save the date for this great event and learn more at www.thewoodsproject.org.
17. USA Today’s “Best Museums in U.S.” The Children’s Museum of Houston is the in the running for “Best Museum in the U.S.” in the USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The Children’s Museum of Houston is competing against 19-other museums across the country, and it’s the only museum from Texas to be nominated. The poll is open now and runs through February 17, 2014. Visit www.10best.com to vote for your favorite museum. Supporters may vote every day.
18. NatureFest – Call for Exhibitors. The staff of Jones Park in Humble, Texas, would be honored for your organization to join NatureFest as an exhibitor this year. This free, family-focused public event attracts over 1,100 visitors, and is a great opportunity to share what your organization is all about. It will be held on March 1, 2014, from 9am-3:30pm. NatureFest is an annual Jones Park festival, which offers catch and release fishing, live animal interactions, children’s activities, and much more! There is still time for exhibitors to register! For all exhibitors who still wish to attend NatureFest, the final date for sending in your registration forms will be Wednesday, February 12, 2014. More at www.hcp4.net. Registration form modified

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COMMUNITY NOTES

1. Climate Change: Is It a Real Threat? Join UH Energy for the upcoming energy symposium, held on February 11, 2014, 6:30-8pm, at Hilton University of Houston, Waldorf-Astoria Ballroom. The series is presented by UH’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) and is free to the public. The topic is Climate Change: Is It a Real Threat? Guest speakers include Richard A. Feely, Ph.D. – National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration; John W. Nielsen-Gammon, Ph.D. – Texas A&M University; and David Hone – Royal Dutch Shell. Please RSVP at uhenergyseries.evenbrite.com. Learn more here.
2. “Trails of Texas” Awards. Since 1992, the Texas Trails Network (TTN), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has been promoting quality development and management of trails, providing a forum to address concerns related to trail acquisition, development, management, and user conflicts; and promoting the development of a statewide trails system network. The Texas Trails Network “Trails of Texas” Awards are TTN’s way of recognizing Texans working to create trails that promote recreation, health, economic development, and travel opportunities for Texas residents and visitors alike. Nominees may be from the public or private sector, paid or volunteer but MUST be a Texas project, entity or resident. A governmental agency, staff or citizen may have initiated the effort. Trail nominations may be for paved or improved natural surface trails, Equestrian Trails, ATV Riding Trails, Hiking or Jogging Trails, Paddling Trails, or Cycling Trails OR the planning and design of such trails. Award presentations will be made throughout the 18th Texas Trails Network State Conference that will be held March 26-28, 2014, in Fort Worth. Learn more about the conference. Send requests for an electronic version of the application form to jwaldbauer@bw2inc.com. The Award Nomination Form must be submitted and postmarked no later than February 28, 2014. Nomination Form
3. Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center Photo Contest. Are there any people out there that love taking pictures??? Send in your photos to the Nature Center’s first photo contest! Participants must submit two photos: One photo of a Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center sign (digital submisssion); and one photo for entry into the contest (submitted via email AND regular mail). Email the photos to nature.center@mctx.org, and mail them to Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center/Photo Contest Submission/1300 Riley Fuzzel Rd/Spring, TX 77386. Photos must be postmarked by February 28, 2014. Only one submission per person. Both digital and film process accepted. Voting will take place on Facebook and in person at the Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center from March 1, 2014 through March 12, 2014. If you have any questions, call 281-364-4225.
4. Telluride Mountainfilm Festival. The most inspiring and thought provoking film festival on earth is returning to Houston for two days, starting on February 21, 2014. This festival is a life changing ideas summit and social gathering. Come out for two amazing evenings filled with the best documentaries, powerful short films, avant-garde animation, adrenaline films, guest filmmakers, and expert panelists. The festival will be held at the Asia Society Texas Center in the Museum District. Learn more at www.mountainfilm.org. Each night will feature its own unique film program. Find a schedule of events here, and purchase tickets here. Tickets include complimentary wine, beer, and beverages. Dinner fare from Shade and Canopy are available at 5:30 and at intermission for an additional fee. Seating is limited so purchase tickets today!
5. Water Conservation and Reuse Projects in the Age of SWIFT: New Funds and New Priorities – In Austin. There are many challenges and opportunities associated with funding water conservation projects using revenue bonds financed by the newly-created State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT). H.B. 4, which created SWIFT, includes a requirement that 20% of the $2 billion fund be spent on “conservation and reuse” projects in the state water plan. This workshop will feature experts on water law and policy who can explain the questions and challenges associated with implementing the 20% requirement. Speakers will also focus on the most important opportunities presented by the new funding. The workshop will be held on February 21, 2014, at The University of Texas School of Law in Austin. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Gena Dawson at gdawson@law.utexas.edu or 512-475-9328. More at www.utexas.edu.
6. 5th Annual Texas Green Home & Living Show. With the theme, “Water Matters” set for the 5th Home & Living Show, event organizers have booked LaVerne Williams, AIA, LEED AP, who is one of the nation’s top green building professionals and a Texas pioneer of energy-efficient green home design that strives for sustainability to keynote the show on Saturday, March 8, 2014, at the San Marcos Activity Center at 11am. The 5th Annual Texas Green Home & Living Show will bring together hundreds of homeowners and business people for a great day of exhibits, speakers and demonstrations focused on providing all participants with many tools and resources to help them move toward a cleaner and greener future. February 21st is the cut-off to receive Early Bird discount pricing on booth fees. Booth rental fees range from $225 – $325. In addition to great speakers and panel discussions, the Show will feature tips on water conservation and the growing use of gray water, recycling, and earth-friendly products. There’s something for everyone. And admission is free! www.texasgreenshow.org
7. Save the Date! Planning for Disaster Resilience Symposium. This symposium commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Hazard Reduction & Recovery Center (HRRC) by bringing together past and current HRRC faculty fellows to discuss contributions to the fields of hazards and urban planning research, emphasizing the importance of the intersection of urban planning and hazards as critical for community resilience. Panel discussion topics include: Hazard Mitigation; Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning; Recovery and Adaptation; and Interpretations for Practice. The symposium will be held April 4-5, 2014, at the Texas A&M University at College Station, Langford Architecture Center. The cost is $100 ($35 for students). Learn more at http://hrrc.arch.tamu.edu.
8. Railroad Commission of Texas Proposed Rules. At its open meeting on February 4, 2014, the Railroad Commission adopted two rulemakings. First, the Commission adopted new §9.116, regarding container corrosion protection systems for underground or mounded LP-gas containers. Second, the Commission adopted several amendments, repeals and new rules in Chapter 12 regarding coal mining regulations. The adoptions will be published in the Friday, February 21, 2014, issue of the Texas Register. The effective date for new §9.116 will be March 1, 2014; the effective date for the Chapter 12 amendments will be February 24, 2014. For more information on these and other rulemakings, or to access the online comment form for any proposed rulemakings, please see the Proposed Rules table at this link: www.rrc.state.tx.us.
9. 2014 Summit Program – Call for Proposals. Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) and The Coastal Society (TCS) are proud to announce a new collaboration to present the first ever Summit that will bring together the coastal restoration and management communities for an integrated discussion to explore issues, solutions and lessons learned in their work. The Summit will be held from November 1-6, 2014, in Washington DC. The Summit will provide timely and much-needed attention to the challenges and opportunities for coastal and estuarine restoration and management and will bring together a unique blend of people who are involved in policy, science, strategy, business, and on-the-ground restoration and management. For the first time, the Summit Program will address all aspects of coastal and estuarine restoration and management, in all habitats, at all scales, and all regions, including the Great Lakes and international locales. The Program Committee invites you to submit a proposal to present at the Summit. The Program emphasizes lessons learned and best practices in every aspect of coastal and estuarine restoration and management. The submittal deadline is February 28, 2014. To read more, visit www.estuaries.org.
10. The Earth Month Sponsorship Program. The Earth Month Sponsorship program is designed to assist communities, organizations and schools by providing funding for the education components of their programs. These programs must center around Earth Month or Earth Day and be celebrated during April. The Earth Month Sponsorships are available up to $500 (with matching funds). The deadline for applications is February 14, 2014. Learn more at http://legacyenved.org.
11. Westbury Community Garden. The Houston Housing Authority, the Houston Parks Board, Mayor Annise Parker, City Council member Larry Green, and Joe Turner – Director of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department have been working together to save the 7 acres Westbury Community Garden and to keep it as greenspace, as it has been for the last 30 years. A capital campaign has been started to raise $500,000 (the total cost of the land). To make a donation, visit https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/.
12. Texas Brigades Summer Program. The Texas Brigades is a combination of five educational programs: Bobwhite Brigade (quail), Buckskin Brigade (deer), Bass Brigade, Waterfowl Brigade (ducks and geese), and Ranch Brigade (cattle). Each camp is 4 ½ days of intense, interactive, fun learning from top wildlife and natural resource professionals in Texas. Subjects covered include everything from biology, habitat management, watersheds, population dynamics, ecology, and botany, to photography, journalism, firearm safety, fishing, communication, critical-thinking, team building, and leadership. Texas Brigades is now accepting applications for the summer program. All students with an interest in biology, wildlife, fisheries, conservation, or the outdoors are encouraged to apply. You must be 13-17 years of age and you should also be willing to commit to conducting a minimum of three educational programs when you return home. Applications must be postmarked by March 15, 2014. Find out more at http://www.texasbrigades.org/.
13. Gulf Restoration Comment Period. Responding to requests from the public, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (Trustees) have extended the public review and comment period for the Draft Programmatic and Phase III Early Restoration Plan and Draft Early Restoration Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (draft). The draft, which proposes $627 million in early restoration projects across the Gulf states is now available for public review and comment through February 19, 2014 rather than February 4, the original deadline. This marks the third and largest phase of early restoration to date. Included in the draft are 44 proposed projects. Some aim to restore barrier islands, dunes, marshes, shorelines and oyster beds. Others, such as boat ramps and park enhancements, seek to address the lost recreational use of natural resources. The draft also proposes a programmatic plan for continuing to pursue early restoration. The draft, available at www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov, includes the programmatic plan and the complete list of proposed projects, with locations and descriptions. (Click here for a list of proposed projects). More at http://content.govdelivery.com/.
14. Houston Write-a-thon. Reading an ordinance or understanding a city process can be complex. Abbreviations, legal language, and references to other documents can sometimes feel like doing homework. The first ever “Houston Write-a-thon” aims to fix that. The City of Houston and Mayor Annise Parker, along with Open Houston, Code for America, January Advisors, and many other great partners are hosting an open and free event to help translate our ordinances, our processes, and our manuals into language that’s easier to navigate. This is a call to action for you to lend your expertise and to work with writers, designers, and civil servants to improve government communication for all of us. Read more at http://www.edforh.com/. The Write-a-thon will be held on February 22, 2014 from 10am-5pm at the Freed-Montrose Library. Find out more at http://www.houstonwriteathon.com/.
15. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on municipal access cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Houston, Nassau Bay, Pasadena, Seabrook, Sugar Land, and on HCC TV. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area).
    • Above Texas: Growing Pains
    • Wood Ducks at Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area
    • Big Horn Sheep Relocation
    • Lake Somerville State Park
    • A Journey South
16. 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 11, 2014: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • January 12, 2014: Green–Good. Moderate winds and/or low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • January 13, 2014: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Winds may be light enough for the daily PM2.5 AQI to reach “Moderate” levels in the Houston and Beaumont-Port Arthur areas, with highest concentrations in the morning and evening.

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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. Texas to take over greenhouse gas permitting from EPA after long, bitter battle with feds (Ramit Plushnick-Masti – The Daily Journal, 2/4/2014)
   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave Texas authority over greenhouse gas permitting on Tuesday, ending a long, often bitter battle between the federal agency and the state. EPA’s administrator in Dallas, Ron Curry, said he signed the paperwork earlier Tuesday delegating authority over the program to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. It comes after months of negotiations concerning what the program would look like. There will be a 30-day public comment period on the program’s outline. Texas, the leading greenhouse gas producer in the U.S., had been the only state in 2010 that refused to meet new federal greenhouse gas emission rules, placing some of the nation’s largest refineries in operational limbo. The EPA, in an effort to ensure those facilities could continue to operate, has been directly issuing permits since 2011, assuming a role that has historically belonged to states. Last year, the Texas Legislature passed a law giving the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
   www.dailyjournal.net
2. New development, dog waste blamed for excessive bacteria in San Jacinto River (Cindy Horswell – Houston Chronicle, 2/9/2014)
   Many of those frolicking in San Jacinto’s west and east forks and a northern sliver of Lake Houston are unaware that these waterways have exceeded the state standard for bacteria contaminants – namely human and animal feces – since 2006. Environmentalists say the pollution could be a by-product of breakneck development as well as aging sewer pipes and septic systems, many of which may be seeping human waste into the river. Conditions, they add, could get worse before they get better. A new report prepared by the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research forecasts the watershed’s population will more than double in the next two decades, increasing by nearly a quarter of a million people. Environmentalists say if the problem isn’t addressed, the bacteria count could multiply and spread.
   www.houstonchronicle.com
3. Three schools receive recognition for energy efficiency (Cypress Creek Mirror, 2/4/2014)
   Three CFISD schools that achieved the greatest percentage of energy use reduction through the American Productivity and Quality Center (APQC) Behavioral Energy Management Program were recognized during the regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 21. Cypress Falls High School, Aragon Middle School and Holmsley Elementary School were all recognized for their outstanding energy conservation through identification and modification of behavioral patterns throughout the campuses during the 2012-2013 school year. The pilot program featured seven schools, and resulted in a 6-percent total reduction in energy consumption at 1,128,996 kilowatt hours (kWh) and a net savings of $68,805.
   www.yourhoustonnews.com