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September 10, 2014

Houston Environmental News Update September 9, 2014

COALITION NOTES

  1. Bayoutopia Gala Kickoff. Join the Bayou Preservation Association on September 10, 2014, 6-8pm at Tootsies (2601 Westheimer at Kirby). Celebrate the utopic nature of Houston’s Bayou System. There will be a personal appearance and trunk show by Josie Natori featuring her fall 2014 collection. Eddie V’s will be providing appetizers. RSVP to klord@bayoupreservationassociation.org. Learn more at www.yelp.com.
  2. Wildscapes Workshop & Native Plant Sale. The Wildscapes Workshop & Native Plant Sale is a series of presentations on September 13, 2014, 8:30am-3:30pm at the Houston Zoo’s Brown Education Center. Topics include urban prairies, native plants, wildscapes landscapes, insects, and reptiles and amphibians. Registration is $40 per person until August 29th, and $50 after. Registration includes lunch, refreshments, and entry to the zoo. Learn more at http://npsot.org.
  3. 2014 Park to Port Bike Ride. The Park to Port Bike Ride, celebrating the centennials of Hermann Park and the Port of Houston, will start in Hermann Park and travel east along Brays Bayou approximately 10 miles to the Port of Houston. There riders will stop for a mid-ride party featuring snacks, music, and fun activities. Riders will return along the same path, heading west, to Hermann Park for a post-ride celebration with music, food, partnerships with local organizations, and more. There is also an option to turn around at MacGregor Park for a shorter ride. The 2014 Park to Port Ride will be held on September 13, 2014, and is is open to experienced and novice riders. Registration is $35. Learn more at www.hermannpark.org.
  4. Cypress Creek Regatta. Ready, Set, Paddle! Bayou Preservation Association is hosting its Cypress Creek Regatta on September 13, 2014, 9am-1pm. The race will be a fun activity for all ages and skill levels. Enjoy beautiful landscapes, birds and fish while paddling along the 7.5-mile scenic stretch of Cypress Creek. Whether you are an experienced paddler or a novice simply wanting to test your endurance and enjoy Houston’s longest Texas Parks and Wildlife paddletrail, the Cypress Creek Regatta offers canoers and kayakers the chance to navigate Houston waterways. Celebrate the race with live music, dancing and food and drink vendors. The entry fee is $45 until race day. Race day registration is $50. Learn more at http://cypresscreekregatta.org.
  5. Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza. Autumn is hummingbird season in Texas, as thousands of these tiny creatures move through the state on their southward migration to Mexico and Central America. Join Gulf Coast Bird Observatory on September 13th and 20th to see hummingbirds being banded, adopt a hummingbird, browse the Nature Store, walk the nature trails, or buy a plant to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. More at http://gcbo.org.
  6. The Future of Transportation in The Woodlands: What’s Next? September’s Going Green Sustainability Lecture, sponsored by The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N., will focus on The Woodlands area’s transportation issues. The Woodlands is facing major transportation challenges with the growing traffic levels that are accompanying new development in and around The Woodlands. This added traffic impacts air quality, noise levels, storm runoff, and public safety. Mike Bass, Director on The Woodlands Township Board, will provide an update about these conditions and options considered in two major studies launched in 2013. The lecture will be held on September 16, 2014, at 7pm at the South Regional Library. More at www.thewoodlands.net.
  7. 2014 Nonprofit Law Institute. The 2014 Nonprofit Law Institute, presented by United Way Nonprofit Connection and Houston Young Lawyers Association and supported by Houston Parks Board, will be held on September 16, 2014, 8:30am-2pm at United Way of Greater Houston. It is essential that staff and board members of non-profits stay current on legal issues that may affect their organizations. Legal counsel who advise non-profits need to stay up-to-date on recent developments and issues facing their clients. Featuring top attorneys addressing critical legal issues, the Nonprofit Law Institute will provide tremendous value for participants. Topics include: board and governance considerations for nonprofits; human resources considerations; email/internet/privacy issues in the workplace; and lobbying for non-profits. The registration fee is $60 with an optional additional $10 lunch. This workshop is non limited to lawyers, but is also geared toward executive directors or staff dealing with problems/issues on employers, privacy, lobbying etc. Register at www.cvent.com.
  8. Feast With the Beasts. Tickets are now on sale for the Houston Zoo’s Feast With the Beasts, which will be held on November 7, 2014, 7-11pm. This year’s event features 60 of Houston’s hottest restaurants, special animal presentations and feedings, and a live performance by Sugar Ray. Money raised helps support the care and feeding of the over 6,000 animals that call Houston Zoo home. General admission is $119 for non-members and $109 for members. Purchase tickets before September 16 and receive $10 off general admission tickets! Zoo members only need to log in to receive the discount. Non-members should use the code: FEASTPS. Learn more at www.houstonzoo.org.
  9. A Story of Memorial Park: People in Nature. Please join the Memorial Park Conservancy on September 17, 2014, from 6pm to 8pm for a public update meeting about the current Memorial Park Master Planning process.  The evening will include a presentation by the master planning design team (Nelson Byrd Woltz - www.nbwla.com) and a Q & A session following the presentation. Join the Memorial Park Conservancy, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, and Uptown-Houston who are jointly leading the Memorial Park Long-Range Master Planning effort to learn about Memorial Park’s soils, ecology, cultural history and preliminary design ideas for the park.  For more information, visit http://www.memorialparkconservancy.org/visit-memorial-park/calendar.html.
  10. Houston Green Film Series: Come Hell or High Water. Houston Green Film Series will begin again for the fall semester, commencing with the documentary Come Hell or High Water. Come Hell or High Water: The Battle for Turkey Creek follows the painful but inspiring journey of Derrick Evans, a Boston teacher who moves home to Mississippi when the graves of his ancestors are bulldozed to make way for the sprawling city of Gulfport. Over the course of a decade, Evans and his family and neighbors stand up to powerful corporate interests and politicians and face Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil disaster in their struggle for self-determination and environmental justice. Come out on September 17, 2014, at 6:30pm, to the Rice Media Center. 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 and RSVP at www.facebook.com.
  11. Sierra Club Evening Benefit Event. The Sierra Club Evening Benefit will be held on September 17, 2014, from 6:30-8:30pm at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. Gather with like-minded folks, enjoy good company, as well as some great appetizers, and donate to both our local Houston Regional Group and the Lone Star Chapter. Hear from the new chapter Executive Director, Scheleen Walker, about past successes and upcoming challenges (including the next legislative session); as well Jennifer Walker, chapter Water Resources Coordinator about what we can’t live without. Learn about plans for the 2015 Legislative Session and the Sierra Club’s leadership in Austin on environmental policy. Single tickets are $30, couples tickets are $50. There are also multiple sponsorship levels. Email art.browning@gmail.com for purchase and info. Find out more at http://houston.sierraclub.org.
  12. Clean Waters Initiative: Water Rights and Water Reuse. The next Clean Waters Initiative will be held on September 18, 2014, at 1:30pm in H-GAC Conference Room A, Second Floor. The topic will be Water Rights and Water Reuse. Subjects to be covered include Region H water supply, Environmental Flows, Rain Barrels, Desalination and Energy Production, and Water Conservation. You can register at http://events.r20.constantcontact.com. CWI offers workshops that help local governments, landowners, and citizens develop effective strategies to reduce pollution in our area waterways. For more information, contact Aubin Phillips at 832-681-2524.
  13. Galveston Bay Foundation Rain Barrel Program. Rain barrels are an efficient, low-cost method for collecting rainwater. They are placed at downspouts in order to reduce runoff into storm drains, and can be used for watering a garden or houseplants, among many other uses. Come learn about rain barrels at Galveston Bay Foundation’s Rain Barrel Workshop on September 20, 2014, from 2-4pm at the Brown Education Hall at the Houston Zoo. The cost is $30 per registration, which includes admission to the workshop, a 35-gallon recycled barrel, and a connector kit. All purchases are final and attendance at the workshop is required to receive a barrel and kit. Register at www.galvbay.org.
  14. Texas Gulf Coast Gardener Class Series. Mercer Botanic Garden’s is very excited to once again be offering it’s Texas Gulf Coast Gardener class series. Tiers 1 and 2 of this popular program will be offered again this fall. The TGCG curriculum, developed by the botanists and staff at Mercer Botanic Gardens, gives participants the knowledge and skills needed to grow, develop, and maintain their own gardens through a variety of gardening and horticulture topics specifically designed for the Texas Gulf Coast climate. Tier-1 and Tier-2 are two separate classes in a three part program. While the classes do build on each other it is not necessary to take them in any particular order. Tier 1 covers topics including site preparation, composting, plant propagation, and water-wise irrigation practices. Tier 2 focuses on plants that can be successfully cultivated in home gardens and landscapes in the Texas Gulf Coast climate. This fall’s programs will be 9-weeks long. Tier-1 will be held on Thursdays from September 25, 2014 – November 20, 2014. Tier-2 will be held on Tuesdays from September 23, 2014 – November 18, 2014. The cost of enrollment for TMS members is $200; enrollment for non-members is $225. Participants will receive a text book, T-shirt or tote bag, and a one-year membership to TMS. Call 281-443-8731 or visit the park to enroll.
  15. Marsh Mania. Join Galveston Bay Foundation on Saturday, September 27, 2014,to celebrate National Estuaries Day by having fun restoring marsh at three different Marsh Mania sites around Galveston Bay! Be a part of a community of more than 7,100 volunteers over the past fifteen years who have restored over 202 acres at 74 sites around the bay. Restoration Sites: Shipe Woods (Oak Island/Anahuac), Bay Harbor (Galveston Island), Pine Gully Park (Seabrook). Learn more!
  16. Scenic Galveston’s 28th Event: GLO Adopt-A-Beach-Estuary. SCENIC GALVESTON’s wetlands partnership cleaning event with the General Land Office is fast approaching! It’s time again for volunteers to step through and into the Tide‖ to remove tons of debris, invasive plants, ugly objects from SG’s estuarial habitat conservation preserves and shorelines. There will be on site registration between 8-9am. The cleanup will be held on September 27, 2014, 9am-noon. After, teams will return to the O’Quinn Pavillion for a custom lunch (required RSVP) with a lively report on latest habitat conservation work, team leader reports, and the day’s bird count. Learn more at www.guidrynews.com.
  17. KPFT 90.1 Tennis Fun Fest. Come out to the Homer Ford Tennis Center on October 11, 2014, for a fun day of tennis! This event will be hosted by KPFT 90.1. The day begins at 8:30am with a 45-minute clinic led by tennis star Lori McNeil (formerly ranked #9 in the world) and her coach and mentor, John Wilkerson. There will be 3 levels of play: Youth to age 16; Adult: Novice; Adult Intermediate/Advanced. The matches will be twenty minutes. This day will be fun for the whole family! Come out for music, food, playground, and auction. Spectators are welcome! Find out more at http://kpft.org.
  18. Save the Date! How Sustainable is the Texas Coast? Our dynamic coastline is changing faster than ever before. Changes are visible over the last 50, 30 and even 10 years. The environmental, social and economic impacts of coastal change are readily measurable and are increasing. These impacts can make us less resilient, particularly when more intense conditions affect our coastal state. The effects result in even greater impact beyond our coast. The Shell Center for Sustainability presents How Sustainable is the Texas Coast? Are we in a “state of denial”? A workshop that presents the most recent scientific data modeled by a team of multidisciplinary researchers working together to measure what these effects will mean to us. The workshop takes place on Wednesday, October 29, 2014, at McMurtry Auditorium in Duncan  Hall, on the Rice University campus. More at http://shellcenter.rice.edu.
  19. Greens Bayou Letter Writing Campaign. Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition recently kicked off a citizen’s letter writing campaign in support of funding for the Greens Bayou Federal Project at Beltway 8 and Antoine. In 1990, a promise was made by the US Congress to construct a detention basin at Beltway 8 and Antoine that would provide flood relief and become an integral component of an overall system of basins and channel improvements along Greens Bayou. For many years the residents and businesses bordering the project location and downstream have waited while continued floods lowered their property values, made flood insurance too expensive to afford and made homes unsellable, and some unlivable. Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition is writing for action. Learn more about the campaign at http://greensbayou.org.
  20. Galveston Bay Report Card. Did you know that half of Texans live within the Galveston Bay watershed, which extends from the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico? Take this #GalvBaySurvey online and let the Galveston Bay Foundation know what issues are important to you, and what you would like to learn more about. www.galvbay.org
  21. Additional Upcoming Events

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COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. US 59/IH 69 RIDER 42 Corridor Congestion Mitigation Study Public Meetings and Open House. H-GAC invites the general public, business owners, and local officials to attend a public meeting and provide comments on the US 59/IH 69 Rider 42 Corridor Congestion Mitigation Study. The purpose is to develop a congestion mitigation plan for the 14-mile corridor area of the Southwest Freeway from Beltway 8/Sam Houston Tollway to IH 45 near downtown Houston. Two public meetings will be held to present the scope of the study effort, existing conditions, and preliminary draft alternative concepts being considered for future analysis. Both meetings will be held on September 10, 2014, at 3555 Timmons Lane, 2nd Floor Conference Room A. The first meeting will be noon-2pm; and the second meeting will be held 6-8pm. H-GAC representatives will be available at these meetings to discuss the study effort and answer questions. For more information about this study, visit www.mysouthwestfreeway.com.
  2. Greater Houston Plant Conference. The Greater Houston Plant Conference provides the perfect opportunity for the greenhouse and nursery grower, landscaper, retailer, collector and plant enthusiast to gather for a glimpse at exciting new plants. Come hear from industry experts on trees and shrubs, annuals and perennials, marketing trends, breeding programs at A&M and plant trials in Harris County. The Plant Auction will allow you to leave with some of those new, interesting plants that you learned about the conference. The conference will be held on September 12, 2014, from 8am-4pm, at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Harris County office. The cos is $50 before September 4 and $75 thereafter until September 11. Register at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu.
  3. AFLOAT! Boat Parade. Known to many as the Bayou City, Houston, Texas can trace its very roots to the vast network of waterways that criss-cross the urban landscape. Afloat! is the first in a series of parades organized as part of Houston Arts Alliance’s three-month Transported + Renewed program, and is a celebration of all things on the water. Adventure seekers are invited to join in a spectacular boat procession from Allen’s Landing, the site of our city’s founding, to Houston’s East End, a harbinger of our city’s future on September 13, 2014, from 11am-1pm. Boat afficianados can become part of the parade by registering their boat by September 1st! Learn more at www.houstonartsalliance.com.
  4. The Annual Kleb Woods Hummingbird Festival. Come out to the Kleb Woods Nature Center on September 13, 2014, 9am-3pm, for the Annual Hummingbird Festival! Come learn everything you want to know about hummingbirds – including identifying, attracting, and gardening for hummingbirds. There will be games and activities for the whole family as well as nature walks throughout the day. The Kleb house will be open for tours, and the blacksmiths will be demonstrating in the barn. Hummingbird expert, Sumita Prasad, will be capturing and banding hummingbirds throughout the day. Gary Clark, naturalist, author,and newspaper columnist; will present a program entitled Amazing Tropical Hummingbirds. Learn more at www.harriscountytx.gov.
  5. Take Me Outdoors Houston. Texas Parks and Wildlife brings you wild family fun with fishing, paddling, activities, crafts, buffalo soldiers and a live Birds of Prey demonstration. Now in its fifth year, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department event enlists multiple partners who provide hands-on activities, booths and opportunities to engage audiences who haven’t ever or don’t often get exposure to the great outdoors, especially the parks and other resources located right in Houston’s big backyard. Come out on September 14, 2014, 10am-3pm to Discovery Green! Learn more at www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
  6. Rice University’s Center for Civic Leadership Volunteer Opportunities Fair. Rice University’s Center for Civic Leadership (CCL) is hosting a Volunteer Opportunities Fair on September 16, 2014, from 4-8pm, and is currently searching for organizations to participate. For over fifteen years, this fair has connected students with non-profit organizations in the Houston community. Participating in this event will provide organizations with an opportunity to recruit Rice University student volunteers for the upcoming year. Learn more about the fair at http://cic.rice.edu.
  7. Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret. Exclusive Houston screening of newly released and highly acclaimed documentary Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret, September 16, 2014, at 7:00pm, Landmark River Oaks Theater. Don’t miss this highly acclaimed documentary that reveals the impact of big agriculture on our environment. Tickets priced at $13.00/person and available at www.tugg.com.
  8. Fall Interfaith Environmental Stewardship Event. Join with people of all faiths, or no faith at all, in caring for our shared environment on Sunday afternoon, September 21, 2014, from 1:30-4:30pm. Attendees will engage in hands-on environmental stewardship by working with the Japhet Creek Nature Park. Japhet Creek Nature Park serves a neighborhood with little other access to greenspace. The park is located at 4600 Clinton at Emile in Houston (south of I-10 East). This event will offer activities for all ages and skill levels, so bring the whole family, your neighbors, and your friends. Contact Lisa at gcs.lrc@gmail.com or 713-372-7345 for more information or to sign up to help.
  9. Texas Riparian & Stream Ecosystem Workshop. The Texas Riparian & Stream Ecosystem Workshop will be held on September 24, 2014, 8am-4pm, at Whites Park Community Center. Hear from an expert how streams and riparian areas work. Find out how you can manage riparian areas to protect your property from erosion. See which plants are doing what in one of our own local streams. Trainings will focus on the nature and function of stream and riparian zones and the benefits and direct economic impacts from healthy riparian zones. The riparian education programs will cover an introduction to riparian principles, watershed processes, basic hydrology, erosion/deposition principles, and riparian vegetation, as well as potential causes of degradation and possible resulting impairment(s), and available local resources including technical assistance and tools that can be employed to prevent and/or resolve degradation. These one-day trainings in watersheds across the state will include both indoor classroom presentations and outdoor stream walks. For more information or questions please contact Nikki Dictson at 979-458-5915 or n-dictson@tamu.edu and visit http://texasriparian.org.
  10. National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. This year, the Take-Back Day will be held on September 27, 2014, 10am-2pm at various locations. Find a collection site near you by visiting www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov.
  11. SXSW Eco 2014 (Austin, TX). SXSW Eco 2014 is approaching! SXSW Eco attracts a global community to explore, engage and co-create solutions for a sustainable world. A uniquely inclusive platform for professionals, SXSW Eco examines the critical challenges of our times through a kaleidoscopic lens of design innovation, policy tipping points, technological breakthroughs, conservation practice, entrepreneurial spirit and a culture of creativity to transform inspiration into action. This 3 day event will feature speakers, sessions, workshops, networking opportunities with experts and industry leaders, film screenings, receptions, SXSW Eco Awards Ceremony, closing party, mentor sessions, exhibition, meet ups, startup central, and more! SXSW Eco will be held October 6-8, 2014, in Austin, TX. Register by September 12 to save at http://sxsweco.com!
  12. Coastal Resiliency Conference: Living on the Edge. Galveston Historical Foundation’s Center for Coastal Heritage, in partnership with University of Texas Medical Branch’s Center in Environmental Toxicology, is organizing a three day conference on coastal resilience scheduled for October 8-10, 2014. This conference will provide a platform to discuss the challenges and strategies for building and preserving a resilient Gulf Coast. Attendees will explore the connections between the natural environment and the cultural heritage of coastal populations. The cost is $120, and $25 for students. Register at www.galvestonhistory.org.
  13. CENHS Undergrad Posters on Display at Rice’s Fondren Library. As the major project in the Spring 2014 CENHS class “Culture, Energy and the Environment: An Introduction to Energy Humanities,” Rice University undergraduates collaboratively researched, wrote, and designed posters (with supplementary digital components) on topics of their choosing related to the energy and environmental humanities. The posters were first displayed (and judged) at the Third Annual Cultures of Energy Symposium in April, and are now on display at Rice’s Fondren Library until early October. Read more and view the posters online at http://culturesofenergy.com.
  14. Biennial Scientific Symposium. Register now for the Children’s Environmental Health Institute’s Eight Biennial Scientific Symposium: Prenatal Environmental Exposures as a Determinant of Early Childhood Disease. Hear global experts challenge us to elevate critical  thinking on ways to address the prevention of environmental health risks to children. Keynote speakers Jeanne Conry, MD, PhD, and Philippe Grandjean, MD, PhD, among other distinguished speakers will provide prevention-oriented research on how toxic chemicals in the environment harm our ability to reproduce, negatively affect pregnancies, and are associated with numerous health problems and chronic disease. The symposium will be held November 13-14, 2014, at McKinney Roughs Education Center, close to Austin Texas. Learn more and register at http://cehi.org.
  15. International Low Impact Development Conference 2015. The International Low Impact Development Conference 2015 will be held January 19-21, 2015. This conference will highlight new and continuing work including research developments and community adoption of LID throughout the United States and internationally. In addition, this conference will focus on the application of LID technology in the Southwest region of the US and will also include a mini-symposium on arid region LID. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from CNN’s 2013 Hero of the Year, Chad Pregracke, whose presentation will be “Helping to Clean America’s Rivers: From the Bottom Up.” Learn more at http://content.asce.org.
  16. NOAA’s Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary – Open Council Seats. NOAA’s Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants for four primary seats on its advisory council. The council ensures public participation in sanctuary management and provides advice to the sanctuary superintendent. Applications are being accepted for the following open seats: recreational diving, commercial fishing and diving operations (two seats). Candidates are selected based on their expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying, community and professional affiliations, and views regarding the protection and management of marine resources. The diving operations seat has been expanded to include dive operators, dive shop owners/managers, dive travel organizers and dive club/organization representatives. Applicants who are chosen should expect to serve a three-year term. For a full application packet or more information, please contact: Shelley Du Puy at shelley.dupuy@noaa.gov  or 409-621-5151 ext 106.
  17. Texas Environmental Excellence Awards. Each year, the TCEQ commissioners and the governor’s office honor the state’s most outstanding environmental projects through the Texas Environmental Excellence Awards (TEEA). Winners from across the state are chosen who represent ways Texans set the standard for ensuring clean air, clean water, and safe management of waste. Applications are now open and accepted in the following categories: agriculture, civic/community, education, individual, pollution prevention, innovative operations/management, technical/technology, water conservation, and youth. Winners will be honored at an awards banquet, held at the culmination of the agency’s Environmental Trade Fair and Conference,May 5-6, 2015. See  winner videos from 2014 or download the application and apply online at www.teea.org. Deadline is October 3, 2014.
  18. Additional Community Announcements  
  19. 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). For a preview, visit TPWD’s YouTube Page.
    • What Wardens Do
    • Outdoor Info: Turkey Calls
    • Mother Neff State Park
    • Stripers in Production
  20. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
    • September 9, 2014:
    • September 10, 2014:
    • September 11, 2014:
    • September 12, 2014:

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ECONOTES

  1. Army Nuclear Reactor Barge Headed For Dismantling In Galveston (Dave Fehling – Houston Public Media, 9/8/2014)
    Sometime this winter, a historic, radioactive sea vessel will float into Galveston and be torn apart for scrap. This ship was once used to generate electricity to operate the locks in the Panama Canal. After 7 years of use, the ship was no longer needed so the nuclear reactor was removed and it was de-fueled in 1977. Other parts still emitted nuclear radiation, so the Army Corps decided to let the ship sit for years so that it would become less radioactive. This winter, the ship will be towed into Galveston and docked at a shipyard on Galveston Island at a pier at the 37th street entrance to the Port of Galveston. Hans Honerlah, a project manager with the Army Corps, says that there will be no more radiation outside the vessel than  is naturally-occurring, meaning there will be no extra exposure for Galveston residents.
    www.houstonpublicmedia.org
  2. Ruling will provide increased funding for restoring the Texas Coast and Galveston Bay (The Bay Area Citizen, 9/4/2014)
    A federal district judge in New Orleans ruled today that BP PLC was guilty of gross negligence in the actions it took leading up to the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This ruling could potentially increase the total civil penalties under the Clean Water Act to upwards of $18 billion, 80% of which is expected to be appropriated to Gulf-wide ecosystem restoration under the terms of the RESTORE Act. Bob Stokes, President of the Galveston Bay Foundation, explains the importance of the ruling for the Gulf Coast and Galveston Bay.
    www.yourhoustonnews.com
  3. Houston’s congested roads spread far and wide (Dug Begley – Houston Chronicle, 9/2/2014)
    Researchers used a massive amount of data to come to the conclusion, as reported last week, that Loop 610 in Uptown is the state’s most congested road. There are a lot of ways to look at the numbers Texas A&M Transportation Institute researchers amassed, but any way you slice them Houston area drivers contend with challenges no matter where they are.
    http://blog.chron.com