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July 4, 2016

Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region: July 4, 2015

Featured

  1. Air Alliance Houston Report Shows High Benzene Levels in Galena Park (Dianna Wray – Houston Press, 7/1/2016)
    “It’s been known for years that the air in Galena Park is laced with benzene, but a new study from Air Alliance Houston has shown varying amounts of benzene have been found at different sites in the town, each site clocking benzene emission levels higher than those considered acceptable by the Environmental Protection Agency. The idea to collect air monitor samples came about because of a lawsuit Air Alliance Houston and other environmental groups filed against the EPA in 2012. The lawsuit was filed to push the federal regulators to install fence-line monitoring systems to catch the amount of benzene emitted from nearby oil refineries and Air Alliance Houston and company won. The systems should be fully installed by 2018, according to the EPA. Since then Air Alliance Houston has worked closely with the EPA to put together the fence-line monitoring requirements for the refineries.”
    www.houstonpress.com
  2. Recycling, glass, and Houston’s future (Bruce Race – Houston Chronicle, 6/10/2016)
    “Two months after Houston renegotiated a deal that ended curbside glass recycling, 80 people met at the University of Houston to consider the future of recycling and other waste management issues. That future, they agreed, should look nothing like the current state of affairs here. The issue is far bigger than whether people can toss their beer bottles and pasta sauce jars into their big green recycling bins. Recycling should be part of the city’s economic development and environmental plans. For now, though, the decision about glass is made. Under a deal approved by the city council in March, Houston will pay Waste Management $90 per ton to process and resell its recycled materials for the next two years. That’s less than Waste Management wanted, and for a shorter time frame. But there was a catch. Glass will no longer be allowed in the bins for curbside pickup — only paper, plastic, cardboard and metal cans. Anyone wanting to recycle glass must do so on their own at a city recycling center. In other words, Houston residents are likely to recycle far less glass over the next two years. Instead, those bottles and jars will pile up in the landfill.”
    www.houstonchronicle.com
  3. Woodlands to study drainage issues in wake of flooding (Bridget Balch – Houston Chronicle, 6/27/2016)
    “Following the record rainfall that pounded Montgomery County this spring, The Woodlands Township board has created a task force to facilitate further attention to drainage issues and to help prevent future flooding. As a master-planned community, The Woodlands was designed with a comprehensive drainage plan, including storm water drains, ditches, green spaces and retention ponds – all meant to keep water from seeping into homes. But in April and May, about 25 Woodlands homes took on water, many for the first time, as well as a church and The Woodlands High School.”
    www.chron.com

EcoNotes

  • 4 July
    • High-Level EPA Adviser Accused of Scientific Fraud in Methane Leak Research (Sharon Kelly – Truthout)
      www.truth-out.org
    • Natural gas comes on strong as coal drops out of U.S. power market (The Times – Picayune)
      www.nola.com
  • 3 July
  • 2 July
    • Oil Patch Schools Facing Budget Nightmare (Kiah Collier – The Texas Tribune)
      www.texastribune.org
  • 1 July
    • Air Alliance Houston Report Shows High Benzene Levels in Galena Park (Dianna Wray – Houston Press)
      www.houstonpress.com
    • Scientists to Congress (politely, in so many words): Get real on climate change (Bill Dawson – Texas Climate News)
      http://texasclimatenews.org
    • First ever biosafety report details 199 mishaps with toxic agents (Julie Steenhuysen – Planet Ark News)
      http://planetark.org
    • Kinder Institute Nears Launch of Transformative Urban Data Platform (Bill Fulton – The Urban Edge)
      http://urbanedge.blogs.rice.edu
  • 30 June
    • Texas Beach Watch monitors bacteria levels along the coast (Fox 7)
      www.fox7austin.com
    • Rep. Ratcliffe leads coalition to demand answers on EPA’s harmful energy regulations (EParisExtra)
      www.eparisextra.com
    • Environmental Sector Shows Strength, Despite Slow Starts (ENR)
      www.enr.com
    • Paxton Drops Challenge as Exxon Mobil Probe Shifts (Khorri Atkinson – The Texas Tribune)
      www.texastribune.org
    • Tyson among top water polluters in Texas (Environment Texas)
      www.environmenttexas.org
    • VW agrees to buy back diesel vehicles, fund clean air efforts (David Shepardson and Andreas Cremer – Planet Ark News)
      http://planetark.org
  • 29 June
  • 28 June
    • VW diesel settlement could cost up to $14.7 billion (AutoBlog)
      www.autoblog.com
    • EPA awards Texas $2.5 million to reduce water contamination risk from underground tanks (Automotive World)
      www.automotiveworld.com
    • AAH Partners with Rice University Girls STEM Initiative (Leticia Ablaza – airCurrent News)
      http://airalliancehouston.org
    • IRNR researchers survey bat populations in Texas, anticipating white-nose syndrome (Eva Vigh – Texas Water Resources Institute)
      http://twri.tamu.edu
    • Wagner named to UCOWR board of directors (Leslie Lee – Texas Water Resources Institute)
      http://twri.tamu.edu
    • Texas Parks and Wildlife, Harris County Award $10 Million in Grants (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
      http://tpwd.texas.gov
  • 27 June
    • Houston celebrity chef, photographer start foundation to protect Gulf Coast habitat (Jack Witthaus – Houston Business Journal)
      www.bizjournals.com
    • Woodlands to study drainage issues in wake of flooding (Bridget Balch – Houston Chronicle)
      www.chron.com
    • Cities Are Infected With “Mega-Event Syndrome.” One Geographer Says He Has the Cure (Andrew Keatts – The Urban Edge)
      http://urbanedge.blogs.rice.edu
    • Weekend Roundup of Environmental and Regulatory Law Developments (Lexology)
      www.lexology.com
    • TCEQ fines Air Liquide $107K for emissions violations at Pasadena facility (Kristi Nix – Deer Park Broadcaster)
      www.yourhoustonnews.com
    • How can we pray for our environment? (Ingrid Peschke – The Christian Science Monitor)
      www.csmonitor.com
  • 26 June
    • How drinking water made from human waste could save the planet (Andrew Williams – Tech Radar)
      www.techradar.com
    • Railroad Commission should embrace EPA methane rules (Hugh Fitzsimons – My SA News)
      www.mysanantonio.com
  • 24 June
    • Oyster farmers seek state’s help after devastating floodwaters (Debbie Strauss – Click2Houston)
      www.click2houston.com
  • 23 June
    • How Much Should You Worry About “Flesh-Eating Bacteria” at Galveston Beaches? (Meagan Flynn – Houston Press)
      www.houstonpress.com
    • Abilene eases water restrictions, watering allowed 3 days per week (KTXS 12)
      www.ktxs.com
  • 22 June
  • 17 June
    • Texas Budget Spared in Court Ruling on Drilling Tax Case (Jim Malewitz – The Texas Tribune)
      www.texastribune.org
  • 15 June
    • Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board Receives $5.2 Million Grant to Address Flood Control Dams (TSSWCB)
      www.tsswcb.texas.gov
  • 14 June
    • Discussing Houston’s Drinking Water Quality and Supply (Michael Hagerty – Houston Matters)
      www.houstonmatters.org
  • 10 June

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