ECONOTES 2011-05-18: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region

Featured

1. Texas drinking water makes pipes and plumbing radioactive (Mark Greenblatt – KHOU News, 05/18/2011)
   Due to years of exposure to drinking water that tests over the federal limit for radioactive radium, the underground pipes, water tanks, and plumbing for much of Central Texas are contaminated by radiation. This is a problem for about 40 to 50 communities.
   http://www.khou.com/home/-I-Team-Texas-drinking-water-makes-pipes-and-plumbing-radioactive-122108194.html
2. Lawmakers agree to keep TCEQ for another 12 years (Matthew Tresaugue – My SA News, 05/13/2011)
   Texas lawmakers have agreed that the state environmental agency should continue operating for at least the next 12 years. Environmentalists support the Senate’s action, compared to the House’s views, which seem more in favor of business interests.
   http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Lawmakers-agree-to-keep-TCEQ-for-another-12-years-1377290.php
3. Universities in Texas are boosting sustainability, boasting about results (Bill Dawson – Texas Climate News, 05/16/2011)
   Despite Texas officials condemning national efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, many of Texas’ top universities are adopting new policies and practicies that embrace principles of sustainability in building and managing campus facilities. Some schools that are currently involved in the green movement include Baylor, University of North Texas, Texas A&M, and the University of Texas.
   http://texasclimatenews.org/wp/?p=1725

EcoNotes

• 18 May
  • Texas drinking water makes pipes and plumbing radioactive (Mark Greenblatt – KHOU News)
    http://www.khou.com/home/-I-Team-Texas-drinking-water-makes-pipes-and-plumbing-radioactive-122108194.html
• 17 May
  • Texas Billionaire Nears Radioactive Waste Dump Victory (Kate Galbraith and Jay Root – The Texas Tribune)
    http://www.texastribune.org/texas-environmental-news/environmental-problems-and-policies/texas-billionaire-nears-radioactive-waste-dump
  • Texas House OKs taking in more radioactive waste (Betsy Blaney – Forbes)
    http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/05/17/general-tx-xgr-radioactive-waste_8471526.html
  • Texas Medical Center completes energy-saving heating-cooling project (ABC 13 News)
    http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk/2011/05/17/texas-medical-center-completes-energy-saving-heating-cooling-project/
• 16 May
  • Texas drilling regulator to form Eagle Ford task force (Tom Fowler – Fuel Fix)
    http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/05/16/texas-drilling-regulator-to-form-eagle-ford-task-force/
  • Universities in Texas are boosting sustainability, boasting about results (Bill Dawson – Texas Climate News)
    http://texasclimatenews.org/wp/?p=1725
  • EPA Releases Searchable Website for Drinking Water Violations / Agency to host webinar to show how to use the public health data (EPA News)
    http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/5116771C5AE44EDF852578920063DBBF
  • Old Addicks and Barker dams get a closer look (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
    http://130.80.29.3/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7565835.html
  • Would TxDOT development plan threaten dams? (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
    http://www.houstontomorrow.org/livability/story/would-txdot-development-plans-threaten-dams
• 14 May
  • Obama grants extensions on Gulf, Alaska drill leases (Houston Business Journal)
    http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2011/05/14/obama-grants-extensions-on-gulf.html
• 13 May
  • Rundown Section of Houston to Get Makeover (Bill Stamps – KUHF News)
    http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/1305326366-Rundown-Section-of-Houston-to-Get-Makeover.html
  • Houston drainage fee higher than expected (Alex Sanz – KHOU News)
    http://www.khou.com/news/Houston-drainage-fee-higher-than-expected-121808829.html
  • Republicans, Texans blast planned EPA study of hydraulic fracturing (Houston Chronicle)
    http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/05/republicans-texans-blast-planned-epa-study-of-hydraulic-fracturing/
  • Vireos are making remarkable recovery from near extinction (Gary Clark – My SA News)
    http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Vireos-are-making-remarkable-recovery-from-near-1377848.php
  • Lawmakers agree to keep TCEQ for another 12 years (Matthew Tresaugue – My SA News)
    http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Lawmakers-agree-to-keep-TCEQ-for-another-12-years-1377290.php
  • Winds lay, fish respond in area fishing holes (Bink Grimes – The Baytown Sun)
    http://baytownsun.com/sports/hunting_and_fishing/article_616efa6e-7d08-11e0-b721-001cc4c002e0.html
  • Statement of Ken Kramer, Director, Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, on the Senate Passage of the TCEQ Sunset Bill (Guidry News)
    http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000034788
• 12 May
  • Texas Grid Says EPA Rules Force Gas-Plants To Shut (Eileen O’Grady – PlanetArk News)
    http://planetark.org/wen/61980
  • Study: Oil spill affects 39 non-endangered species (Barrett Goldsmith – Houston Business Journal)
    http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2011/05/12/study-oil-spill-affects-39.html
• 11 May
  • Texas gets federal money to develop a high speed passenger train route between Dallas and Houston (Barbara Kessler – ABC 13 News)
    http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk/2011/05/11/texas-gets-federal-money-to-develop-a-high-speed-passenger-train-route-between-dallas-and-houston/
• 10 May
  • Architects praise ‘livable center’ concept (Jeff Louderback – Ultimate Tomball News)
    http://www.ultimatetomball.com/stories/244798-architects-praise-livable-center-concept
  • A Critique of a Texas Representative’s Air Quality Claims (John Collins Rudolf – New York Times)
    http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/10/a-critique-of-bartons-air-quality-claims/