ECONOTES 2011-11-16: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region
Featured
- Health of Galveston Bay in jeopardy (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle, 11/13/2011)
There are regulations that set aside water in a river for the benefit of the environment. Concerns have grown that these regulations for the Trinity and San Jacinto rivers are not strong enough to ensure the protection of Galveston Bay. With less water flowing into the bay, the water is becoming saltier. This situation is made worse by the current drought affecting the area. There is question as to whether Galveston Bay will be healthy and productive in future years.
http://www.chron.com/ - Texas water supply for the future is uncertain (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle, 11/13,2011)
Current water sources for the major Texas cities are not able to meet water demands, causing a major problem in the years to come. As a result lawmakers are making a plan to build more reservoirs, desalination plants and pipelines, among other projects. However, there is no room for new reservoirs in the Trinity basin, so water managers will have to rely more on conservation and recycled water.
http://www.chron.com/ - Oklahoma earthquake propels debate of gas drilling’s unwanted effects (Texas Climate News, 11/10/2011)
The controversy around fracking mostly focuses on water and air pollution. Now, however, there are questions as to whether fracking’s injection of fluids including water and chemicals into shale formations deep underground can result in earthquakes. Fracking has been linked in some studies to smaller tremors, and now some wonder if it is linked to the earthquake in Oklahoma on November 5th.
http://texasclimatenews.org/
EcoNotes
- 16 November
- River level far below normal, ranching town races to find a new water source (Texas Climate News)
http://texasclimatenews.org/ - Companies Cited By EPA For Fake Biofuel Credits (Ayesha Rascoe – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/ - Uncertainty mounts for Keystone XL pipeline (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/ - 15 November
- Nature’s method could bring hope to Trinity River (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - Investors Thirsty For New Markets Looking To Water (Deborah Zabarenko – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/ - EPA and GSA Regional Administrators Tour Certified Electronics Recycling Facility in Dallas (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ - Rice study proposes hurricane protection (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/ - Conroe takes billboard giant to court over trees (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/ - Pipe facility noise draws residents’ ire (Mark Fleming – The Baytown Sun)
http://baytownsun.com/ - 14 November
- Texas needs to get with the clean-air program (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - Coal Powers Texas But At What Cost
http://app1.kuhf.org/ - Texas Town in Race to Find New Water Source (Susannah Jacob – The Texas Tribune)
http://www.texastribune.org/ - Mainland transit service mulled (Amanda Casanova – Galveston County Daily News)
http://galvestondailynews.com/ - TCEQ restricts junior water rights (TCEQ News)
http://www.tceq.texas.gov/ - Reclaimed water stretches the supply, with ‘yuck’ factor (Jeannie Kever – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - Desalination a big part of Texas’ water future (Jeannie Kever – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - 13 November
- Health of Galveston Bay in jeopardy (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - Recycling Pilot enters second phase (The Baytown Sun)
http://baytownsun.com/ - Texas water supply for the future is uncertain (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - Interactive Map: Texas Cities at Risk of Running Out of Water (Ryan Murphy – The Texas Tribune)
http://www.texastribune.org/ - 12 November
- The thirsty road ahead (The Economist)
http://www.economist.com/ - Green energy solutions: Experts split on wind’s future (Kevin Welch – Amarillo Globe-News)
http://amarillo.com/ - 11 November
- Unknown environmental effects revealed through butterflies (Omar Gamboa – The Daily Texan)
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/ - Texas farmers worry about the prospect of a dry 2012 (William Pack – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - Petition targets TCEQ censorship in report (Harvey Rice – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - The Keystone pipeline: Has massive project sprung political leaks? (Deon Daugherty – Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/ - Discussion Over Controversial Pipeline At UH (Pat Hernandez – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/ - Health Concerns along Refinery Row (Terrence Henry – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/ - Democrats Axe Bill To Block EPA Clean Air Rule (Timothy Gardner – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/ - 10 November
- Oklahoma earthquake propels debate of gas drilling’s unwanted effects (Texas Climate News)
http://texasclimatenews.org/ - EPA grants first greenhouse gas permit in Texas (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - Neighborhood Lives In Shadow Of Polluters (Terrence Henry – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/ - Study of new routes delays pipeline decision (Jennifer A. Dlouhy – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - EPA Issues First Greenhouse Gas Permit in Texas (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ - Rep. Green Statement on Keystone XL Permit Delay (Guidry News)
http://guidrynews.com/ - Obama expected to delay Keystone pipeline decision (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/ - Living, and coughing, downwind of Texas smoke stacks (Mira Oberman – Google News)
http://www.google.com/ - 9 November
- Fracking passes one test by UT (Tom Fowler – My SA News)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/ - U.S. and Canada streamline energy performance assessments (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/ - Texas Water Propositions Meet Different Fates (Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune)
http://www.texastribune.org/ - TCEQ’s Approach Is Under Fire (Mose Buchele – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/ - 8 November
- Whooping Cranes arriving in Texas (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ - Dr. Ned and Fay Dudney Nature Center Added to Great Texas Wildlife Trail (Guidry News)
http://guidrynews.com/ - Proposal adds new Gulf, Arctic drilling (Jennifer A. Dlouhy – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - 7 November
- Houston flight first to use green jet fuel (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/ - 4 November
- Texas Drought Survival Kit Now Online (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/