Houston Environmental News Update February 19, 2013

Houston Environmental News Update February 19, 2013

CEC NOTES

1. Visions for a Greener Houston

COALITION NOTES

1. Texas Climate Issues
2. Healthy Communities Indicators Symposium 2013
3. Houston Audubon Birdathon is back
4. Texas Bottle Bill Petition
5. NatureFest
6. Artist Boat – Coastal Heritage Preserve
7. Kayak Certification Courses
8. 2040 Regional Transportation Plan (2040 RTP)
9. METRO Bike & Ride Plan
10. Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition Clean-up & Tree Planting
11. Birdies for the Birds – GCBO Golf Tournament

COMMUNITY NOTES

1. ReLEAF – Reserve Your FREE Texas Native Tree
2. Coastal Ghost Busters
3. Management of Urban Wildlife Workshop
4. MountainFILM Telluride
5. Smart Growth Assistance
6. VegOut Houston
7. Regional Coastal Wetlands Reviews
8. Restore the Gulf
9. Nominations to the Board of Scientific Counselors
10. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data
11. Electronics Recycling Results
12. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife
13. Air Quality Forecast

NEWS HEADLINES

1. Freshwater Coastal Prairie Wetland Restoration – Case Study: Sheldon
   Lake State Park (Marissa Sipocz – Texas Watersheds, 2/15/13)
2. City of Jersey Village will fund trail construction (Houston
   Chronicle, 2/12/2013)
3. Chronicles of a Zoo Intern: Dealing with Diets (Marissa Talamantes –
   The Official Houston Zoo Blog)

GREEN JOBS

1. NEW! The Mercer Society seeks Director of Operations
2. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) seeks Youth Program
   Coordinator
3. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) seeks Summer Crew Leaders
4. The Environmental Health Service at Baylor College of Medicine seeks
   Project Intern
5. The Environmental Health Service at Baylor College of Medicine seeks
   Research Coordinator
6. Updated! Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership seeks Watershed Director
7. Galveston Baykeeper seeks a Baykeeper/Wetland Watch Coordinator
8. HARC seeks a GIS/Remote Sensing Research Associate
9. Houston Endowment is seeking a Vice President For Programs

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE INSTRUCTIONS

CEC NOTES

Visions for a Greener Houston

Please plan to join us in a participative, collaborative process, through a
series of working sessions, in a group effort to envision the year ahead.

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COALITION NOTES

1. Texas Climate Issues. Did climate change help bring
   about the devastating Texas heat wave of 2011? In February, Texas State
   Climatologist John Neilsen-Gammon will walk through some of the science
   behind what has happening with our climate, particularly the 2011 heat
   wave that continues to impact The Woodlands vegetation and water
   resources. He will illustrate how researchers use computer models to
   better understand our climate and its changes. His lecture is part of
   the Going Green Sustainability Series organized and sponsored by The
   Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. In cooperation with The Woodlands Township
   Environmental Services Department. The lecture will be held at 7:00 pm,
   February 19, 2013, at the South Montgomery County Library. For more
   information, contact Cinda Hitchcock at (281) 363-2723 or www.thewoodlandsgreen.org.
2. Healthy Communities Indicators Symposium 2013. After
   a year of research on the indicators that measure the health of our
   region, Center for Houston’s Future will present its findings on
   February 22 at the 2013 Healthy Communities Indicator Symposium, at the
   George R. Brown Convention Center, hosted by Honorary Chair Dr. John
   Mendelsohn, along with prominent national and regional experts. Join
   policy makers, national experts, healthcare professionals, elected
   officials, and community leaders as we examine how the intersection of
   People and Place creates sustainable and healthy communities. Learn more
   at http://www.futurehouston.com/.
3. Houston Audubon Birdathon is back! Like birds, beer,
   and bikes? Just three ways to join the fun! Bird for conservation!
   Register online beginning March 1. Birdathon can be divided into two
   parts: “bird” and “athon.” The “bird” bit is a scavenger hunt challenge
   in which teams compete to see how many different bird species they can
   identify in 24 hours or less. The “athon” is the competitive fundraising
   portion in which each team competes to see how much money they can raise
   for Houston Audubon’s mission. Start a team or join one of our guided
   groups and have a blast while making a difference. Birding can be done
   anywhere in the state of Texas within the time period of March 17-May 5,
   as long as it is in a continuous 24-hour period or shorter. Learn more
   at www.houstonaudubon.org.
4. Texas Bottle Bill Petition. Texas Bottle Bill has an
   online petition asking people to sign, share, and call your legislator
   about establishing beverage container deposits and independent free
   standing redemption centers. Beverage container deposits have proven to
   be an effective incentive to return these materials to the market place
   and keep them out of our streams, creeks, bayous, bays, and gulf. Learn
   more at http://signon.org/,
   and by watching the Texas Bottle Bill team’s Street to Stream video on Youtube.
5. NatureFest. NatureFest at Jones Park will take place
   on March 2, 2013, 9am-3:30pm at 20634 Kenswick Dr in Humble. Enjoy a
   fun, educational day as noted speakers discuss topics such as birds,
   native plants, and nature photography. There will be guided nature
   walks, pontoon boat tours, live animals, and nature-related educational
   booths will be available. All ages are welcome! More at http://cechouston.org/.
6. Artist Boat – Coastal Heritage Preserve. Artist Boat
   is establishing a Coastal Heritage Preserve on Galveston Island and is
   looking for teachers interested in exploring by kayak with their
   students. The grant to acquire land (the Coastal Heritage Preserve) will
   be providing the financial resources to launch three years of
   educational programming. Any teacher that schedules an Eco-Art Workshop
   for $150 will be able to have an Eco-Art Kayak Adventure to the Coastal
   Heritage Preserve for $150. Space is limited to 50 classes of 25
   students and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Artist Boat would
   love to schedule your workshop in your classroom during February or
   March and then schedule your kayak trip during March, April, or May.
   Book the kayak adventure in advance as only one adventure can happen a
   day. Contact LuAnne Ashley (lashley@artistboat.org or 409-770-0722) if
   you have any questions or to book the dates and times you want.
7. Kayak Certification Courses. Artist Boat is hosting
   an ACA Level 1 – 3 Coastal Kayaking Course (IDW/ICE) March 9-13, 2013.
   Learn to paddle correctly, perform rescues, maneuver kayaks and learn
   essential kayaking techniques. Upon successful completion participants
   will have an ACA Instructor Certification and professional kayak
   training. For more info, contact Kelly Cloughly at
   kcloughly@artistboat.org or by phone at (409) 770-0722.
8. 2040 Regional Transportation Plan (2040 RTP). The
   Houston-Galveston Area Council and its planning partners are in the
   early stages of developing the 2040
   Regional Transportation Plan (2040 RTP) and are seeking public
   input. A survey is available to find out which transportation issues are important to
   you. The RTP is the blueprint for the transportation system in the eight
   counties of the Houston region and is developed every four years. The
   2040 RTP describes how we respond to population and economic growth as
   well as changing commute patterns through the policies, programs and
   projects it embraces. Bold planning efforts taken now will create more
   economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for our
   residents. To learn more about the 2040 RTP and participate in its
   development, visit 2040plan.org. A survey and comment box are provided for your input. Want to stay involved? Sign up for emails and newsletters at www.h-gac.com/taq.
9. METRO Bike & Ride Plan. In an effort to improve
   connections between Houston’s bicycle and the transit networks, H-GAC
   and METRO are inviting citizens to influence their 2013 Bike & Ride
   Plan. Take the survey to help influence the planning effort to improve
   connections between bicyclists and the transit network in the METRO
   service area. Find the survey here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MetroBikeandRide.
10. Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition Clean-up & Tree Planting.
    Join the Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition and other committed volunteers
    for the second-annual North Reach Clean-up and Tree Planting Event in
    the Greenspoint area. In partnership with Harris County Flood Control
    District and Trees for Houston, participants will plant 25 trees and
    clean several miles of bayou on March 9th from 8am-noon. Learn more at http://greensbayou.org/.
11. Birdies for the Birds – GCBO Golf Tournament. The
    Gulf Coast Bird Observatory will hold a golf tournament “Birdies for the
    Birds” on Friday, March 22 at the Wilderness Golf Course in Lake
    Jackson. Individuals and teams encouraged. For details, go to website www.gcbo.org.

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COMMUNITY NOTES

1. ReLEAF – Reserve Your FREE Texas Native Tree. Keep Montgomery County Beautiful is supporting the Texas A&M Forest Service and Anheuser-Busch in a program to restore native trees and forests while beautifying areas of south east Texas impacted by last year’s drought and destructive fires. Initially the program will focus on selected areas of Grimes, Montgomery and Waller counties affected by the recent fires. Visit http://www.kmcbtexas.org/releaf to learn more and reserve your tree.
2. Coastal Ghost Busters. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is looking for volunteers interested in helping to remove abandoned crab traps — ghostlike killers of marine life — from their haunts along the coast from Feb. 15 through Feb. 24, 2013. For more information about the Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program and volunteering, contact Bill Balboa at TPWD: 281-534-0110. More at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.
3. Management of Urban Wildlife Workshop. The Managing Urban Wildlife: Best Management Practices Workshop will take place on February 21, 2013, 8 am-3 pm, at the Doubletree by Hilton at Bush Airport. This workshop was quickly developed in response to the urban wildlife issues that have been reported in the news here recently. One speaker is an urban coyote behavior expert whose information is based on years of researching urban coyotes in downtown Chicago. Other speakers will cover topics such as feral hog control, egret/heron rookeries, urban bobcats (often mistaken as mountain lions in our area), urban deer, and hawks/vultures. This workshop is being held in conjunction with the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society annual meeting. However, anyone can attend the Urban Wildlife workshop separately – you do not need to sign up for the entire annual meeting/conference. Register early at http://site.tctws.org/.
4. MountainFILM Telluride. MountainFILM is a two-day film festival that is dedicated to educating and inspiring audiences about issues that matter, cultures worth exploring and environments worth preserving. For more information and to buy tickets, please visit www.iceworthsustaining.org and www.mountainfilm.org. The festival will be in Houston February 22 and 23 at the Asia Society Building in the Museum District.
5. Smart Growth Assistance. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today is inviting applications from communities interested in exploring barriers to smart growth and testing innovative strategies that can create healthier, more sustainable places to live, work, and play. EPA’s Smart Growth Implementation Assistance (SGIA) program provides technical assistance to help communities grow in ways that improve the local economy, the environment, and people’s health. The program aims to help applicants develop solutions to local challenges, such as managing stormwater, increasing transit-oriented development, and adapting to climate change, and to share those solutions with other communities. Applications are accepted in the following four categories: Community Resilience to Disasters and Climate Change, Redevelopment for Job Creation, Manufactured and Modular Homes in Sustainable Neighborhood Design, and Medical and Social Service Facilities Siting. Learn more at http://yosemite.epa.gov/. Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2013
6. VegOut Houston! For the entire month of March 2013, Recipe for Success Foundation (RFS) invites every Houstonian to take part in the citywide challenge to VegOut! Armed with the support of the Mayor and her Healthy Houston Task Force, VegOut! is an official GoHealthyHouston initiative that serves as a call to action for all of us to step up to the plate – and pile it with veggies! Anyone can visit the site to register, take the pledge and prepare to get started. Participants who complete the VegOut! 30 Ways in 30 Days Challenge by eating 30 different vegetables within 30 days by April 15 are automatically entered into a drawing for fabulous prizes that range from Dinner for Two at one of Houston’s finest restaurants to a year of fresh produce delivered to your door. http://www.vegoutwithrfs.org/
7. Regional Coastal Wetlands Reviews. NOAA, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced the release of four regional Coastal Wetland Reviews. These reports are a compilation of information, including recent coastal wetland trends, that can help state and local wetlands managers identify key information gaps and determine what is needed to address the ongoing loss of coastal wetlands. You can learn about the East & West Galveston Bay Watersheds in the Gulf of Mexico Region Review. More at http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/.
8. Restore the Gulf. Many resources are available to help you learn about the recovery of the gulf. One website, http://www.restorethegulf.gov/, provides individuals, small businesses, and communities with resources needed as they plan for recovery and for the future. You can also view the full Gulf Coast Report and learn about the funding mechanisms of the RESTORE Act.
9. Nominations to the Board of Scientific Counselors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is requesting nominations of nationally recognized scientists, engineers, and experts to serve on the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) subcommittee that will advise the Office of Research and Development’s (ORD) Sustainable and Healthy Communities Research Program (SHC). Highly qualified individuals may nominate themselves or others by using the membership nomination form and checking the “SHC” box. Submit nominations on-line at http://epa.gov/osp/bosc/nomination.htm by April 1, 2013.
10. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has posted the second year of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions data on its website, which provides public access to emissions data by sector, by greenhouse gas, and by geographic region such as county or state. Learn more at http://www.epa.gov/ghgreporting/.
11. Electronics Recycling Results. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality today announced that Texans turned in more than 43 million pounds of electronics to computer manufacturers for recycling. In addition to recycling covered computer equipment, many computer manufacturers also voluntarily collect televisions and other electronics for recycling. The TCEQ allowed computer manufacturers to report other electronics collected, not just the computer equipment covered under the program. Computer manufacturers reported collecting more than 43.8 million pounds of electronics from Jan. 1, 2012, through Dec. 31, 2012. Read more at http://www.tceq.texas.gov/.
12. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Seabrook, and on HCC. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). This week’s broadcast will include:
    • The Unknown Army
    • Sauer-Beckman Farm
    • Running of the Bass
    • Wyler Aerial Tramway State Park
13. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
    • February 19: Green–Good. Moderate to strong winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • February 20: Green–Good. Moderate to strong winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • February 21: Green–Good. Moderate to strong winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.

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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. Freshwater Coastal Prairie Wetland Restoration – Case Study:
   Sheldon Lake State Park (Marissa Sipocz – Texas Watersheds,
   2/15/13) Freshwater coastal prairie wetlands once covered large expanses
   of the Houston-Galveston landscape. Over 50 years, agricultural
   development and use altered the land surface and subsurface to an
   extreme degree. Successful restoration of these landscapes can be a
   difficult process at best. However, a new technique was used for the
   wetland restoration project at Sheldon Lake State Park, which involved
   new planning and development methods combined with traditional
   restoration techniques. http://links.govdelivery.com/
2. City of Jersey Village will fund trail construction
   (Houston Chronicle, 2/12/2013) The city of Jersey Village and the Harris
   County Flood Control District have joined forces to construct the Jersey
   Meadows stormwater detention basin, along with a 1.6-mile walking trail
   around the basin. The 43-acre project, which is expected to be under way
   through this spring, will have a capacity of 114 million gallons once it
   is completed. http://www.chron.com/
3. Chronicles of a Zoo Intern: Dealing with Diets
   (Marissa Talamantes – The Official Houston Zoo Blog) It takes a lot of
   work to prepare meals in the Carnivore Department of the zoo. The amount
   of food is largely determined by animals’ weight. The vet monitors
   animals’ body condition and adjusts portions based on target weights and
   behaviors. http://www.houstonzooblogs.org/

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GREEN JOBS Tell them you
heard about it from us! Job listings can be found at CEC’s
Green Jobs page.

1. NEW! The Mercer Society seeks Director of
   Operations. The Director of Operations (DO) of The Mercer
   Society (TMS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is responsible for
   the operation and administration of the organization. The main mission
   of TMS is to raise funds for Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens. The
   DO’s main duties include; ensuring that TMS is run in an efficient
   manner that meets the fiscal goals and overall objectives of the Board
   of Directors; processing all payments through fundraisers, events, and
   daily operations including the gift shop; updating TMS website and
   creating e-newsletters; facilitating fund-raising both independently and
   with others; managing the TMS staff in accordance with the TMS Employee
   Handbook; and insuring compliance with all state and federal reporting
   obligations. Qualification requirements include: college degree
   preferred; five to ten years of administrative experience, at least five
   of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity; ability to define
   problems, collect data, and present viable solutions; and proficiency
   with Word, Excel, QuickBooks, and Outlook. To apply, Send cover letter,
   resume and, salary requirements to: The Mercer Society / Alan Raymond at
   msociety@hcp4.net.
2. The Student Conservation Association
   (SCA) seeks Youth Program Coordinator. The SCA seeks a Youth
   Program Coordinator based out of the Houston, TX office. Duties include
   planning, organizing, delivering, and overseeing SCA environmental
   conservation youth/teen programs in Texas; recruiting and placing youth
   and young adults in a variety of programs each year; working with
   partner organizations to plan service projects and work crews; hiring,
   training, and supervising crew leaders and other staff as needed;
   implementing safety protocols; maintaining all related documents/files;
   completing program evaluations and reporting. If interested, please send
   your cover letter and resume to hiring@theSCA.org referencing Youth
   Program Coordinator in the subject line – Position slated to start no
   later than the end of February 2013.
3. The Student Conservation Association
   (SCA) seeks Summer Crew Leaders. SCA seeks two qualified
   applicants to lead, educate, and inspire high school students for the
   Houston Summer Crew program. Co-lead, mentor and coach a crew of 12
   students, ages 14-19, while completing various conservation service
   projects designed to build an ethic of community and environmental
   stewardship. Projects include a range of activities such as trail and
   park maintenance, habitat restoration, revitalization of abandoned urban
   properties or to urban agriculture. In addition, leaders will facilitate
   pre- and post- program planning which includes crew training,
   environmental education and reporting. Training is June 3-12 and program
   start date is June 20. To Apply: Please visit the www.thesca.org/employment
   for a detailed description including information on how to apply. For
   questions contact SCA Houston staff at SCAHouston@theSCA.org or call:
   (713) 520-1835.
4. The Environmental Health Service at
   Baylor College of Medicine seeks Project Intern.
   Vacancy#230799SV. Project Intern. The intern will assist the director
   and associate director of the Environmental Health Service with all
   aspects of work, with particular emphasis on implementing professional
   education and clinical service initiatives. Primary responsibilities
   include compiling Healthy Homes-related education materials and locating
   local Healthy Homes programs and services; updating the Service’s
   website; assisting the director and associate director in the
   preparation of presentations for various audiences; and in other ways
   supporting the goals of the EHS professional education and clinical
   service initiatives. The ideal candidate will have excellent
   organizational skills, strong computer and writing skills, and a
   demonstrated interest in environmental health. Hours are flexible,
   approximately 8-12 hours per week. Please submit your cover letter and
   resume to Dr. Rebecca Bruhl, Rebecca.J.Bruhl@bcm.edu.
   Applicants should also submit their information on https://www.medschooljobs.org
   (click on ”search postings”).
5. NEW! The Environmental Health Service
   at Baylor College of Medicine seeks Research Coordinator.
   Vacancy #230798SV. Research Coordinator I. The research coordinator will
   assist the Environmental Health Service with expanding its geospatial
   capabilities, developing fee-for-service resources, and supporting
   research and community outreach projects that utilize geospatial mapping
   and/or the secondary databases developed using geospatial methods. The
   successful candidate will have considerable experience with ESRI ArcGIS
   software, as well experience producing effective visual communications,
   managing data, and using basic biostatistical methods. Familiarity with
   Adobe Creative Suite and SAS is a plus, as is experience with Java or
   other programming languages. The candidate should also have good writing
   skills and a demonstrated interest in environmental health. Hours are
   flexible, 10-15 hours per week. Please submit your cover letter and
   resume to Dr. Rebecca Bruhl, Rebecca.J.Bruhl@bcm.edu.
   Applicants should also submit their information on https://www.medschooljobs.org
   (click on ”search postings”)
6. Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership seeks Watershed Director. The
   mission of the Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership is to “improve the
   quality of life in our communities by protecting, enhancing, and
   restoring the ecological integrity and natural benefits of the Armand
   Bayou watershed.” The Watershed Director is responsible for the overall
   administration and management of the Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership,
   including fundraising/grantwriting and business operations. Areas of
   responsibility include planning and evaluation, policy and program
   development and administration, personnel and fiscal management, and
   public relations. This is a full-time position, hired by and directly
   accountable to the Armand Bayou Watershed Council, communicating
   regularly with its elected Council chair. The Watershed Director
   implements policies approved by the Council, manages the organization’s
   programs and operations (including implementation of its Strategic
   Plan), and represents the organization in the community. Cover letter,
   resume, and written answers to the questions below should be submitted
   via e-mail to: linda.shead@sheadconservation.com. The questions are: 1.
   Based on the “Ability to create and foster teams to solve watershed
   problems,” how have you used this skill in the past, and what would you
   do differently in the future? 2. Tell about past experience with outside
   consultants and contractors.
7. Galveston Baykeeper seeks a Baykeeper/Wetland Watch
   Coordinator. Part time position. Galveston Baykeeper, a
   member of the global Waterkeeper Alliance, is a grassroots organization
   committed to preserving and protecting the health of Galveston Bay and
   its watershed for our children, our economy and our future, through
   advocacy and education, and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
   Galveston Baykeeper is particularly focused on wetlands, but all threats
   to the aquatic integrity of the Galveston Bay and bayou system are its
   concern. The Galveston Baykeeper speaks for the Bay, and is the public
   face of the Galveston Baykeeper organization. The Galveston Baykeeper
   keeps abreast of threats to the Bay, and works to mobilize citizens in
   defense of the Bay, through partnerships and direct action. The
   incumbent of this position will also manage the Wetland Watch program, a
   citizen-staffed effort to monitor and report unauthorized fill of
   wetlands in the lower Galveston Bay watershed. The GBK/WWC must have
   excellent people and organizational skills, as well as a real passion
   for our Gulf Coast habitat. Experience in water or natural resource
   areas required. Should have solid computer skills and grant writing
   experience. Send resume and cover letter to John Jacob, GBK Board Chair,
   jingleheimer53@gmail.com.
8. HARC seeks a GIS/Remote Sensing Research Associate.
   HARC is a non-profit research hub located in The Woodlands, TX dedicated
   to performing independent analysis for people and institutions seeking
   scientific answers in support of a sustainable future. HARC’s research
   focuses on clean air, clean water, and clean energy. We are seeking a
   person with an educational background and work experience in GIS,
   Geography, Environmental Science, Biology or related disciplines and
   skills in ArcGIS for Desktop, ArcGIS Server, and other ESRI products.
   Major duties will include creation of digital mapping products for use
   in reports, proposals, websites and presentations; design, creation and
   maintenance of interactive mapping applications for distribution via the
   internet; and quantitative and statistical analyses on geospatial
   datasets. For more information about the position and to upload a
   resume, please visit http://mitchell.harc.edu/.
9. Houston Endowment is seeking a Vice President For Programs.
   The Vice President for Programs works closely with the President to
   develop and implement foundation strategies. The Vice President manages
   the foundation’s day-to-day grantmaking activities in keeping with
   current policies and procedures and coordinates the work of the entire
   program staff to meet the highest standards. The Vice President develops
   and maintains strong relationships with peer foundations and community
   leaders and effectively articulates foundation goals and programs. The
   search for the ideal candidate will remain open until the position is
   filled. Qualified applicants should forward a cover letter and resume
   to: Deborah Bessire, Human Resources Manager, Houston Endowment Inc.,
   600 Travis Street, Suite 6400, Houston, TX 77002;
   dbessire@houstonendowment.org.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

CEC is sharing information during the session about what bills our member
groups and readers are tracking. More information is available at cechouston.org/category/texas-legislature/.

As of February 11, 2013, 680 bills have been filed by the Senate and 1651
bills have been filed by the House.

The following are bills (SB=Senate Bill, HB=House Bill, and HJR=House
Joint Resolution) which may be of interest to the region’s environmental
community and which have been filed in the past week. Links are available
at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Reports/General.aspx.

• SB 507: Relating to public and private facilities and infrastructure.
• SB 513: Relating to the regulation of saltwater pipelines by the Railroad Commission of Texas.
• SB 514: Relating to the installation, maintenance, operation, and relocation of saltwater pipeline facilities.
• SB 533: Relating to a review of cost savings to state agencies and institutions of higher education under energy savings performance contracts.
• SB 535: Relating to exemptions from the sales and use tax for certain energy-efficient products.
• SB 536: Relating to regulation of greenhouse gas emissions by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
• SB 552: Relating to an application filed with a county commissioners court to revise a subdivision plat; authorizing a fee.
• SB 565: Relating to the accommodation of pedestrians, bicyclists, persons with disabilities, children, senior citizens, users of public transportation, movers of commercial goods, and motorists on streets and highways.
• SB 567: Relating to rates for water service, to the transfer of functions relating to the economic regulation of water and sewer service from the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality to the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and to the duties of the Office of Public Utility Counsel regarding the economic regulation of water service.
• SB 572: Relating to the sale and purchase of shark fins or products derived from shark fins; creating an offense.
• SB 584: Relating to a volume-based exemption from reporting requirements for accidental discharges or spills from wastewater facilities.
• SB 585: Relating to the use of municipal hotel occupancy tax revenue to enhance and upgrade sports facilities in certain municipalities.
• SB 602: Relating to retail electric provider customer choice information.
• SB 603: Relating to the revocation and reinstatement of an end user number for purposes of purchasing dyed diesel fuel.
• SB 611: Relating to the irrigation powers and functions of certain water districts.
• SB 614: Relating to an electric utility surcharge to assist owners of certain historic structures with electric bill payments and to promote energy conservation and
  efficiency.
• SB 617: Relating to the regulation of energy efficiency professionals; providing penalties; authorizing a fee.
• SB 619: Relating to exclusion of land from certain water districts that fail to provide service to the land.
• SJR 31: Proposing a constitutional amendment limiting the uses of revenue from motor vehicle registration fees, taxes on motor fuels and lubricants, and certain revenue received from the federal government.
• HB 1189: Relating to interstate cooperation to address regional water issues.
• HB 1208: Relating to liability for interest if land appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as agricultural or open-space land is sold or diverted to a different use.
• HB 1214: Relating to the irrigation powers and functions of certain water districts.
• HB 1235: Relating to the operation of certain swimming pools by certain populous municipalities.
• HB 1241: Relating to the adoption of rules by the Parks and Wildlife Commission to protect the public water of this state.
• HB 1250: Relating to the initial use of certain properties acquired for a public use.
• HB 1274: Relating to the authority of certain transportation authorities to create a local government corporation.
• HB 1288: Relating to a credit or refund for diesel fuel taxes paid on diesel fuel used in this state by auxiliary power units or power take-off equipment.
• HB 1289: Relating to the exclusion of certain transportation services costs in determining total revenue for purposes of the franchise tax.
• HB 1290: Relating to the authority for local governments to jointly administer transportation reinvestment zones.
• HB 1293: Relating to the authority of a county to regulate the connection of electric service in the unincorporated area of the county.
• HB 1306: Relating to the eligibility of land for appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land.
• HB 1307: Relating to rates for water service, to the transfer of functions relating to the economic regulation of water and sewer service from the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality to the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and to the duties of the Office of Public Utility Counsel regarding the economic regulation of water service.
• HB 1309: Relating to authorizing a credit representing motor fuels taxes against, and imposing, a mileage tax and to the use of revenue from that tax; providing penalties.
• HB 1315: Relating to annual reports regarding federal funding for state agencies.
• HB 1317: Relating to directing certain surplus revenue to water infrastructure funding.
• HB 1325: Relating to the dismissal of certain actions arising from exposure to asbestos and silica.
• HB 1336: Relating to funding for state and county roads affected in areas of increased energy production.
• HB 1339: Relating to the authority of certain water districts to hold meetings by teleconference or videoconference.
• HB 1345: Relating to the authority of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District to regulate certain water wells.
• HB 1346: Relating to the collection and recycling of computer and television equipment by certain retailers; providing for the imposition of administrative penalties.
• HB 1362: Relating to implementation of a pilot program under the loanstar revolving loan program to promote the use of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technology by certain nonprofit organizations.
• HB 1363: Relating to certain required reports and other documents prepared by state agencies and institutions of higher education.
• HB 1377: Relating to the ownership and local regulation of trees and timber.
• HB 1382: Relating to the regulation of food prepared, stored, distributed, or sold at farms and farmers’ markets; limiting the applicability of a fee.
• HB 1414: Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to provide sewer service to areas within the municipal boundaries without obtaining a certificate of public
  convenience and necessity.

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UPCOMING EVENTS If you attend one of these events, please let them know you heard about it here! Visit the full calendar at cechouston.org.

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ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION This weekly update is brought
to you by the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, established as a 501(c)3 in
1971. CEC is a coalition of over 100 environmental organizations dedicated
to fostering dialogue, education, and collaboration on environmental issues
in the Houston / Gulf Coast region. Visit the CEC on line at cechouston.org.
Do you know of something great going on? News? Events? Accomplishments?
Jobs? Let us know! Send submittals to news@cechouston.org.
If possible, send information by Friday for inclusion the following Tuesday.
We especially like short paragraphs, catchy titles, third person, and links
to more information, but we will work with whatever you send us. Calendar
items can be submitted up to two years in advance. We are always looking for
volunteers to help keep our calendar up to date.

CEC and other leading environmental organizations participate in payroll
contribution plans at many Texas workplaces through Earth Share of Texas.
Find out how you can support CEC at 800-GREENTX or www.earthshare-texas.org.

CEC agencies receive donations when you choose Green Bank. Visit www.greenbank.com for more information about the program.

Shawn McFarland, Interim Executive Director
Rachel Powers, Volunteer Managing Editor
Page Slocum, Newsletter Editor
Rachel Tardiff, Calendar Editor

(713) 524-4232
news@cechouston.org