ENVIRONMENTAL HEADLINES, JULY 1 – 7
TEXAS PARKS FALL ON HARD TIMES
Houston Chronicle 7/3/06
GALVESTON – State parks across Texas are in disrepair, with problems ranging from no restrooms or camping at Choke Canyon State Park’s Calliham Unit because the water isn’t fit to drink to park vehicles falling apart.
DEEP INTO PRESERVATION
Houston Chronicle 7/2/06
Groups take charge in restoring state’s neglected underground ecosystem
CANADA, MEXICO, US AGREE TO PROTECT BUTTERFLIES
Reuters 7/5/06
WASHINGTON – Wildlife officials in Mexico, the United States, and Canada have agreed to work together to protect the Monarch butterfly, which makes a spectacular migration every year from Canada to Mexico.
EXXON MOBIL SEEKS ANSWERS TO EXPLOSION, FIRE
Baytown Sun 7/4/06
Exxon Mobil’s investigation of the explosion and fire at the company’s chemical plant Sunday could take between days and weeks, said spokeswoman Jeanne Miller.
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP CITES THREE BAYTOWN PLANTS
Baytown Sun 7/2/06
At least one Baytown area petrochemical plant – and perhaps two others – has violated a new emissions standard since it went into effect in April.
GASOLINE PRICES ROSE 7 CENTS IN LAST WEEK
Houston Chronicle 7/3/06
WASHINGTON – US retail gasoline prices rose nearly 7 cents over the last week to average $2.93 a gallon, the government said today.
INFLATED PRICING? NOT SO FAST
Houston Chronicle 7/5/06
Some energy industry critics will say last week’s charges that BP manipulated the propane market are proof positive that oil and natural gas prices are also artificially inflated.
JACKSON SLAMS BP ON PRICES, SAFETY
ON THE ROAD AGAIN, WHERE BIODIESEL IS A RISING STAR
New York Times 7/5/06
Willie Nelson and his wife, Annie, are proponents of biodiesel and have invested in two production facilities for the alternative fuel.
FORD DROPS FOCUS ON HYBRIDS, SHIFTS TO BIOFUELS
STARTING A NEW LIFE BY PARKING THE CAR
Houston Chronicle 6/30/06
TYLER – Bob Hepler’s head hurt. He found the cure in his feet.
DELL TO OFFER RECYCLING OF ITS PRODUCTS FOR FREE
Houston Chronicle 6/28/06
DALLAS – Consumers wanting to ditch old printers, personal computers or other electronics gear made by Dell will soon be able to recycle them for free, chair Michael Dell announced Wednesday.
SUGAR LAND PD’S ‘STEALTH’ CAR IS NOW ON THE ROAD
Fort Bend Herald and Coaster 7/5/06
The city of Sugar Land has begun using a “stealth” police car to catch traffic violators.
IN A TOWN SWEPT BY STORM, A WOUND BEFORE HEALING
New York Times 7/4/06
Hurricane Rita stripped Orange, Tex., bare of thousands of trees. “The exterior of everything is so different,” a school administrator said.
SUV DRIVERS MORE LIKELY TO TAKE RISKS
Galveston County Daily News 7/5/06
Apparently those huge sport utility vehicles do more than transport soccer moms to the grocery store. They may also empower their drivers with something known as “risk compensation.”