The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality consider the following agenda items at the agenda meeting scheduled for Wednesday, August 11, 2021, which can be viewed virtually starting at 9:30 AM. The Commission will review petitions for enforcement actions, permit considerations, and adoption of total maximum daily loads; as well as Agreed and Default Orders on issues regarding,  municipal solid waste, water discharge, petroleum storage tanks, water quality, and air quality (among others). Public comments on any matters within the jurisdiction of the TCEQ will also be allowed. Registration for public comments at the agenda meeting will conclude at 9:30AM and will require participants to join the meeting through webinar with the ID 452-604-643.

Item 2: Consideration of application by NRG Texas Power LLC for renewal an air quality permit to authorize the continued operation of an existing permitted, pulverized coal-fired steam boiler and appurtenant equipment located in Fort Bend County which operate to provide electricity to the grid.

Item 4: Consideration of adoption of Two Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for indicator bacteria in the Caney Creek Watershed, of the Brazos-Colorado Coastal Basin, in Brazoria, Matagorda,and Wharton Counties.

Item 9: Consideration of an Agreed Order assessing administrative penalties, for air quality violations, and requiring certain actions of Equistar Chemicals, LP in Harris County.

Item 11: Consideration of an Agreed Order assessing administrative penalties, for air quality violations, and requiring certain actions of Stolthaven Houston, Inc. in Harris County.

Item 13: Consideration of an Agreed Order assessing administrative penalties, for air quality violations, and requiring certain actions of Project Storm, LLC in Galveston County.

Item 14: Consideration of an Agreed Order assessing administrative penalties, for water quality violations, and requiring certain actions of GB Biosciences LLC in Harris County.

Item 20: Consideration of an Agreed Order assessing administrative penalties, for water quality violations, and requiring certain actions of Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 221 in Harris County.

Item 25: Consideration of an Agreed Order assessing administrative penalties, for petroleum storage tank violations, and requiring certain actions of Homeland Enterprises, Inc. in Montgomery County.

The Office of the Chief Clerk for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will host a public hearing on Thursday, August 12, 2021 on TPC Group LLC’s proposed amendments of State Air Quality Standard Permits, Issuance of PSD Air Quality Permits, Nonattainment Permits, and GHG PSD Air Quality Permits to authorize modifications of plant in Harris County. The public will be allowed to either participate in, or observe, the hearing virtually. The hearing will begin at 7:00 PM.

The Office of the Chief Clerk for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will host a public hearing on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 on Max Midstream Texas LLC’s proposed air quality permit authorizing construction of the Seahawk Crude Condensate Terminal in Dallas County. The public will be allowed to either participate in, or observe, the hearing virtually. The hearing will begin at 7:00 PM.

The Office of the Chief Clerk for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will host a public hearing on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 on Five Star Concrete, Inc.’s proposed Air Quality Standard Permit for a permanent concrete batch plant with enhanced controls in Hutto, Williamson County, Texas. The public will be allowed to either participate in, or observe, the hearing at Hampton Inn & Suites, 327 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, TX 78634. The hearing will begin at 6:00 PM.

The Office of the Chief Clerk for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will host a public hearing on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 on CRM On-Site, LLC’s proposed Air Quality Standard Permit for a permanent concrete batch plant with enhanced controls in Winnie, Chambers County. The public will be allowed to either participate in, or observe virtually. The hearing will begin at 6:00 PM.

Experience forest bathing, led by a certified guide, followed by practice of the Christian spiritual discipline of the Earth Examen.  Forest bathing, a practice that originated in Japan, involves taking in, in all of one’s senses, the forest atmosphere. Not simply a walk in the woods, it is the conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest.  Forest bathing has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood and focus, enhance creativity, and lead to an increased sense of calm and altruistic behavior, in addition to other benefits such as boosting the immune system and lowering blood pressure.  As Christians, we understand that God is present in God’s creation, and after our guided forest bath, we’ll spend some time considering the Earth Examen as we reflect both on our time spent forest bathing and on our relationship with all creation.  This activity is for a small group and space is limited.  Please register at www.eventbrite.com at:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forest-bathing-earth-examen-tickets-291848535827. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.

Calling people of all faiths or no faith at all in Houston to care for our shared environment in observance of Earth Day/Month!  We will engage in hands-on environmental stewardship at the Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve. This event will offer activities for all ages and skill. Meet at the Swartz Gazebo in the park to sign in. Metro bus line 7 stops nearby, and line 49 is not far.  Tools/supplies will be provided. This event is organized by Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston, in partnership with the Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy.  The conservancy requires signing of a waiver to participate. Please register for planning purposes on www.eventbrite.com at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-2022-interfaith-environmental-stewardship-event-tickets-273115956177.  Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com for more information.

The air quality in Harris County is influenced by multiple sources of pollution, including extensive road traffic, concrete batch plants, proximity to the largest petrochemical industrial complex in the United States, and port activities in the Houston Ship Channel. It is also important to note that environmental risks are not always uniformly distributed in urban areas like Houston, Harris County, and individuals classified with low socioeconomic status (SES) can become overburdened by environmental exposures. One pollutant of interest is particulate matter, specifically particulate matter of size 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5). PM2.5 is of particular interest because these fine particles pose the greatest risk to human health due to their small size and ability to reach multiple organs. There are long-term and short-term impacts of PM2.5 pollution on the human respiratory and cardiovascular organ systems. These short and long-term impacts may have contributed to poor outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19). The COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted us all. An important public health objective is to identify key modifiable environmental factors that may contribute to the severity of the health outcomes related to this disease. Join Rachel White, MPH, PhD (c), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, as she takes a deep dive into this topic and discusses how pollution may impact our understanding of respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19.  Time for interactive discussion with the speaker will be provided.  Please register for this talk on www.eventbrite.com at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/is-there-an-association-between-air-pollution-and-covid-19-mortality-tickets-330848455637. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.

Experience forest bathing, led by a certified guide, followed by practice of the Christian spiritual discipline of the Earth Examen.  Forest bathing, a practice that originated in Japan, involves taking in, in all of one’s senses, the forest atmosphere. Not simply a walk in the woods, it is the conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest.  Forest bathing has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood and focus, enhance creativity, and lead to an increased sense of calm and altruistic behavior, in addition to other benefits such as boosting the immune system and lowering blood pressure.  As Christians, we understand that God is present in God’s creation, and after our guided forest bath, we’ll spend some time considering the Earth Examen as we reflect both on our time spent forest bathing and on our relationship with all creation.  This activity is for a small group and space is limited.  Please register at www.eventbrite.com. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.