Calendar
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.
Impact Hub houston envisions a more prosperous, inclusive, climate-resilient economy, where finance flows to green projects and activities, and where motivated people are empowered with the skills and capacity they need to take action.
This progress can only be achieved through systemic change – change that includes innovation across business, investment, regulation, governance structures, values and mindsets. They invite you to join Climathon Houston to see the most promising ideas that emerge around Houston’s challenges, including:
Energy Transition: developing innovative ways to …
- Shift from extractive to regenerative energy production, capture and distribution technologies.
- Restore, protect, and enhance Houston’s natural ability to capture and store carbon.
Materials Management: developing innovative ways to …
- Reduce waste production and/or Optimize waste operations.
- Reuse or Upcycle materials into useful products, to lengthen their lifespan and keep materials out of streets and landfills.
- Recycle materials into efficient energy or new raw materials for manufacturing and production.
Building Optimization: developing innovative ways to …
- Reduce building energy use and maximize savings.
- Increase the healthfulness and utility of existing buildings for sustainable community use.
Regional Resilience: developing innovative ways to …
- Address clean water, access, retention and flooding issues
- Engage more people in building better habits that promote cleaner, greener communities
- Accelerate clean urban mobility
ABOUT AMERICA RECYCLES DAY
It is the only nationally-recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States! Held on and around November 15, America Recycles Day educates and encourages individuals on how to be more mindful of what they consume, where and how to properly recycle, and to pledge to recycle more and recycle right in their everyday lives.
Focusing on individual action, the day highlights the actions we can all take to collectively address the challenges facing our nation’s recycling system. Through ARD, Keep America Beautiful and its partners inspire communities and individuals to recognize the economic, environmental, and social benefits of recycling. Keep America Beautiful urges people to pledge to reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle in every aspect of their life. The #BeRecycled pledge is a promise to actively choose to live a recycled lifestyle by:
- Recycling at home, work, school and on the go;
- Buying products made with recycled content; and
- Educating and encouraging friends, family, and neighbors to take the #BeRecycled pledge
Aside from the #BeRecycled Pledge, people can be part of the recycling solution by participating or hosting their own America Recycles Day event. Events can be scheduled at any time during the fall leading into the official America Recycles Day celebration, Nov. 15. Keep America Beautiful encourages all participants and event organizers to follow state and local health guidelines pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parks and Natural Areas Awards
H-GAC established the Parks and Natural Areas awards program in 2006 to highlight best practices and innovative approaches to parks planning and implementation. H-GAC honors projects in the categories of Projects Over $500,000, Projects Under $500,000, Planning Process and Policy Tools, and Programming.
This program recognizes outstanding parks and natural areas around the region. No funding is associated with this award program.
Conservation Grants
Conservation Grants can be awarded to projects anywhere in Texas. In its first 25 years the Birding Classic has donated $1,071,000 in conservation funding to nature tourism and avian habitat restoration, enhancement, and acquisition projects throughout the state!
Number of grants awarded (and their amounts) are determined based on team registration fees (independent and sponsored) and corporate sponsorship dollars collected each year. The Birding Classic is a cost-recovery event, so once minimal event costs are covered all remaining funds go to conservation grants in Texas. Organizations are not required to register a team in the Birding Classic to be eligible to submit a project proposal.
All approved projects submitted by the May 1st deadline will be provided to winning Birding Classic teams to select which projects are funded by Conservation Grants.