Texas Environmental Update
July 1, 2009
TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY - NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
NetDMR: Online Reporting of Discharge Monitoring Data
TCEQ Web Site
"NetDMR is a Web-based tool that allows you as a Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permittee to electronically sign and submit your water quality discharge-monitoring reports (DMRs) to the TCEQ."
TCEQ Increases High and Significant-Hazard Dam Inspections
TCEQ Web site, June 22, 2009
"The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality today announced that due to increased funding from the state legislature and recent rules modifications, considerable progress is being made towards inspecting all of the state's 1,735 high and significant-hazard dams."
TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY - AGENDAS AND WORK SESSIONS
Commissioners' July 8, 2009 Meeting Agenda
(Adobe Acrobat Required)
TCEQ Web Site
Commissioners' June 26, 2009 Agenda Meeting Webcast
(Real Player Required)
TexasAdmin.com
TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY - NEWS REPORTS
Air
High Ozone Levels Could Slow Austin Economic Growth
The Daily Texan, June 24, 2009
"Austin’s air quality could soon become a roadblock for the city’s economic growth."
Study: Plant Not Ozone Threat
Corpus Christi Caller-Times, June 24, 2009
"CORPUS CHRISTI - The proposed Las Brisas Energy Center would not affect ozone levels near regulatory air monitors, according to a study by University of Texas researchers."
Air Monitor Almost Ready
Corsicana Daily Sun, June 20, 2009
"Navarro County’s new air monitor should be ready up and working by the end of the month - or sooner, according to a spokeswoman with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality."
BP Agrees to Review Pollution
Houston Chronicle, June 29, 2009
"AUSTIN - BP Products North America Inc. agreed Monday to a court order forcing the petrochemical giant to end what state officials said are illegal pollution emissions at its Texas City refinery."
Enforcement Funds Pay Off, Research Finds
Houston Chronicle, June 27, 2009
"Researchers followed the money to better understand the effectiveness of states’ efforts to clean the air."
State Issues $650,000 Fine Against BP
Galveston County Daily News, June 27, 2009
"TEXAS CITY — The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Friday fined BP’s Texas City operations $650,000 for what the state said was improper disposal of waste product."
TCEQ Approves Fines Totaling $1,800,370
TCEQ Web Site, June 26, 2009
"The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality today approved penalties totaling $1,800,370 against 123 regulated entities for violations of state environmental regulations."
What's New in TCEQ Rules
TCEQ Web Site, June 19, 2009
Waste
Asarco Cleanup: Impartial Trustee a Must
El Paso Times, June 29, 2009
"Already there seems to be a mess amid the Asarco cleanup mess."
Critics: Burial Site for Hudson PCBs Is Inadequate
Houston Chronicle, June 21, 2009
"LUBBOCK, Texas - Later this month, the first trainloads of PCB-tainted sludge dredged from the Hudson River will arrive and, in the eyes of critics, will turn a stretch of West Texas into New York's 'pay toilet.'"
TCEQ Searches for New Water Source for County Road Residents
MyWestTexas.com, June 30, 2009
"Though citizens who live near West County Road 112 and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality officials haven’t agreed on every procedure being used to investigate hexavalent chromium found in the area, they concurred at a meeting Tuesday on one key point: Residents need a new water source."
New Power-Plant Drain on Rivers Sparks Debate
San Antonio Express-News, June 21, 2009
"New power plants planned along the lower Colorado River could use the same water supply that was denied San Antonio for future growth."
TCEQ Monitoring Rapidly Declining Water Flows
TCEQ Web Site, June 18, 2009
"The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is monitoring an extensive and prolonged drought in the South Texas area."
CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Chemical Release Reporting
(Adobe Acrobat Required)
74 Federal Register 30259, June 25, 2009
Candidate for Regional EPA Post Faces Opposition
Dallas Morning News, June 30, 2009
"A former Texas official turned industry lobbyist faces opposition in his bid to become President Barack Obama's top environmental appointee in Texas and four adjacent states."
EPA Grants California GHG Waiver
EPA Web Site, June 30, 2009
"WASHINGTON – EPA is granting California’s waiver request enabling the state to enforce its greenhouse gas emissions standards for new motor vehicles, beginning with the current model year."
EPA Gives California Emissions Waiver
Los Angeles Times, June 30, 2009
"Reporting from Washington -- The Environmental Protection Agency will announce today that it is granting California's request to impose tough restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks -- reversing the Bush administration's position and opening the way for the state to take the lead on global-warming policy."
Proposed Settlement Agreement (Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers v. EPA)
(Adobe Acrobat Required)
74 Federal Register 31273, June 30, 2009
EPA Proposes Stronger Air Quality Standards for Nitrogen Dioxide
EPA Web Site, June 29, 2009
"WASHINGTON – For the first time in more than 35 years, EPA has proposed to strengthen the nation’s nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air quality standard that protects public health."
Final Rule: Reorganization and Name Change for the Office of Solid Waste (OSW) Within the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
(Adobe Acrobat Required)
74 Federal Register 30228, June 25, 2009
EPA Releases Third National Assessment of Toxic Air Pollutants
EPA Web Site, June 24, 2009
"WASHINGTON – EPA has released the latest version of a state-of-the-science tool that estimates health risks from breathing air toxics in the United States."
EPA Echoes Activists in Challenging Texas' Air Pollution Permits, Practices, Commission
Dallas Morning News, June 24, 2009
"Groups attacking Texas' environmental policies have gained an important ally: the Obama administration."
Final Rule: Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Modifications to Renewable Fuel Standard Program Requirements
(Adobe Acrobat Required)
74 Federal Register 29948, June 24, 2009
Final Rule: Oil Pollution Prevention; Non-Transportation Related Onshore and Offshore Facilities
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74 Federal Register 29136, June 19, 2009
Draft Risk and Exposure Assessment Report for Review of the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen and Oxides of Sulfur
(Adobe Acrobat Required)
74 Federal Register 28698, June 17, 2009
Proposed Rule: Restructuring of the Stationary Source Audit Program
(Adobe Acrobat Required)
74 Federal Register 28451, June 16, 2009
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE
Proposed Rule: Safety and Environmental Management Systems for Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Operations
(Adobe Acrobat Required)
74 Federal Register 28639, June 17, 2009
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Austin Oil Co. Given Green Light to Sue Texas Railroad Commission
Austin Business Journal, June 23, 2009
"Gov. Rick Perry has signed a bill that paves the way for Austin-based Gulf Energy Exploration Corp. to sue the Texas Railroad Commission over the plugging of one of its offshore gas wells."
Owner of Disposal Well Near Aledo Won't Face Hearing for Leak
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, June 22, 2009
"The owner of a saltwater disposal well near Aledo that leaked last fall won’t face a penalty hearing, according to a Texas Railroad Commission ruling."
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OTHER TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
Austin's Green Groups Roll Out Agenda
Austin American-Statesman, June 29, 2009
"Fresh off an election in which their preferred candidates swept the City Council races, Austin's environmental-activist groups are calling for a far-reaching 'green' agenda to be adopted at City Hall."
Winners and Losers Emerge in Climate Bill
Houston Chronicle, June 27, 2009
"NEW YORK - In addition to raising energy prices, the climate legislation that's winding through Congress would create a parallel financial system with a carbon-based currency."
House Amends Bill to Give Free Pollution Credits to New Texas Coal Plants
Dallas Morning News, June 26, 2009
"WASHINGTON – House Democrats amended climate-change legislation this week to shield Dallas-based Luminant from what could have been $500 million in costs related to controlling pollution from new coal-fired power plants, according to lawmakers and environmental groups."
Obama Says Texas Will Win in His Energy Plan
Houston Chronicle, June 24, 2009
"WASHINGTON - Texas stands to gain far more than it loses if Congress approves his energy and climate-change proposals, President Barack Obama said Wednesday."
Climate Change Issues Debated
Houston Chronicle, June 20, 2009
"WASHINGTON - For years, timber consultant Jim Dawson has been working with commercial foresters and farmers in East Texas, encouraging them to plant new pine and other hardwoods - and turn those trees into cash."
Refiners Under Fire for Not Reporting Incidents
Galveston County Daily News, June 18, 2009
"TEXAS CITY - Power outages at two Texas City refineries late Tuesday afternoon set off a series of extended flare burns."
Editorial: Latest U.S. Global-Warming Study Predicts Sweltering Future
Houston Chronicle, June 17, 2009
"As southeast Texans swelter under what local National Weather Service forecasters label a 'death ridge,' the latest federal report on climate change indicates the abnormally high temperatures, oppressive humidity and dearth of rain may offer a taste of typical Houston summers to come."
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ECHA Publishes New Concise Guidance
(Adobe Acrobat Required)
European Chemicals Agency Web Site, June 24, 2009
"The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has launched a new series of shortened versions of the REACH Guidance Documents and Fact Sheet on the inclusion of substances in the List of Substances Subject to Authorisation."
EPA Analysis of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 H.R. 2454 in the 111th Congress (Appendix)
(Adobe Acrobat Required)
EPA Web Site, June 23, 2009
"To facilitate Congressional consideration of the legislation, we are requesting additional technical assistance and modeling results from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)."
Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States
(Adobe Acrobat Required)
U.S. Global Change Research Program Web Site, June 16, 2009
"This report summarizes the science of climate change and the impacts of climate change on the United States, now and in the future."