Neglected and exposed: Toxic air lingers in a Texas Latino community, revealing failures in stateโs air monitoring system
Public data from a network of state air monitors around the Houston Ship Channel is hard to interpret and is often inadequate, leaving Latino-majority neighborhoods like Cloverleaf unaware of whether the air they breathe is safe.
Harris County officials to take legal action after TCEQ approves permit for concrete-crushing plant near LBJ Hospital
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee announced that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approved a permit for a concrete crushing facility to be built near LBJ Hospital. The action has prompted legal action from county officials.
Federal court overturns Texas agencyโs pollution permit for Gulf Coast natural gas export terminal
Judges overturned a state air pollution permit that was issued last year, arguing that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality illegally enabled Port Arthur LNG to avoid emissions control requirements.
TCEQ monitoring air quality following fire at chemical plant in San Jacinto County: What we know so far
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is monitoring the air quality following a massive fire at the Sound Resource Solutions plant that prompted evacuations and a shelter-in-place in San Jacinto County Wednesday.
Texas quietly moves to formalize acceptable cancer risk from industrial air pollution. Public health officials say itโs not strict enough.
Without public hearings, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is proposing to adopt its 17-year-old standard that scientists and public health officials say fails to account for cumulative air pollution.
The โ1-mile ruleโ: Texasโ unwritten, arbitrary policy protects big polluters from citizen complaints
Itโs not found anywhere in state law or the Texas Commission on Environmental Qualityโs rules, but for years the agency has denied citizens the ability to challenge air pollution permits because they live more than a mile away.
EPA will decide if the state is doing enough to reduce pollution in two East Texas counties
The federal agency has settled a lawsuit the Sierra Club brought over pollution from a coal-burning power plant. The agreement requires the EPA to weigh in on the stateโs plan to improve air quality in Rusk and Panola counties.
Texas House moves to crack down on polluters with stricter penalties and heavier oversight
The bill would require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to focus enforcement and increase penalties on repeat violators and increase public outreach. Still, environmental advocates say the effort was too โmodestโ in its reach.
At a heated public hearing, residents urge state agency to reject permit for chemical facility that burned in 2019
In Deer Park near Houston, memories of the massive ITC fire are still fresh. Residents told state environmental regulators they should reject the companyโs permit renewal, but officials said the fire wonโt be part of the decision.
Toxic benzene lingered for weeks after shelter-in-place warnings ended following 2019 Houston-area chemical fire
The Texas Tribune analyzed previously unreported air monitoring data and records from the 2019 ITC chemical disaster near Houston and found that high benzene levels lingered in the air for two weeks after public health measures were lifted. Experts say more shelter-in-place advisories should have been issued.
Senatorโs bill would fine Texans for multiple environmental complaints that donโt lead to enforcement
The bill would impose fines when residents make more than three complaints to the state environmental agency in a year if they donโt result in enforcement action. Critics warn the bill would discourage people from reporting pollution.
Environmental group says Texas fails to hold repeat polluters accountable for unexpected emissions
A new report found that companies in Texas have had 21,000 unexpected pollution releases that emitted 400,000 tons of air pollution over six years, but only 1% of them prompted action by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Crews began cleanup process after crude oil spill in Dayton community; Residents say theyโre concerned about their health
In less than 24 hours, residents in a small community in Liberty County say their voices are finally being heard after a crude oil spill damaged their properties, well water supply and killed their livestock.
Environmental advocates push feds to investigate Texasโ enforcement of water quality
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to investigate allegations that the state is failing to enforce the Clean Water Act. Environmentalists say the Texas Commission on Environmental Qualityโs system of issuing permits has made it too easy for industries to contaminate rivers, lakes and estuaries.
Texas environmentalists push the EPA to crack down on methane emissions, saying state agencies have โfailed usโ
Commenting on the EPAโs proposed new rule to reduce methane leaks nationally, environmentalists said Texas regulators are hesitant to address emissions of the climate super-pollutant.
Governor Abbott sends immediate resources to Houston as city remains under boil water notice
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to send all necessary resources to the city of Houston after a boil water notice was issued following a power outage that impacted three water treatment plants.
Texans affected by pollution from concrete plants push state agency to tighten regulations
As the stateโs environmental agency weighs new pollution limits on the plants, several lawmakers have filed bills that would put new restrictions on the facilities, which spew pollutants into mostly low-income neighborhoods.
Houston ISD acts to remove lead from school drinking water
During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, Environment Texas Research and Policy Center, the Coalition of Community Organizations and Houston Independent School District (HISD) will hold a news conference Wednesday to highlight actions the school district is taking to prevent schoolchildren from drinking water with lead in it.
After cancer-causing chemicals were found in Fifth Ward soil, Houston mayor says cleanup plans are inadequate
The cityโs health department found dioxins in soil samples along the fence line of a Union Pacific rail yard. Mayor Sylvester Turner said during the 2022 Texas Tribune Festival that plans to clean up the contamination should now include relocating residents.
Negotiations begin on cleanup plans for Union Pacific contamination impacting 5th Ward, Kashmere Gardens
The City of Houston, Harris County, and nonprofit Bayou City Initiative have started negotiations with Union Pacific related to its remediation plan for the creosote contamination at the Houston Wood Preserving Works Site (HWPW) impacting the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods.
EPA launches investigation into Texas environment agencyโs permitting process for concrete batch plants
The federal agency launched the inquiry after complaints from the Harris County Attorney and Lone Star Legal Aid about how the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issues permits to plants that predominantly impact communities of color.
EPA to launch investigation into permitting process for concrete batch plans in Harris County
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and other local leaders will address the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)โs recent announcement that it will investigate the Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TCEQ)โs concrete batch permitting criteria and processes under federal civil rights laws.
Houston-area authorities discuss โnext stepsโ for Kashmere Gardens, Fifth Ward environmental justice efforts
Houston and Harris County will be joined by environmental experts and Kashmere Gardens - Fifth Ward residents to announce the next step in seeking justice for families living in near the cancer cluster.
Harris County Attorney files lawsuit against TCEQ challenging pending changes to air quality standards for concrete batch plants
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of Harris County against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The lawsuit challenges an amendment to the commissionโs air quality standard permit for concrete batch plants.
Over a million Texans are still without drinking water. Smaller communities and apartments are facing the biggest challenges.
Since a peak of about 14.9 million Texans faced water disruptions on Friday, the stateโs water situation has steadily improved. โThey told us to fill the bathtubs because they were going to cut the water,โ Tribble said via phone on Tuesday. Another message from the building later informed them that some of the buildingโs pipes had burst. You just have a lot more to go through.โBrad Casebier, owner of Austin-based Radiant Plumbing, echoed the complexity of apartment buildings. Jack Considine carries a bucket of water collected from an out-of-use pool back to his Austin apartment on Wednesday.
Over 14 million Texans still donโt have safe drinking water in their homes
HOUSTON โ More than 14 million Texans still do not have safe drinking water in their homes after a powerful winter storm burst pipes and knocked out power across the state this week. Toby Baker, executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, said the number of the stateโs 7,000 public water systems affected by the winter storm has increased from Friday to 1,445, but the population affected by those water systems has dropped slightly to 14.3 million. He said about 156,000 homes have no water service at all, which is down from 352,000 reported Friday. Kidd said the state has also ordered 250,000 meals-ready-to-eat to be distributed with another 5 million meals on the way. Kidd said Texans can also help the state complete its damage assessment faster by completing an online form to report damage that their property has sustained.
LIVE BLOG: Houston-area restaurants answer the call for help amid power and water outage
We remain in the midst of a severe winter weather event. 4: 40 a.m. - Houstonians rush to buy water after boil water advisory issuedHoustonians are rushing to buy water after a boil water advisory was issued. โ County Judge KP George (@JudgeKPGeorge) February 17, 20214:20 a.m. - Houston, Harris County face issues from winter weather alertHouston and Harris County are facing issues from winter weather alerts. AdMondayDowntown Houston lit up during major winter power outageDowntown Houston lit up during major power outage due to winter storm on Feb 15, 2021. Officials said if residents lose power, which sporadic power outage is expected, the safest places to remain is at home.
LIST: Houston, Katy, other cities lift water boil notice
Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice. Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice. Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice. Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice. AdOnce the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Tomball issues boil water notice due to reduced distribution system pressure
TOMBALL, Texas โ The city of Tomball has issued a boil water notice due to reduced distribution system pressure early Tuesday morning, according to Tomball Police Department. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is requiring residents to boil their water prior to consumption, such as washing hands, face brushing their teeth and drinking. TCEQ is advising residents to bring water to a vigorous boil and then boil for two minutes. This boil water notice is in effect until further notice. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, Tomball officials said they will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Texas prepares to test for lead in schoolsโ drinking water for the first time
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas TribuneTexas will soon begin a program to test drinking water in thousands of elementary schools and child care facilities across the state following an update to federal standards on lead and copper exposure. Now, the agency will be responsible for overseeing a plan to test tens of thousands of water systems that serve children throughout the state over the next three years. Lead usually enters drinking water through lead-based pipes or plumbing โ which were used for decades before being banned in the 1980s. Itโs a very complicated issue to address.โAfter the Flint water crisis gained national attention, at least 17 Texas school districts proactively tested drinking water for lead, according to data compiled by Environment Texas, an Austin-based nonprofit. Even among schools that voluntarily tested and corrected significant sources of lead exposure, many still have some level of lead in the water, said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas.
Texas legislators eye tougher rules on chemical tanks to prevent explosions, spills during storms
Texas lawmakers are pushing to require new standards on above-ground chemical storage tanks during the upcoming legislative session. These are the incidents that some Texas lawmakers have in mind as they push to require new standards on above-ground chemical storage tanks during the upcoming legislative session. And during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, flooding caused the explosions at Arkemaโs chemical power plant and damaged storage tanks that leaked thousands of gallons of gasoline. Above-ground storage tanks are exempt from the rules. API did not respond to questions about whether its members would be open to new state regulations for above-ground tanks in Texas.
Environmental groups allege Texas rubber-stamped industrial plants' pollution โ and that the EPA looked the other way
A group of Texas environmental groups say the federal Environmental Protection Agency looked the other way when Texas didnโt require tough-enough rules on air pollution for several refineries, gas plants and chemical plants. The Environmental Integrity Project, along with other Texas environmental groups, filed a lawsuit against EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler on Monday after he did not respond to a petition by the groups to correct what they say is a violation of federal law in Texas. Environmental groups are concerned about eight air pollution permits issued to facilities in Texas including, for example, a Phillips 66 refinery in north Texas. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issues permits for air pollution from equipment at large industrial facilities, such as refineries and chemical plants, that should adhere to the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Integrity Project filed a similar suit over Texas permits in 2017 โ Clark-Leach said the problem is โpervasiveโ throughout Texas.
Texas rolls out mobile pollution monitoring capabilities following failures during Hurricane Harvey
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas TribuneHOUSTON โ Texas officials on Tuesday said the stateโs environmental agency has added greater capacity to quickly monitor pollution across the state during storms and other disaster events, such as chemical fires. Toby Baker, the executive director of the TCEQ, said the agencyโs effort to add mobile air monitoring capacity was in motion before the EPA OIG report, but acknowledged that Hurricane Harvey was a turning point for environmental regulators. โWe learned some lessons with Hurricane Harvey,โ Baker said. Tuesdayโs announcement was held in Houstonโs Manchester neighborhood at Hartman Park, next to Valeroโs Houston Refinery, where a storage tank notoriously collapsed during Hurricane Harvey โ one of the unmonitored pollution events during the storm. The extent of the emissions released by chemical plants, refineries and other industrial operators along the Gulf Coast during and after Hurricane Harvey is unknown due to the lag in air monitoring, according to the EPA report.
Residents say concrete plant causing pollution, health problems in north Harris County neighborhood
HOUSTON โ Residents in a north Harris County neighborhood are renewing their efforts to shut down a concrete batch plant they say is causing pollution and health problems. Residents said aside from the air pollution, they suffer from noise pollution from the plant operations and trucks at all hours of the night. In a statement to KPRC 2, a spokesperson wrote:โHarris County Pollution Control has received a resident complaint on this facility from the County Judgeโs Office. "Integrity Ready Mix has several locations throughout Harris County and has the most violations for a facility of this type in both air and water. The neighbors plan to organize a meeting and reach out to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia for additional support.
Lake Jackson takes responsibility for deadly brain-eating amoeba that killed 6-year-old boy, city manager says
HOUSTON โ Lake Jackson city manager Modesto Mundo said the city takes โresponsibilityโ for the brain-eating amoeba that killed 6-year-old Josiah McIntye on Friday during a press conference. โWe never want this event to happen again in Lake Jackson nor to any family," he said. Over the next few years, Mayor Bob Sipple and officials said Lake Jackson will begin the process of improving the water system. โLake Jackson is a strong city of faith. Here is the full press conference from Lake Jackson officials:
UPDATE: Boil water notice lifted for these neighborhoods in the Lake Livingston area
HOUSTON โ Authorities have lifted a boil water notice for the following subdivisions in the Lake Livingston area: Natasha Heights, Lakeland Hideaway, Cherokee Forest, and Green Acres. The Lake Livingston Water Supply Corporationโs general manager Kim Click told KPRC 2 the notice has been lifted Wednesday afternoon. The water authority had issued a statement that said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality cited low chlorine in its systems, which prompted the boil water notice. All customers are asked to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face/brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions, according to the memo.
UPDATE: โDo not useโ water advisory lifted in Lake Jackson, but โBoil waterโ notice put in place
HOUSTON โ The city of Lake Jackson is moving to enforce a โBoil waterโ notice, according to a press release from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The boil notice lifts the โDo not useโ water advisory, which was in response to an ongoing water issue after a brain eating amoeba was found in the cityโs water system. State and local officials said they are working on a plan to flush and disinfect the water system. Do not jump into or put your head under bathing water. The advisory was lifted for all areas excluding Lake Jackson on Saturday morning.
MAPPED: More than 100K gallons of wastewater spilled in 5 locations in Houston due to TS Beta, officials say
HOUSTON โ Houston officials say more than 100,000 gallons of domestic wastewater have been spilled in five locations in Houston as of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday due to the โintense, sustained, rainfall of greater than 10 inches in the last 24 hours,โ during Tropical Storm Beta. LIVE BLOG: Read the latest updates from the developing Tropical Depression Beta hereOfficials with Houston Public Works and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality are monitoring the situation. At present, officials say if you receive your water from the city of Houston, you do not need to boil your drinking water. Hereโs a map of where the spills occurred:The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires the city to provide residents with the following information in event of a wastewater spill:
8M pounds of pollutants released before and after Hurricane Laura but air quality monitors were taken offline
HOUSTON โ As Hurricane Laura barreled toward the Gulf Coast a few weeks ago, in and around Houston, plants and refineries scrambled to shut down. During the shutdown and restart process surrounding Hurricane Laura, energy companies reported to TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) that 8 million pounds of emissions were released in Harris, Brazoria, Jefferson and Orange counties. Thereโs some opinion there but hereโs a fact:During that exact same period that refineries shut down for Hurricane Laura, the state of Texas unplugged its air quality monitors in the stormโs path. Our stateโs version of the Environmental Protection Agency is the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). See what TCEQ did in response to Hurricane Laura.
Boil water notice issued for residents of Trinity due to blood worms in 2 tanks
TRINITY, Texas โ Blood worms and maintenance issues have caused a boil water notice for the city of Trinity, which is about 80 miles north of Houston, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Officials said harmful bacteria entered two damaged tanks, which now have been located and repaired. When the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system officials will notify residents that the water is safe for consumption and use. The notice will remain in effect until workers meet requirements including patching all holes, cleaning and disinfecting the two affected tanks and more. READ: Hereโs what to do when the boil water advisory is overTips to ensure safety while boiling waterThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality provided some tips on ensuring youโre remaining safe under a boil water notice.
Coronavirus in Texas: State environmental agency grants oil and chemical companies scores of exemptions during coronavirus
REUTERS/Callaghan O'HareHere's what you need to know this weekend:Texas environmental agency grants oil and chemical companies scores of exemptions during coronavirusThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has exempted oil and chemical companies from environmental monitoring and inspection rules more than 100 times since the coronavirus pandemic gripped the state, the Houston Chronicle reports. Most of the companies that were exempted said they were limiting employees and contractors to coronavirus exposure, the paper reported. Voting by mail: Texas' top Republican officials call absentee voting a recipe for fraud and are fighting efforts to expand it during the coronavirus pandemic. But the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general Texas' top Republican officials call absentee voting a recipe for fraud and are fighting efforts to expand it during the coronavirus pandemic. The state reported 1,230 more cases of the new coronavirus Friday, bringing the total number of known cases to 61,006.