Environmental Insider News articles from January 2003

Environmental Insider News archives from January 2003

Oil and Gas NORM Rule Still on Hold.
January 7, 2003... Declaring his preference to wait until Governor Perry names a third member to the Railroad Commission, Chairman Michael Williams on January 7 voted against adoption of the proposed rules that would revise NORM Rule 94. Commissioner Charles...

Merritt Refiles East Texas Oil Field Study Bill.
January 7, 2003... State representative Tommy Merritt (R, Longview), undaunted by a gubernatorial veto last spring, has once again filed a bill [House Bill 183 this time] that would require the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin to...

Cherry Blossoms.
January 7, 2003... Corps, EPA Renew "No Net Loss" Commitment The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, together with EPA and the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, and Transportation have strengthened their commitment to achieve the goal of "no net...

Williams Chairs Clean Coal Technology Council.
January 10, 2003... Railroad Commission Chairman Michael L. Williams has been named chair of the Governor's Clean Coal Technology Council. The panel, created by executive order of Governor Rick Perry, will advise the Governor on the feasibility of developing clean...

Asarco Wants Out of El Paso TIF.
January 10, 2003... Despite giving an impassioned speech, Asarco El Paso Plant environmental manager Lairy Johnson was rebuffed on Januar6 in his effort to get the El Paso City Council to remove his company's property from one of the city's new Tax Increment...

Carrillo Gets Railroaded.
January 21, 2003... Taylor County Judge Victor G. Carrillo, the newest - and youngest (at 38) - member of the Texas Railroad Commission, is just what the doctors ordered - an attorney who is also a petroleum geologist. Commissioner Charles Matthews, for example,...

Barrientos Wants To Raise Emissions Fee Cap.
January 21, 2003... State senator Gonzalo Barrientos (D, Austin) has fired a first shot at industry with his bill (Senate Bill 171) that would raise the emissions fee cap for federal operating permits issued under Title V of the Clean Air Act from 4,000 to 8,000...

EPA, Greens Disagree on Computer Recycling.
January 21, 2003... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched a new "Plug-In to Recycling Campaign" in which the agency has partnered with Round Rock-based Dell Computer, Best Buy, AT&T Wireless, Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Recycle America (a wholly owned...

Bluebonnets.
January 21, 2003... Greener Forklifts? Railroad Commission Chairman Michael L. Williams is touting his agency's success in reducing emissions from propane-powered forklifts - as well as the potential for emission reductions from propane-powered fuel cells,...

Court Slaps Texas Cities, Counties on MS4 Rule.
January 30, 2003... On January 14, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a divided ruling upholding all but three of 22 challenges to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Phase II stormwater regulations, issued in...

Bonnen Takes Over at Environmental Regulations.
January 30, 2003... House Speaker Tom Craddick (R, Midland) has announced House committee assignments for the 78th Legislature. As anticipated, Rep. Warren Chisum will no longer head up the Committee on Environmental Regulations, though he will continue as a...

Cherry Blossoms.
January 30, 2003... E-Rulemaking Is Up and Running The Office of Management and Budget has announced the launching of www.regulations.gov - a new online rulemaking website that will make the federal rulemaking process more accessible and enable citizens...

Bluebonnets.
January 30, 2003... EPA Fights Public Disclosure in El Paso The El Paso Times has filed suit in U.S. District Court demanding that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency make public the results of soil contamination tests in several El Paso neighborhoods on...