Environmental Insider News articles from July 2003

Environmental Insider News archives from July 2003

Summer Greens - Special Session Environmental Bills.
July 8, 2003... State representative Warren Chisum (R, Pampa) is taking advantage of a second chance at enacting critical legislation this summer that was created by the calling of a special session by Governor Rick Perry. House Bill 21 tracks major portions...

New Scoring Drops Texas in TRI.
July 8, 2003... Thanks largely to the addition of metal mining to the list of materials listed in the Toxic Release Inventory, Texas no longer ranks either first or second overall as the nation's dumping ground. The Longhorn State does still rank first in...

Bluebonnets.
July 8, 2003... Tex Tin Cleanup Success On July 1, TCEQ and EPA jointly declared as successful the cleanup by BP Amoco Chemical Co. of its Tex Tin Corporation operational unit in Texas City. This is the first Superfund "Ready for Reuse" designation for a...

Update on Special Session Greens.
July 12, 2003... The Texas Legislature continues to keep late hours and drive lobbyists crazy (not to mention journalists and ordinary people). Word is that the July 8 committee hearing on House Bills 21 and 73 killed both bills, leaving "reform" of...

EPA Acts Against Cryptosporidium.
July 12, 2003... In an effort to further reduce the risk of illness from microbes and to decrease cancer risks from chemicals that form during drinking water treatment, EPA on July 11 proposed rules that would require drinking water systems to monitor for and...

Cherry Blossoms.
July 12, 2003... Bush Names Interim EPA Heads The Bush Administration, unable to find political appointees it is willing to throw into the fiery furnace of Senate confirmation at this time, has named two current employees to serve in the U.S. Environmental...

Bluebonnets.
July 12, 2003... Fuel Cell Project Kicks Off The kickoff meeting of the Texas LPG fuel cell project took place on July 11 at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. The project is sponsored by the Texas Fuel Cell Partnership, a group of businesses...

Barbara Foreman Wins National Award.
July 21, 2003... Former Texas Commission on Environmental Quality enforcement official Barbara F. Foreman, who now works for the Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics, and Training (OCEFT) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on July 14 received the...

Radiation Control (HB 1567) Rules.
July 21, 2003... On July 17, TCEQ held a public meeting regarding the implementation of House Bill 1567 [78th Legislature, 2003],]which requires revisions to the agency's radiation control rules. One change requires TCEQ to refer one application to the State...

Conroe Creosoting Added to Superfund List.
July 21, 2003... On July 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the addition of the Conroe Creosoting Company abandoned wood-treating facility in Conroe to the Superfund National Priorities List5, one of 11 sites so designated in the latest...

Bluebonnets.
July 21, 2003... Williams Meets African Oil Minister Lest anyone forget the real reasons for President Bush's recent trip to Africa, Railroad Commission Chairman Michael L. Williams demonstrated the importance of the continent to the United States' energy...

Sweetwater, Green Mountain Wind Power Projects.
July 28, 2003... One of the largest wind power projects in the world was launched in Texas on July 22. The 25- turbine, 37.5 megawatt first phase of what may become a 400-MW wind farm in Nolan County is being developed by Houston-based DKR Development, LLC,...

More Special Session Bills.
July 28, 2003... House Bill 11 (Heflin), which appropriates amounts deposited to the credit of the dry cleaning facility release fund created by House Bill 1366, to TCEQ, has passed both houses and is headed to the State Comptroller's office, and House Bill 60...

Water System Security.
July 28, 2003... The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences has completed its review of EPA's "Water Security Research and Technical Support Action Plan" and the findings are perhaps a little disturbing. The EPA plan co ntains an...

Cherry Blossoms.
July 28, 2003... Climate Change Strategic Plan A multi-agency federal panel has issued its strategic plan to answer some of the most complex questions around the issues of climate variability and climate change - terms commonly grouped under the moniker of...

Bluebonnets.
July 28, 2003... Carrillo to Coastal Council Recently appointed Railroad Commissioner Victor Carrillo was unanimously voted by his colleagues on July 22 to serve as the RRC representative on the state's Coastal Coordination Council. The Abilene native, who...