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February 28, 2016

Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region: February 28, 2015

Featured

  1. $75 Million Repair Job To Dams Critical For Protecting Houston (Dave Fehling – Houston Public Media, 2/25/2016)
    “The two dams hold back the Addicks and Barker reservoirs that lie on opposite sides of the Katy Freeway at Highway 6. Right now, there’s not much water in either reservoir. But during big storms and hurricanes, they hold millions of gallons that would be slowly released down Buffalo Bayou.But the gate structures that allow those controlled releases have a problem… ‘We have seepage that’s occurring under the conduits themselves,’ says Richard Long, the on-site manager for the US Army Corps of Engineers. ‘It can get worse and worse and worse.'”
    www.houstonpublicmedia.org
  2. Scientists Urge Action As They Trace Source Of Toxic Vapors In Houston Communities (Dave Fehling – Houston Public Media, 2/22/2016)
    “In February of last year, researchers drove three vans around the communities of Galena Park and Manchester on Houston’s east side. The vans were packed with high-tech equipment that measured the air for toxic vapors. Computers then used weather data to pinpoint likely sources. The researchers say they found spikes of benzene, a chemical linked to cancer. The benzene vapors were approaching unsafe levels for short term exposure and far exceeded safe limits for long term exposure. The scientists say they suspected the benzene was coming from the big refineries and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel where crude oil, which contains benzene, is loaded to and from huge tanks and barges. But the scientists say they traced much of the benzene to something else: pipelines that carry crude and other related products.”
    www.houstonpublicmedia.org
  3. Experts, public work to improve Highland Bayou near Galveston (Texarkana Gazette, 2/22/2016)
    “Experts are working with the public to improve the water quality of Highland Bayou near Galveston. The Galveston County Daily News reported Monday that environmental officials say Highland Bayou has issues due to low oxygen levels and bacteria linked to slow, stagnant water flow. It’s one of several bayous around the Galveston area that’s listed as impaired. Head of the project, Steven Mikulencak, said lower levels of oxygen cause sporadic fish kills and high bacteria levels can make the bayou unsafe to swim in. Nearby communities are expected to consider different efforts to clean up the bayou because of its ecological and recreational importance to the area.”
    www.texarkanagazette.com

EcoNotes

  • 28 February
    • Bernie Sanders’ Nuclear Waste Votes Divide Texas Activists (Jamie Lovegrove – The Texas Tribune)
      www.texastribune.org
    • POLL: Does a candidate’s stance on climate change influence your vote? (Michael Kuhne – AccuWeather)
      www.accuweather.com
  • 26 February
  • 25 February
    • $75 Million Repair Job To Dams Critical For Protecting Houston (Dave Fehling – Houston Public Media)
      www.houstonpublicmedia.org
    • Rule Changes Concerning Pets at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area to Take Effect March 1 (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
      http://tpwd.texas.gov
    • Texas Industry Spending Millions “Over-Complying” with Environmental Laws (Texas Environmental News)
      www.texasenvironmentalnews.com
    • United Way groups say merger will let them help more people in need (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
      www.houstonchronicle.com
    • U.S. energy industry emits more methane than thought: EPA chief (Ernest Scheyder – Planet Ark News)
      http://planetark.org
  • 24 February
    • Congressman Green supports advanced monitoring at Pasadena Refining (Adrian Shelley – airCurrent News)
      http://airalliancehouston.org
    • TPWD Taking Comment on Proposed Hunting and Fishing Regulation Changes (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
      http://tpwd.texas.gov
    • EPA Draft Says Oil and Gas Methane Emissions Are 27 Percent Higher than Earlier Estimates (The Energy Collective)
      http://theenergycollective.com
    • February a time to think about good fats (Andie Lee Gonzalez – The Monitor)
      www.themonitor.com
    • EPA U S Environmental Protection Agency : Administrator Gina McCarthy, Remarks on Climate Action at CERA in Houston Texas, As Prepared (4-traders)
      www.4-traders.com
    • TAB Texas Association of Business : Files Federal Challenge to Clean Power Plan (4-traders)
      www.4-traders.com
    • Some Texans turn up noses at EPA chief’s methane reduction idea (The Dallas Morning News)
      http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com
  • 23 February
  • 22 February
    • Experts, public work to improve Highland Bayou near Galveston (Texarkana Gazette)
      www.texarkanagazette.com
    • Scientists Urge Action As They Trace Source Of Toxic Vapors In Houston Communities (Dave Fehling – Houston Public Media)
      www.houstonpublicmedia.org
    • Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Restoration Efforts Continue (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
      http://tpwd.texas.gov
  • 20 February
    • Geoscientist’s Latest Experiment: Running for Statewide Office (Jim Malewitz – The Texas Tribune)
      www.texastribune.org
  • 19 February
    • In Major Water Case, Win for Ranchers is Loss For Cities (Jim Malewitz – Trib+Water)
      www.texastribune.org
    • Groundwater Case Could Have Trickle-Down Effects on Future Regulation (Mose Buchele – KUT.org)
      http://kut.org
  • 18 February
    • GMF Invests in Mexican Mangrove Restoration Projects (Gulf of Mexico Foundation)
      www.gulfmex.org
    • GMF Coastal Restoration Course for Conservation Corps Youth (Gulf of Mexico Foundation)
      www.gulfmex.org
    • Feds Pull 31,000 Texas Acres From April Fossil Fuel Auction Due to Concerns Over Fracking Impacts to Land, Water, Climate(Center for Biological Diversity)
      www.biologicaldiversity.org
  • 17 February