TCEQ TO REVIEW LANDFILL REGULATIONS WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT
by Sarah Morgan

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is set to review the current landfill regulations without taking a measure of the public�s opinions, despite the fact that some of these landfills rest right in the citizens� backyards.

"All the rules regarding landfills are up for reform," said Robin Schneider, executive director for the Texas Campaign for the Environment, who is actively trying to convince the TCEQ to hold public meetings before the laws are rewritten.

"TCEQ should be talking to the people who are dealing with [landfills] everyday," said Schneider.

And if one case in Montgomery County sets the precedent, hundreds of residents will come out with plenty to say about landfills in their community.

A new 473-acre landfill has been proposed for construction in the community of Midway in Montgomery County and residents have shown up in droves to protest the intrusion. About 300 community members attended a meeting last week to question Montgomery Landfill Solutions, the project�s developer, about safety concerns and proximity of the landfill to their homes. Tate�s Citizens Against the Montgomery County Landfill group counts their members at about 750 who are all voicing their concerns regarding the project.

TCEQ�s reforms could deal with many problems landfills are creating in communities and in the environment.

In 2000, the Sierra Club and the Martinez Environmental Group in San Antonio created a report on some of these issues called New Mountain Ranges for Texas. The problems that were addressed in the report four years ago continue to be problems for many communities living with landfills.

"One of the biggest things is vertical expansion," said Schneider, " There are no real rules about how high landfills can go."

The one in Montgomery County may go as high as 209 feet, causing more problems than landfills that are in the ground.

The Sierra Club and MEG report states that, "The new landfills make high launching pads for wastes and dusts that get blown farther offsite," and, "Rainfall runoff is easy to drain in a pit, but, as it flows down the mountain, it can carry polutants offsite."

Other items up for reform include the regulations on "grandfathering" old landfill sites which allows for vertical expansion over older, unlined or poorly lined landfills.

"Even with a liner, you have the very real danger of contaminated water," said Schneider.

About 25 landfills in Texas had major leaks, according to the Sierra Club and MEG report.

These older landfills don�t have the same technological advancements available to them that newer landfills are required to have. Therefore, they are more susceptible to leaks and erosion, and lack the monitoring capabilities of newer landfills.

Also, many landfills are exceeding their trash allowances.

"We�ve discovered that a lot of landfills are taking more trash then they are allowed by permit � no one�s doing anything about it," said Schneider.

Schneider said that in some cases, landfills are receiving more than forty times the amount of trash they are permitted to receive.

The proposed Montgomery County landfill is scheduled to take in about 3,000 tons of debris a day which will, among other things, create traffic problems within the rural area.

TCEQ�s review process may take about a year. But, without public hearings prior to the review, some of these problems may remain unchanged.

NEW AIRPORT PROPOSED FOR KATY PRARIE
by Sarah Morgan

Yet another airport is being proposed for the Katy Prarie, home to the largest flock of wintering migratory birds in the US, and safety concerns are high.

This new proposal for the Houston JetPort West encompasses a 575-acre site near Fulshear and would include a 7,000-foot runway big enough to accommodate large commercial aircraft. This site poses a huge threat to the hundreds of thousands of migratory birds that make the Katy Prarie their wintering grounds.

City of Houston studies have shown the bird population to be as heavy as 3,000 geese per hour in an area just four miles from the proposed construction site. The US Fish and Wildlife Services estimates that there would be about 50 bird/airplane collisions per month if the airport is built.

The Katy Prarie is also an important part of flood management as the waters from this area drain into urban developments, and one resident is worried about the water quality that could affect his livestock operation.

"We are directly downstream from this proposed site and we are extremely concerned about the safety issues caused by noise levels �and the jet fuel runoff, which according to studies increases the ammonia levels in surrounding waterways," says Mason Hunt in a letter written in opposition of the airport. Though he could not be reached for comment, his letter states that his family cow/calf operation dates back to the 1940s and he is now worried about the impact the airport will have on the health of his cows.

Other concerns include noise levels in the residential areas and for the elementary school that is less then one mile from the proposed site. It is estimated that over the next five years there would be an average of 3,066 aircraft landings per month or one landing every 14 minutes at the airport.

Other proposals to build an airport in this area have been made, the most recent of which was rejected in 1996 for the same safety concerns. What makes this proposal different is that it is privately funded so it does not require government funds. Therefore, federal officials are evaluating the proposal only from the standpoint of air traffic use and, because the proposed area is outside the Fulshear city limits, the city has no legal authority over the land either.

The FAA is still reviewing the airport proposal, but may make a decision within the next few weeks. For more information visit http://www.westhoustoncps.com

WET IN THE CITY AND TEAM WET SCHOOLS PROGRAMS WIN BIG

The Council for Environmental Education (CEE) awarded the 2004 Water Conservation and Reuse Award by the Texas Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) to WET in the City and Team WET Schools. AWWA recognizes excellence in education efforts that target water conservation and reuse practices.

CEE established WET in the City as a growing network between educators and partners who work together to advance water education, academic excellence and environmental steward ship among urban youth. The programs provide field-tested supplementary curriculum and professional workshops for formal and non-formal educators.

Team WET schools is a companion program of WET in the City that encourages community partners, and urban youth to become responsible stewards of the environment and our water resources.

For more information about WET in the City, contact (713) 520-1936 or visit <http://www.wetcity.org>

SUMMER ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNSHIPS
Austin EcoNetwork, 4/28/04

The Texas Environmental Fellowship Program is offering summer internships in Austin and Houston for college students. Participants will work with a local environmental non-profit like the Baylor College of Medicine Chronic Disease, Prevention and Control Center, Houston Wilderness, the Gulf Coast Institute, the Citizens Environmental Coalition, TexPIRG, Texas Impact, the Austin Parks Foundation and more. Each participant receives training on advocacy skills through classroom trainings and on-the-job. Trainings include work on advocacy research, working with the media, grant-seeking, volunteer recruitment and more. To apply, contact Luke Metzger at (512) 479-7287 or luke@texpirg.org.

http://www.texpirg.org/TX.asp?id2=8477&id3=TX

KODAK AMERICAN GREENWAYS GRANTS
Application deadline: June 1, 2004

The Greenways Awards Program, a partnership of the Eastman Kodak Company, the Conservation Fund, and the National Geographic Society, provides small grants to stimulate the planning and design of greenways in communities throughout America. Grants can be used for all appropriate expenses needed to complete a greenway project, including planning, technical or legal assistance, and other costs. The maximum grant award is $2,500, although most grants will range from $500 to $1,500.
http://www.conservationfund.org/?article=2372

THE WILD GIFT
Application deadline: June 1, 2004

The Wild Gift provides exceptional youth, ages 18-30, an experience in deep wilderness and encourages commitment to a self-designed leadership project that will benefit the human and natural community. The 17-month program is provided to Wild Gift recipients at no cost.
http://www.wildgift.org

CANON ENVIROTHON

Annual competition for high school students throughout North America, designed as a way to teach kids about environmental education. The best teams from 47 states and Canadian provinces compete at a summer play-off during July or August on a selected topic. To expose students to diverse environmental issues, ecosystems, and topography, a different state or province hosts the Canon Envirothon each year. In addition to the actual competition, the event also includes social, cultural, and educational activities organized by the Canon Envirothon Host Committee.
http://www.envirothon.org/competition/Canon2004/index.htm

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY TEACHER GRANTS
Application Deadline: June 10, 2004

The foundation provides grants to educators to facilitate their work in the classroom, school, district, and community. This year, projects will be funded in either of two broad categories: Promoting Stewardship of Cultural and Natural Resources, and Promoting Geographic Knowledge Through Education. The foundation plans to make approximately $100,000 available, in grants of up to $5,000 each. Applications may be submitted by a single teacher or by a project team leader on behalf of a group.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/education/teacher_community/get_grant.html

CONSUMER GUIDE DETAILS ILLS AND ALTERNATIVES FOR COMMON PRODUCTS

A free online consumer guide published in March by the Worldwatch Institute describes the environmental, social, and health harms associated with a wide range of products, including appliances, baby products, DVDs, clothing, cell phones, and food. The guide takes a behind the scenes look at how products are made, and offers simple advice and alternatives that enable people to reduce some of the ills associated with the things they buy.
For each product, the guide also describes successful efforts by governments, businesses, and nonprofit groups around the world to reduce negative impacts associated with common products.
http://www.worldwatch.org/pubs/goodstuff

NEW REPORT IN PARKS FOR PEOPLE SERIES

The Trust For Public Land’s Parks for People initiative works in cities across America to ensure that everyone--in particular every child--enjoys access to a park, playground, or open space. A new Parks for People report by Peter Harnik, director of TPL's Center for City Park Excellence, highlights the need for parks in Newark, New Jersey. The report's release follows by several months the publication of TPL's Parks for People white paper, which makes the case for new city parks nationwide. Upcoming Parks for People publications will focus on other US cities.
http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=13843&folder_id=175

A HANDBOOK FOR ACTIVISTS

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, Wilderness Forever has created a handy-dandy guide to taking action. Learn how to draft your own action letters, organize enjoyable activism events, and get in touch with local media.
To obtain your own tree-free version of the guide:
http://www.wildernessforever.org/action/index.html
Learn more about the Wilderness Act:
http://www.wilderness.org/OurIssues/Wilderness/act.cfm

CONSERVATION ACROSS BOUNDARIES EDUCATION COURSE

Conservation Across Boundaries’s Enhancing Wildlife Conservation through Education is a fully-funded, two-week course for junior and senior high school science teachers. The course is being held June 12-25, 2004. To download a brochure and application, visit www.boone-crockett.org, http://www.eih.uh.edu/education/bboard/cabflyer_2004_small.pdf or contact Selma Glasscock, Welder Wildlife Foundation, selmaglass@aol.com for more information. Application deadline: March 30, 2004. $125 application fee.

SEASIDE CLUB BECKONS TO TEXAS TEACHERS

Texas A&M University's Marine Advisory Service (MAS) will be hosting two development workshops for Texas educators on the environment, and natural resources in Texas and the Gulf Coast. Participates who are teachers, science curriculum specialists, or department heads working in public and private schools are encouraged to register. Training sessions for elementary school educators are June 28-30; training for secondary school educators will take place July 7-9. For more information or to enroll, contact (979) 863-2940 or email lbeach@neo.tamu.edu.

EPA SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS

The EPA Summer Opportunities for Students website is now up and running. The site provides a web portal through which students may enter to learn about EPA programs, offices, and summer employment opportunities. They also will be able to submit a job application directly to the EPA location where there is a vacancy.
http://www.epa.gov/ohros/student