TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION CLOSES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL WINS, LOSSES
by Sarah Morgan

The 79th Texas legislative session officially ended Monday, May 30, with environmentalists marking both victories and defeats.

Among bills that didn't make the cut this session is SB 172, which would have toughened animal cruelty laws in Texas. If passed, the law would have made it an offense to kill one's own animal in a cruel manner and would have protected strays and feral animals. Such loopholes have been used as defenses in the past for such acts as killing a puppy with a lawnmower, where the puppy belonged to the man with the lawnmower, and crushing stray kittens by stepping on them, according to an article in the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

In general, according to the Tribune, the bill would have made it an offense to injure or kill one's own animal in a cruel manner; injure, poison, or kill someone else's livestock or a stray animal in a cruel manner; or recklessly commit any cruel act toward an animal.

But hunters, anglers, and livestock producers opposed the bill, according to the Houston Chronicle. Sportsman groups worried that the bill could criminalize common hunting practices.

Another bill that died in the Senate is SB 1647, the "takings" bill, which, according to the Austin-American Statesman, would have required that municipalities compensate landowners for limiting environmental regulations that devalue property by more than 25 percent. The bill would also have affected water quality by requiring landowner compensation for regulations limiting "impervious cover," according to the Sierra Club. Impervious cover refers to such constructions as pavements or rooftops that prevent water from draining into soil. Less cover means less rainfall runoff, a potential cause of flooding or water contamination.

Representatives also voted down amendments that would have tightened air monitoring and air pollution standards.

Bills awaiting the governor's approval include energy bills SB 712 and HB 2129. Both passed out of the legislature last week. According to the Alliance to Save Energy, HB 2129 requires the state energy conservation office to determine whether setting appliance standards for products currently not covered under Texas law would reduce the emission of air contaminants. If so, the energy office would have to complete a cost-benefit analysis for consumers of setting standards for those appliances. SB 712 amends the state's energy efficiency policies.

A bill that limits the number of lawsuits for asbestos- and silica-related illnesses was also passed.

HB 2702, which contains language concerning toll road conversions was also passed after many revisions. Though another bill, HB2497, which would have made toll road conversions illegal, was not approved, the final version of HB2702, which states that no road may be converted to a toll road without county, municipal, and voter approval was passed out of the Senate.

All bills passed out of the legislature, if not already approved, are now waiting for the governor's signature or veto. A June 19 veto deadline must go by for unsigned bills to become law.

PESTICIDES SUSPECTED IN TEXAS SCHOOL CLOSURE, STUDY SHOWS NEW LINKS TO PARKINSON'S DISEASE
by Sarah Morgan

An elementary school in San Antonio was evacuated and closed this week after students and faculty reported nausea, skin irritation, and breathing problems believed to be linked to insecticides sprayed at a nearby cotton field, according to Beyond Pesticides.

Over 550 students and staff members at San Carlos Elementary School were reportedly exposed to the chemicals lambda-cyhalothrin, a synthetic pyrethroid, and dimethoate, an organophosphate. Such chemicals have been linked to asthma attacks, genetic and neurological damage, and Parkinson's disease, according to Beyond Pesticides.

The Texas Department of Agriculture is currently investigating whether the farmer who sprayed the chemicals is at fault.

Also this week, a new study found additional evidence linking pesticides to Parkinson's disease.

The study, by the Geoparkinson Project at the University of Aberdeen, England, followed nearly 3,000 volunteers from across Europe, with and without Parkinson's disease, from 2000 to 2005. Findings overall were that the volunteers with Parkinson's had more exposures to pesticides throughout their lives compared with volunteers without Parkinson's, according to New Scientist Magazine, which reported on the study. Those with low-level pesticide exposures were 9 percent more likely to have Parkinson's, and those facing high-level exposures, such as farmers, were 43 percent more likely. People with Parkinson's in their family face a 350 percent increase in risk.

Symptoms of Parkinson's include tremors, tics, stiffness in muscles and joints, or difficulty moving. Other symptoms include depression, anxiety, dementia, constipation, urinary difficulties, and problems sleeping. There is no cure for the disease. This study could not determine which specific pesticides might be linked to Parkinsons's because participants were not able to identify what chemicals had been used.

To read more about the study, visit:
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18625014.900.

TEXANS FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES LAUNCHES NEW WEB SITE

Texans for Alternatives to Pesticides has launched its new Web site, http://www.nopesticides.org, in honor of Rachel Carson's birthday. Her landmark book, Silent Spring, is often credited with beginning the US environmental movement. TAP's new Web site provides a growing number of concerned citizens with a resource they can use to reference issues related to pesticides. Whether one is seeking to control insects, weeds, rodents, or other pests that are common to our environment, or needing information regarding the efficacy of non-toxic treatments, TAP's new site offers useful solutions.
TAP joins with Beyond Pesticides and many other environmental groups around the county to educate policy makers and citizens about the health risks associated with using poisons in our homes, schools, and public places. TAP's Web site provides options that respect human health and the health of the environment we are sharing.

GALVESTON'S KEMP'S RIDLEY IS ON LINE

The first Galveston nesting Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Benjamina, is now on line at http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?project_id=45. This marks the first time an adult nesting female from Galveston has been tracked. For as little as $25, you can help the satellite-tracking program and have your name placed on the Web site as an adoptive parent of Benjamina. The Texas A&M satellite tagging program receives half the proceeds from the adoptions.

BAYOU CITY FARMERS' MARKET TOMATO FEST

Get the first pick of the season at the Urban Harvest and Bayou City farmers' market Tomato Fest on two Saturdays, June 11 and 18, from 8 am to noon. The event will celebrate the arrival of delicious tomatoes at their peak. While you're there, have a taste of tomato-based delicacies prepared by a few of Houston's finest restaurants. There will also be a show and tell where the general public can bring homegrown tomatoes for tasting and comparing with other growers, and even a "tomato professor" to answer your questions about growing tomatoes. Bring the whole family - there will be live music and many activities, including a tomato tasting with celebrity judging; decorating for kids; and cooking demos with local celebrity chefs. The regular weekly vendors will be there, too, selling a variety of homegrown and prepared items.
The Tomato Fest will be held at 3000 Richmond Avenue at Eastside (the back parking lot). For more information, visit http://www.urbanharvest.org.

TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND SEEKS INTERN

The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit organization, is seeking an individual with excellent communication, organizational, and technical writing skills, with some background in GIS computer technology and a demonstrated interest in land conservation, to intern in its Houston-Galveston office. The successful candidate will work closely with the program director in coordinating with the City of Pasadena on a community planning process for the Armand Bayou watershed. Key tasks will include planning and coordinating meetings, and public outreach.
This is a temporary, part-time position averaging 12-15 hours per week, beginning in June 2005 and ending at the completion of the project, in spring 2006.
For more information or to apply, please contact Linda Shead at (713) 226-7200 or linda.shead@tpl.org.

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