A forthcoming report by the Texas Campaign for the Environment Fund says the standards Texas uses to determine how much — and whether — to clean up abandoned industrial facilities and other contaminated sites are ‘significantly weaker’ than those of neighboring states and the federal government, in part because it tolerates a higher cancer risk.
Kiah Collier
Kiah Collier was a reporter for the ProPublica-Texas Tribune investigative initiative from 2020 through 2023. She previously worked at the Tribune as a reporter and associate editor, covering energy and the environment through the lens of state government and politics. Kiah has reported for numerous other publications across Texas since 2010, including the Austin American-Statesman and the Houston Chronicle. Her beats also have included government and politics, public education and business. Kiah’s work has been honored with numerous prizes, including a George Foster Peabody Award, a Gerald Loeb Award, the Knight-Risser Prize for Western Environmental Journalism, the National Edward R. Murrow Award for best investigation and the AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Award. A seventh-generation Texan, she grew up in the Austin area and graduated with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in journalism and philosophy.
Posted in
Energy
Harris County voters pass historic $2.5 billion for flood control
Harris County voters overwhelmingly approved a bond measure that would finance an array of flood control projects in the Houston area. Saturday’s vote came on the first anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, which brought one of the worst urban floods in U.S. history to the Houston region.
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
On Harvey’s anniversary, Houstonians set to decide on historic flood control bond
Harris County voters will head to the polls on Saturday — the first anniversary of Hurricane Harvey — to decide on a $2.5 billion bond measure that would finance hundreds of flood control projects. Flood experts say it would be a good start, but that it won’t come close to solving the region’s chronic flooding problems.
Posted in
Environment
Trump unveils major rollback of Obama’s Clean Power Plan
Texas’ Republican leadership cheered the announcement of the so-called Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule, which will give states broad authority in determining how to regulate pollution from coal-fired power plants. Along with coal-friendly West Virginia, Texas led a coalition of about two dozen states that sued over the rule’s predecessor, calling it federal overreach.
Posted inState Government
Texas Parks and Wildlife: State park could close if Trump builds border wall through it
The park is a beloved spot for bird watchers.
Posted in
Energy
Environmental groups announce multi-million dollar settlement with Houston-area refinery
The settlement will end a “citizen suit” against Pasadena Refining System that alleges years of air pollution violations. Under the Clean Air Act, citizens may sue companies if government regulators fail to act.
Posted in
Energy
Texas is using a record amount of electricity. Could demand outpace supply?
The state’s grid operator set a new all-time systemwide peak demand record on two consecutive days this week, prompting reassurances that the electricity sector “is doing what they can to keep the power on for consumers.”
Posted in
Environment
EPA: San Antonio ozone levels too high under new standard
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday officially deemed Bexar County noncompliant with new, stricter ozone standards enacted under the Obama administration. The so-called “nonattainment designation” will come with stricter federal scrutiny that state and local officials say will adversely impact the local economy.
Posted in
Environment
Lesser prairie-chicken population on the rise, but advocates say it’s not enough
The latest aerial survey shows there are thousands more of the grouse in the Texas Panhandle and four surrounding states. Still, the total is tens of thousands short of what endangered species experts say is needed to achieve true conservation.
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
Trump administration announces more than $5 billion for Texas flood control projects
Almost a year after Hurricane Harvey dumped historic rains on Texas, the state will receive more than $5 billion for a range of flood control projects, repairs and studies, the Trump administration announced Thursday.
