The latest environment news from The Texas Tribune.
A hazardous waste disposal company in Andrews County wants to handle more dangerous levels of nuclear waste. Federal agencies are pondering new rules that could allow more of it to come to Texas. Full Story
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Some areas of Texas could benefit from Biden’s federal directive to accelerate cleanups of legacy oil and gas, mining and hazardous waste contamination. Full Story
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An updated EPA rule requires drinking water in elementary schools be tested for lead and copper — a mandate that emerged from the Flint, Michigan, water crisis. Full Story
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The president has directed federal agencies to invest in low-income and minority communities that have traditionally borne the brunt of pollution. Full Story
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A recent EPA decision will allow Texas to regulate water discharges from oil drilling operations. Some lawmakers see a future water supply for the state in the decision, while environmental groups — and some scientists — warn it could be risky. Full Story
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A string of explosions involving little-regulated petroleum and chemical storage tanks have lawmakers and regulators talking about new rules as the Legislature prepares to convene this month. Full Story
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The groups are suing the EPA, saying it failed to address concerns that air permits issued to big industrial facilities didn’t meet federal standards. Full Story
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Texas is close to finalizing a years-long effort to wrangle control of coal ash pollution from the EPA, a move that could, for a time, keep coal companies insulated from tougher rules expected from the next administration. Full Story
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The residents of Choate Road in southeast Dallas have seen the rise of Shingle Mountain, a more than 70,000-ton toxic waste dump that was created by a recycling company. Now they hope the city of Dallas keeps its promise to tear the mountain down. Full Story
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Concrete companies say they’re just following the law. A handful of bills addressing the issue have been filed for the 2021 legislative session. Full Story
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President-elect Joe Biden has promised to ban new oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters. The Trump administration held its last Gulf of Mexico auction Wednesday. Full Story
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The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has deployed technology to monitor emissions in real time, part of a $2.2 million effort to fix gaps in monitoring identified during Hurricane Harvey. Full Story
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The report, set to be filed in federal court this week, confirms reporting from ProPublica and The Texas Tribune that found portions of the wall were in danger of overturning if not fixed due to extensive erosion just months after it was built. Full Story
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Many Southeast Texans were already struggling through a pandemic and its parallel recession. Then came Hurricane Laura and officials' evacuation orders. Full Story
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State and local leaders and thousands of residents surveyed the comparatively little damage with gratitude — and surprise. Full Story
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We're tracking the impact of Hurricane Laura, which made landfall after midnight Thursday. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott said an aerial view of the area revealed more ripped-off rooftops and downed trees in Orange than anywhere else in Texas. Full Story
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Groups that have been fixing homes and providing assistance to victims of the 2017 hurricane are now getting ready to face a new disaster, with the added challenge of COVID-19. Full Story
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The storm is now a Category 4 hurricane whose dangerous winds and storm surge could cause damage along a large swath of the Gulf Coast and Southeast Texas. Full Story
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From Galveston to the Louisiana border, Texas communities are telling residents to seek shelter away from the coast as Laura is projected to intensify into a Category 3 hurricane. Full Story
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