Rice University, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Houston Health Department announced an information-gathering initiative on Wednesday that seeks to better understand the impact of the historic storm on Houston-area residents, including by linking health problems to environmental exposures.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Economy
After years of living alongside troops, border residents see little impact from Trump’s deployment so far
While President Trump’s order sending National Guard to address a “crisis” to the border has garnered national attention, those living in the Rio Grande Valley see a gap between perception and reality.
Posted in
Energy
Texas regulator says “misunderstanding” is making millennials shun oilfield jobs
Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian told House lawmakers on Wednesday that the biggest threat to a burgeoning oil boom is “the acceptance of the politically-correct-driven environmental anti-oil and gas science.”
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
Houston-area toxic waste site removed from priority cleanup list
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday that the San Jacinto Waste Pits are no longer on its “Emphasis List” of Superfund sites following a $115 million agreement to remove toxic sludge from the site.
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
As lawsuits over Texas chemical disaster add up, advocates blame Arkema and rules regulating it
Two counties, dozens of first responders and hundreds of neighbors claim in court documents that the Arkema chemical manufacturing plans committed negligence. Environmental advocates say lax industry regulations exacerbated the disaster.
Posted in
Demographics
How Donald Trump’s border wall fared in the $1.3 trillion spending bill he just signed
“We funded the initial down payment of $1.6 billion,” Trump said of border wall funding Friday. “We’re going to be starting work – literally – on Monday on not only some new wall … but also fixing existing walls.”
Posted in
Environment
Large portions of West Texas sinking at alarming rate, new report finds
A report released Thursday by geophysicists at Southern Methodist University says a 4,000-square-mile area near the “Wink Sinks” is showing signs of alarming instability.
Posted in
Environment
Report: Major Texas industrial facilities rank first nationally in illegal water pollution
A study by a Texas environmental group and a California think tank found that about half of Texas’ major industrial facilities released illegal levels of pollution into rivers, lakes and other waterways over the past two years.
Posted in
Environment
Two men in Texas immigration detention are undergoing treatment after being bitten by a bat
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say the detention center where the bites occurred is being inspected.
Posted in
Environment
Federal government may fight alongside Texas in water dispute, U.S. Supreme Court rules
The ruling is an apparent victory for Texas in a legal battle that has dragged on for more than five years. The states are bickering over the distribution of water from the Rio Grande. Those allocations are laid out in the 1938 Rio Grande Compact.