The Texas Railroad Commission is tasked with plugging wells. But the state regulators say their scope is limited.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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Panhandle Wildfires
Texas wildfires continue growing as firefighters struggle to contain massive Panhandle blazes
The five fires have burned more than a million acres — more than double the landmass of Houston — as residents have fled or sheltered in place.
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Environment
Crawfish prices soaring after last year’s drought wiped out most of the harvest
“It’s like the stock market crash for crawfish,” said Thomas Rozelle, a Pasadena wholesaler struggling to find enough supply for his Houston customers.
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Environment
Texas Tech System receives 6,000 acres in state’s “Big Empty” region for research, learning labs
The property is currently an observatory surrounded by open land. System officials say they’ll use it for agricultural research and other opportunities.
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Energy
Railroad Commission approves oilfield waste ponds next to Baptist camp in Permian Basin
Martin Water is building an oil and gas waste recycling facility next to the Circle 6 Baptist Camp in the Permian Basin despite concerns about water and air pollution.
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Climate Change in Texas
Rescued Gulf of Mexico coral in a Galveston aquarium could help the species’ survival
A new report found that coral off Texas’ coast could die off by 2040 because of climate change.
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Environment
The EPA sets tougher national soot standards. These 10 Texas counties already exceed them.
Some environmental experts are skeptical that Texas can meet the new rules on particulate matter, which can cause serious respiratory problems.
Sponsor Post
Texas businesses embrace sustainability trends, forge nonprofit partnerships
Texas businesses embrace sustainability, forming partnerships with nonprofits for a greener future. Corporate philanthropy, employee engagement, and strategic collaborations drive environmental stewardship, offering marketing advantages in conscious consumer markets.
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Environment
In Dallas, EPA casts a net for answers on how pollution from concrete batch plants affects people’s health
EPA scientists went fishing to begin a study of how pollution from a group of concrete batch plants impacts human health.
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Economy
Texas’ oil and gas production surges even as federal government clamps down on environmental regulations
Crude oil and natural gas extraction in Texas reached record levels in 2023, according to the industry’s annual report.