Every year West Texas experiences more and more small earthquakes. The study by the University of Texas at Austin documented more than 7,000 starting in 2009.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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TribCast
TribCast: Captured by coal, a Legislative Budget Board in turmoil
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Kiah, Edgar, Emma and Cassi about a major Tribune investigation into coal clean-ups in Texas, state leaders’ role in a North Texas child custody case, a mass exodus from the Legislative Budget Board and the latest on the House speaker.
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Captured by Coal
Texas coal companies are leaving behind contaminated land. The state is letting them.
An investigation by The Texas Tribune and Grist shows that regulators in the Lone Star State have given a hand up to struggling coal companies as they face millions of dollars in mandated land restoration costs.
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Captured by Coal
Texas signed off on the restoration of this old mine. Now a leaky landfill is contaminating groundwater.
Alcoa has put its shuttered Sandow Mine site on the market for $250 million, advertising it as a country paradise. Testing has found that groundwater under a landfill in the middle of the property is contaminated with toxic heavy metals.
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Captured by Coal
Big coal gave a tiny Texas town free land. There’s a major catch.
Sulphur Springs leaders say they want Luminant — Texas’ largest electricity generator — to leave in place a 120-foot-tall mound of excavated dirt at the site of a shuttered coal mine so they can build an amphitheater. But the soil contains potentially dangerous materials, according to state regulators.
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Environment
West Texas detention facility enacting water conservation measures after depletion of local water tanks
The Sierra Blanca facility, which houses ICE detainees, shuts down its water supply at 11 p.m. daily to allow its on-site water tanks to replenish overnight.
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2019 Texas Constitutional Amendment Election
Texas voters could stabilize funding for state parks with Proposition 5
Decades ago, lawmakers passed a law that was meant to fully fund Texas Parks and Wildlife, but the money never seemed to make it to the parks. Now they’re asking voters to create a constitutional mandate that parks get more money.
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Environment
Plastic company set to pay $50 million settlement in water pollution suit brought on by Texas residents
A judge had ruled that the company illegally dumped billions of plastic pellets and other pollutants into Lavaca Bay and other waterways.
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Environment
Imelda victims will receive federal assistance after disaster declaration
Nearly 900 homes sustained major damage or were destroyed and uninsured in six affected counties, according to a preliminary assessment.
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Environment
Texans still don’t know if they qualify for FEMA aid after Imelda. But some say the potential help may not be worth the wait.
For people affected by Imelda to get FEMA aid, there have to be at least 800 flooded homes that weren’t insured — and it could be weeks before Texans know if that threshold is met.