The Texas Oil and Gas Association reported that companies paid a record level of taxes and state royalties last year amid a historic oil boom. But association President Todd Staples said that continued growth is not guaranteed.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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Environment
As drought persists, Texas ranchers take stock
In parts of Texas experiencing severe droughts, some ranchers are finding there is practically no grass left for cattle to graze on.
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Demographics
Revisit some of The Texas Tribune’s best stories of 2019
Our reporters crisscrossed the Texas Capitol and traveled to the Panhandle and East Texas — as well as the Netherlands and Honduras — to tell stories about the state’s politics, people and places. From a story on a migrant’s desperate journey to a look at how coal companies are leaving behind contaminated land, here is a selection of their best work of the year.
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Environment
Sierra Club intervenes in open records lawsuit against Texas Attorney General
The environmental group is trying to obtain documents showing how the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality arrived at a decision on increasing emissions limits for a toxic chemical.
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Energy
Texas regulators want stiffer penalties for company whose Port Neches plant exploded
In a surprising vote, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality rejected a staff-proposed penalty against TPC Group’s Port Neches chemical plant — which was rocked by explosions last month — for a slew of 2018 pollution violations and asked that they be referred to the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
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In Harvey's Wake
In win for Harvey victims, federal judge finds government liable for reservoir flooding
During Hurricane Harvey, thousands of properties behind two federally owned reservoirs flooded. On Tuesday, the United States Court of Federal Claims ruled that the government was liable for the flooding and that property owners are eligible for damages.
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In Harvey's Wake
Watchdog report finds air pollution monitoring fell short during Hurricane Harvey
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General found that state and federal environmental regulators didn’t start monitoring air quality soon enough during the monster storm, which brought a spike in hazardous emissions from industrial facilities.
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Environment
Port Neches plant rocked by multiple explosions has history of environmental missteps
The Southeast Texas chemical manufacturing plant, owned by Houston-based Texas Petroleum Chemical Group, has been fined multiple times by state and federal regulators for air pollution violations.
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Energy
County ends voluntary evacuation of Port Neches, the second since last week’s plant explosion
After recommending Wednesday night that residents leave the area, Jefferson County officials have told residents it’s safe to return home.
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Energy
Report: Texas ranks second in budget cuts for environmental protection
An analysis by the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Integrity Project found that 30 states have cut funding to environmental agencies over the past decade. In Texas, lawmakers slashed spending by more than a third between 2008 and 2018.
