Did the Railroad Commission Finally Get Its Head Out of the Sand on “Fracking” Earthquakes?
On August, 12, the Railroad Commission took an initial step toward recognizing an issue it has essentially punted on for several years: the connection between the injection of large amounts of oil and gas wastes underground and the induced seismic activity that has occurred in areas throughout Texas, but particularly in an area to the northwest of Fort Worth. Among the many changes proposed is a requirement that proposed operators perform an upfront analysis of the history of previous seismic activity near the location, and an understanding that the Railroad Commission can ask for and require much more detailed information to assure that injected wastes will stay in the confined disposal zones. As anyone with a twelve-step program knows, the first step to fixing a problem is to recognize it exists.
The Cross-Timbers Group Sees Resurgence of Activity in North Texas
Our friends with the Cross Timbers Sierra Club Group (based in Denton, Texas) have seen a resurgence of activity this year, assisted in part by the area's growing population and growing opposition to fracking in the region. The Group's new co-Chairs, Harrison Wicks and Brandon Morton, along with Jim Clement, the Group's Outings Chair and their Emeritus Ex-Officio Chair Peggy La Point, have brought-in dozens of new members this year by ramping-up their social calendar with meet-ups and outdoor activities like camping, hiking, kayaking, and bicycling.
Time to Step up to the Plate and Ask for the Money
It may not seem like much is going on at the Texas Legislature right now, with the 84th session still months away and an election between now and then, but budget decisions are being made now that will affect key state agencies, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Agencies such as the TCEQ are in the middle of submitting “legislative appropriations requests,” or LARs, which will form the basis of the state budget for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. Lone Star Chapter Conservation Director Cyrus Reed recently submitted comments to the TCEQ that would improve air quality and develop clean energy infrastructure in Texas, if adopted.
Is Texas Slowly Becoming the Country's Radioactive Waste Dump?
The focal point for the decades-long debate on where to put all the nation’s radioactive waste may soon shift to West Texas. There is a facility already storing and disposing certain types of low-level radioactive waste in Andrews County, but it was just allowed to accept more and different kinds of radioactive waste by the TCEQ (and there might be more to come). In addition, officials in Loving County are pressing for a high-level radioactive waste dump intended to be temporary storage until the federal government – at long last – selects and finalizes a permanent waste depository.
Early Bird Registration $55 for Earth Wind & Fire Energy Summit
Less than one week remains to register at the early bird rate for the Earth, Wind & Fire Energy Summit in Addison, October 4-5 for the low cost of $55. While other conferences focus on a single form of energy or only selected sources of energy, this weekend event promises to provide attendees with a global view of America’s energy portfolio, discussing not only traditional and renewable forms of energy, but also new, emerging energy technologies and the potential for these sources in the future. Who should attend? Members of the general public interested in energy issues, policymakers, officials, and government agency representatives, nonprofit organizations, environmental professionals, small business owners and executives, as well as college and graduate students.
Last Chance to Speak Up for Water Conservation
Three more days remain for Texans to speak up for water conservation! The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has set September 1 as the deadline to receive comments on the agency’s proposed rules to implement Proposition 6. Prop 6 – passed overwhelmingly by Texas voters last November – created new state water funds to help Texas communities meet their water needs. The Sierra Club supported Prop 6 because not less than 20% of the new funding is intended for water conservation or reuse, and for the first time, projects in the state water plan must be prioritized before being eligible for state funding. To be sure that the new State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) and a related fund achieve their potential, however, Texans need to show support for water conservation! TWDB has made it easy to do so, and the agency leadership is eager to hear your opinion. Tell the state water agency you want water conservation projects to be the first priority for funding! These hot August days remind us that we Texans always need to conserve our precious water resources. Let’s make sure the new state water fund helps us do that!
Git Along, Little Greenies! Renewable Roundup Comes to Belton
After years in Fredericksburg, the annual Renewable Roundup is coming to Belton, Texas, September 26-28. Situated on I-35 just south of Waco, Belton is an easy weekend drive from Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. Now in its 14th year, the Roundup features talks and exhibits on green & sustainable building, water use & reuse, energy efficiency, organic growing, renewable energy, alternative transportation, community & personal action, as well as children’s activities. Tickets for any single day are $8, two days are $16, and three-day passes are just $20! The Lone Star Chapter is a sponsor and one of the main organizers of the event. We will have a table, which we will gladly share with a regional Sierra Club group, so let us know if you would like to volunteer for tabling or for some other aspect of the event. We can get you in for free if you volunteer!
Jennifer Walker Recognized by City of Austin
The Lone Star Chapter is lucky to have dedicated experts in several fields, from air quality to energy to water, and it’s great to see them officially recognized for their work. Our Water Resources Coordinator, Jennifer Walker, was honored in August for her service on the City of Austin’s Water Resource Task Force. At a special ceremony during the August 7 council meeting, Jennifer and her fellow Task Force members were presented with certificates of appreciation by the city, noting that the City Council was presented “with a robust set of recommendations” from the group. Congratulations, Jennifer, and keep up the great work educating and advocating for strong water conservation policies in Austin and around the state!
Regional Round-up
Good luck, Warton Cave meshweaver: In an August 13 Federal Register notice, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a finding that the eyeless spider known as the Warton Cave meshweaver, which is only known to inhabit a private cave in Travis County, was not a distinct species and thus not eligible for Endangered Specie Act protection. However, they did ask the public send them any new information that becomes available at any time.
Last Chance to Nominate: Do you know someone who just rocked last year? The deadline to nominate that all-star environmentalist friend or colleague of yours for the Lone Star Chapter awards is fast approaching. You do not have to be a Sierran to nominate, and nominees do not have to be a Sierran. The deadline to submit nominations is September 15, 2014. To find out more, click here.
Houston Fundraiser September 17: The Houston Regional Group will host a special evening to benefit the Lone Star Chapter, September 17, at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. Gather with like-minded folks, enjoy good company, great appetizers, and desserts. See displays of local conservation efforts and service projects. and take a guided hike or walk. Chapter Director Scheleen Walker will speak about past successes and upcoming challenges, and Water Resources Coordinator Jennifer Walker will speak about her work in Houston. For tickets, sponsor information, and questions, contact Lorraine Gibson at raineygib@aol.com or 281-384-4104.
Historic Affordable Clean Energy Plan Adopted in Austin: A diverse coalition of groups representing workers, people of faith, low-income residents, clean energy supporters and environmental advocates united in their of goal of expanding affordable clean energy and protections to public health cheered the Austin City Council for adopting the Affordable Energy Resolution late Thursday evening. The city set an ambitious solar goal as part of a path to zero carbon pollution from Austin Energy by 2030. See our press release here.
Drought halts species protection work in San Marcos: Crews that have been removing silt and invasive plants from the San Marcos River have been forced to stop their work to restore habitat for several endangered species because of worsening drought conditions. Due to extremely low flow, the work itself jeopardizes the species the effort is designed to protect. Species that depend on the spring flow include the fountain darter, the San Marcos salamander and Texas wild rice, according to an Austin American Statesman story.
San Antonio has a new Sustainability Director: The Alamo Group is hosting a meet-and-greet with the new Director of the Office of Sustainability, Doug Melnick, on Tuesday, September 16, at the Witte Museum. Mr. Melnick comes to San Antonio from Albany, NY. Under his leadership, Albany was recognized recently by Governor Andrew Cuomo as one of six cities in New York to have participated in the Climate Smart Communities Certification Program. To read his bio, click here. He will give an update on programs and plans. For further info click here.
Galveston gets active: The Galveston Bay Area Group-Houston has resumed its 3rd Wednesday of the month meetings. Their speaker in August was Mary Carter, an attorney with Blackburn & Carter, who represents the Aransas Project, a non-profit group formed to protect San Antonio and Aransas Bays to secure freshwater inflows for the survival of the endangered whooping crane. They are also planning a meeting on September 17 on protecting several wetlands identified in the Houston area that are in danger. For more information, click here.
Message From Director Scheleen Walker
For many, August is a quiet month. Many elected bodies are in recess, families take vacation, and you find yourself in the air-conditioned environs of your favorite movie theater frequently as the 100-degree day ticker starts to really move. Though all of these things still happen, this August has not been quiet. Major decisions have been made both good and bad at the TCEQ and Railroad Commission. Another major area of activity is the state budget process. While the Legislature does not convene until January, the pieces of the puzzle for the next session are being made right now. Much greater public scrutiny needs to be put on this process because the fate of so much we care about is practically being pre-determined through agency budget requests. Moreover, legislators on the Legislative Budget Board as well as Senate Finance and House Appropriations committees have begun to indicate what kind of bills they will file. These bodies that handle the budget bill are sort of like a power funnel. The Legislature may be a 181-member body, but in reality these few control the fate of bills with a fiscal note attached to them. Over the next several months, we will endeavor to shed light on this process and work to ensure your interests in environmental protection, clean energy, and water conservation are fought for.
Scheleen Walker, Director
Lone Star Chapter