The Lone Star Sierran - May 2015

Director's Message

Despite the amount of Newsletter column inches devoted to the Legislative circus, a lot is and will continue happening beyond the pink capitol dome in Austin. Much of what happens after the session, which ends in a little more than a week, will be affected by things that happened during the session. For instance, successful oil and gas and industry efforts to limit local and citizen oversight and control of their actions will enable the oil and gas industry to continue their frenzied production efforts relatively unimpeded.

The Railroad Commission, their lone watchdog, was denied the full amount of resources they need to adequately inspect and oversee industry operations at a time when production continues to increase with a growing incentive to explore and exploit discoveries in densely-populated areas.

We will intensify efforts across the state to drive energy demand toward sustainable energy alternatives like wind and solar both to limit the harmful effects of burning fossil fuels in Texas and to demonstrate the health, economic, and environmental benefit of greater reliance on renewable resources. We will also redouble our efforts to network with communities adversely affected by oil and gas operations in their communities and the burgeoning miles of pipelines crossing sensitive regions.

We may start in Karnes County where oil wells blew out this week spewing light crude oil over the areas on two separate days. Stay tuned.

Texas Legislature 2015

May Update - Them Dying Days of the Session

In brief, parks do well, TERP and extra inspectors for oil and gas still short-changed, and other bills face an uncertain future. As the 84th Legislative Session comes to a close, Conferees of the Senate and House reached final agreements on the 2016-2017 state budget and a more modest tax reduction plan of $3.8 billion, down from a proposed $4.9 billion package.

The budget itself was kind to a number of programs important to the Legislature, including Sierra Club priorities like funding for local and state parks, water conservation programs at the Texas Water Development Board and air quality program. Still, a number of priorities our members care about were not included in the final budget, such as additional water resource planning grants and a larger commitment to the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan. Moreover, any attempt – however modest – to improve oversight of the oil and gas industry fell well short of many advocates' wishes. Still, despite the late hour, Sierra Club continues to push for an infusion of cash to the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan.

Read on for the very latest on the status of some of the bills with the biggest environmental impact.

Sneaky Moves Could Breathe New Life Into Water Gridzilla Bill

More than 1,500 Sierrans have contacted their State Representative and Senator opposing the Water Gridzilla bill, HB 3298, in recent weeks, and the bill was close to dying. But last minute shenanigans in the House may breathe new life into this monstrous bill that could pave the way to a massive, unnecessary, costly, and environmentally damaging water conveyance network. The Water Gridzilla bill's sponsor, Rep. Larson (R-San Antonio), attempted to add a version of the legislation as an amendment to SB 1301, which was a simple bill to conform the membership of the Texas Water Resources Finance Authority. Sadly, in the last day's of the session, legislators end up voting for things they don't know anything about. Many House members not paying attention to what was happening voted for the amendment 107-24 on second reading! However, before its third reading, under pressure, Rep. Larson pulled his amendment from SB 1301. There may be more tricks up his sleeve. Larson said from the House podium that there were other "vehicles" coming for his water grid legislation. One of those vehicles is SB 1337, set for House floor action this coming Sunday. Please update your Representative and stay tuned!

Merz: How A Sales-Tax Holiday For Guns Would Hurt Texas State Parks

[Editor's Note: Our Conservation Chair, Evelyn Merz, urges all parks supporters to call their state elected officials as soon as possible to ask them to oppose HB 849 and SB 228. Read more here.] The Texas Legislature, while opening a door to adequately fund the Texas state park system via appropriation of the sporting-goods sales tax, is quietly closing a window so that less tax revenue actually flows into the pool. On May 12, the House voted to approve HB 849, which would create two state sales tax-free weekends annually for the purchasers of firearms and hunting supplies. The fiscal analysis did not consider the effect on funding state parks or the Texas Historical Commission. Under funding guidelines adopted in 2007, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives 94 percent of the appropriated Sporting Goods Sales Tax, and the Texas Historical Commission receives the remaining 6 percent. The fiscal impact of HB 849 is estimated as being a reduction to general revenue of $11.1 million over the next two fiscal years. This $11.1 million would come directly from the sporting-goods sales tax available for appropriation to state parks and the Texas Historical Commission.

Whitehead: Ongoing Texas Drought Affects Wildlife

[Editor's Note: We bid a fond farewell to our Spring semester Media & Communications Intern, Nikki Whitehead, this month. She was a great help in drafting our monthly newsletters. Before she left, she took the opportunity to write on something she cares deeply about: the drought and its effect on wildlife.] The ongoing Texas drought has thrown nature out of balance and has had a devastating impact on wildlife, especially aquatic and bird species. The majority of Texas lakes are extremely low or have dried up completely. According to the 2012 Texas State Water Plan, about 40% of our water supplies today in Texas are drawn from lakes. All of the lakes in Texas are water reservoirs from dams built on rivers and streams.

Don't Forget to Send Us A Lone Star Chapter Environmental Award Nomination! Deadline Is May 30!

Each year, we take a moment to look back at the previous year and recognize the great work of our volunteers, staff, and other individuals with special awards to show our appreciation. The Awards Committee is seeking your assistance in selecting those individuals who, in 2014, on the Group or Chapter Level, excelled in some conservation, outings, administrative, or media capacity and deserve special recognition. The chapter environmental awards will be presented at a special banquet in Dallas on July 18. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information! Send your nominations (along with a detailed explanation of why this person should be nominated) to lonestar.chapter@sierraclub.org. The deadline for nominations is May 30, 2015.

Texas Could Probably Meet EPA's Carbon Goals If State Lawmakers Leave the Energy Market Alone

If you were to read the pretty, glossy one-pagers from the Texas Public Policy Foundation, or listen to the testimony by the Public Utility Commission, or lobbyists representing American Electric Power, or those entities suing the EPA over its proposed Clean Power Plan (CPP), you would think the EPA is trying to force Texas to stop using air conditioning or shut off all of our coal plants tomorrow. The reality is that it Texas is in great position to meet those goals if market trends continue. However, these opponents of EPA's plan are fighting those trends. That's not very business friendly, is it?

Outings Across Texas

• Apparently, graduates of the University of North Texas in Denton were not that enthusiastic about hearing Gov. Abbott give their commencement address on the eve of signing HB 40 into law, the bill that will revoke the voter-approved fracking ban.
• Citizens of the Big Bend area are fighting with everything they have to stop a pipeline from tearing through the iconic and beautiful area. If you haven't heard about the proposed Trans-Pecos Pipeline, please read this story from Mother Jones Magazine.
• Homes crumbling, property values tumbling. Irving Sierra Club member Cathy Wallace penned this Letter to the Editor to the Dallas Morning News calling out the economic prejudice of the oil and gas Legislature. Brava, Cathy!
• Last but not least, congratulations and welcome to Sierra Club's new President, Aaron Mair! Check out the entire interview, which includes Mair saying he and Obama should meet in Yosemite where Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir once stood for that iconic photo. Read the full interview here.