Director's Message
Every once in awhile, science and reason prevail and this was one of those times. Let's hope every once in awhile becomes more frequent in Texas.
Take Action: Protect the Rio Grande and the People of Eagle Pass from Toxic Water
The Dos Republicas coal mine stands to contaminate Elm Creek, which feeds into the Rio Grande River, with toxic chemicals and heavy metals. This would make the water unsafe for drinking, recreation, and will undermine local economies. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) plans to rubber stamp this water permit on July 6, but the people of Eagle Pass -- a Texas border community located down the road from the Dos Republicas coal mine -- need your support to make their voices heard. Approving a permit to dump this poison into Elm Creek will threaten the rivers and anyone who uses them for food, sport or recreation.
Though it has been three weeks since we posted our latest ozone pollution update, the numbers are still a little jarring - especially for the DFW area. Our Air Quality Program Director, Neil Carman, has been tracking ozone exceedances in all of the areas with monitors, and noted that by June 7, DFW had ten more exceedances reaching 95 ppb at two Fort Worth sites, which are the highest levels in nearly three years when ozone peaked at 100 ppb in September 2013. If you're unfamiliar with how ozone pollution is measured (in parts per billion), not to worry. The important thing to remember is that the current standard is 70 ppb. Ozone pollution in higher concentrations can be hazardous to your health, especially for young children and the elderly. We will continue to track ozone throughout the summer. Stay tuned!
Could Castner Range Be the Next National Monument? Help Make It So!
On the edge of the Franklin Mountains lays Castner Range, a pristine example of the Chihuahuan desert. This land that was once home to a military artillery range is now the subject of U.S. Rep Beto O'Rourke's (D-TX) Castner Range National Monument Act which was introduced to Congress this past December. This campaign to memorialize and protect Castner Range and its Mexican poppies has garnered support from dozens of organizations and thousands of citizens. Castner Range is not only a West Texas treasure but an American treasure and deserves the protection and distinction of National Monument. Visit the Castner Range National Monument website for yourself to learn about this breathtaking land, make donations to the grassroots effort, and send letters of support to your Congressional representative. When it comes to the need for this effort, Rep. O'Rourke put it best; "We can enjoy it, enjoy the beauty, and know that the very rich ecology and cultural heritage are being preserved and not being paved over and developed. We also want to make sure that kids and their kids and their kids - generations to come - can enjoy a part of the mountain that we may have taken for granted a long time."
Railroad Commission Sunset Update
The Railroad Commission is undergoing Sunset Review, the legislative process of reviewing of each state agency to reduce inefficiency and streamline government processes. This is an opportunity to improve oversight of industries in sore need of better regulation. Since our last update, the Sunset staff published their report, which included several recommendations you can read here . While we are generally supportive of their recommendations, which included improving oil and gas monitoring and enforcement as well as changing their name to something more representative of what they actually do (and many others), the recommendations did not go far enough and ignored many issues of concern to Texans for an agency that too often has represented industry's interests and not the public's. We were hoping for more, and while we are appreciative of the hard work of the Sunset staff, we feel like their recommendations fall short. The penalties for violations, for example, are still far too low to make a difference. Read our take on the Sunset staff recommendations here. Stay tuned as the process continues. We will definitely be at the public hearing on August 22, fighting for better and stronger regulations on oil and gas.
Take Action: Tell NOAA to Expand the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
The area surrounding the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is an ecologically unique area off the coast of Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama. It's composed of banks of underwater "flowers" -- coral reefs -- and coral cap species, like the queen angel fish, turtles, and even rays. The Gulf of Mexico is a unique natural treasure, but oil and gas drilling, overfishing, water pollution, wetlands loss, and climate change have ravaged its ecosystem. Right now, there's a special opportunity to protect this important marine habitat, home to dozens of threatened and endangered species of fish, turtles, mammals, and corals. After years of delay, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is finally considering five proposals to expand the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. The proposed expansions were developed after listening to input from local stakeholders. They would not prevent low-impact fishing and recreational diving. Instead, it will create common-sense regulations to protect this place. The Gulf of Mexico needs the same protection from rampant fishing and oil and gas drilling that any special place deserves, and your voice is needed.
Atlantic Coast Spared From New Offshore Oil Leases. Great! Why Not Us?
The Obama Administration announced in March that it would add another 13 oceanic oil leases between 2017-2022. With ten of these leases being located in the Gulf of Mexico while the entire Atlantic Region was excluded, our intern, Emily Millar, asked the question, "Why not us?" Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell gave a few reasons for the Atlantic Region's reprieve, including the economic effect new leases would have on fishing and tourism as well as local and community opposition. "I'm sorry, but doesn't that sound an awful lot like the Gulf of Mexico? In a place that is still recovering from a historic oil spill that took place six years ago, the addition of new leases is quite upsetting." But oil spills aren't the only threat. These additional leases mean additional pollution spewing into our atmosphere and waters and increased concern for many coastal and marine ecosystems. The removal of future leasing and drilling from the Atlantic Coast is a huge victory, not just for those communities but for the environmental community as a whole. "What the Obama Administration has done for the Atlantic Coast is absolutely groundbreaking and should not be undercut, but still, here I am thinking, why not us?" Give it a read, folks. Then take action!
Denton Update - Council Adopts Energy Plan on Split Vote
As the clock approached midnight on June 21, Denton City Council finally voted (4-3) to pass the "Denton Renewable Plan", which would increase its renewable energy use to 70% but also include a whopping 12 new natural gas power plants. Ouch. Could one call it irony that most of Denton City Council was convinced that to get to that level of renewables, the city needs to invest in the same fossil fuel that the community fought (and lost) so hard to protect themselves from: natural gas? One could also call it short sighted. Despite agreeing to study alternatives to the proposed plan, the independent analysis came up a little short of expectations. What would the plan look like if it was 100% renewable energy? What if they continued the 70% commitment, but looked at a mix of renewables, energy efficiency, demand response, and energy storage to yield the greatest possible clean energy portfolio at the most competitive price? Those questions were not answered in the study. Nevertheless, the Sierra Club will continue to talk with Denton City Council and Denton Municipal Electric about other options going forward, which could lessen the perceived need for all 12 new natural gas plants.
You Take the Good, You Take the Bad, You Take Them Both and There You Have the Facts About Texas Water!
At the end of May, the Texas Living Waters Project - a partnership between the Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter, National Wildlife Federation, and Galveston Bay Foundation - released the second edition of the Facts About Texas Water publication. This is a wonderful and accessible resource for any of your water questions ranging from "Where does the water in my home come from?" to "who decides how much I pay for water?" While the majority of Texas is still recovering from last month's monsoon, it is always important to keep water conservation on your mind. This resource is a great way to do that as well as learn about why it is so important to keep our environment clean. Now go grab yourself a nice cold glass of water, you deserve it!
Austin Adopts Better Building Energy Codes, Solar-Ready Almost Ready!
Imagine if every new home built in Texas is built to the most energy efficient standard. Imagine if every new home were ready for solar on its roof. No issues with space constraints or electrical connections. Well, you might not have to imagine much longer, especially if you live in Austin. The capitol city became the latest city in Texas to adopt the most up to date building energy codes for new commercial and residential construction. This is much needed progress on making Austin's buildings as energy efficient as they can be, and will help prevent wasted energy from escaping new homes and businesses. Along with this base code, Austin's new code will include local amendments prepared by Austin Energy to require even more efficient lighting, insulation, and windows , which will continue to make Austin the state's leader on energy efficient construction. The "solar-ready" part of the code will be up for approval by city council later this year. Stay tuned!
Regional Roundup
- If you ever doubt the impact of good reporting, read all of El Paso Times' Marty Schladen's stories on oil spills from flooding across the state. It has sparked quite the controversy, especially after the state took all the photos of the oil spills offline, but the spills keep on happening.
- Meanwhile, the Houston Chronicle is crying foul over the cost of cleaning up all the abandoned wells the oil and gas industry has left our state with. Must taxpayers go through this every time there's an oil and gas bust?
- Construction may have begun on the hotly-contested and controversial Trans-Pecos Pipeline, but that hasn't stopped the Big Bend Conservation Alliance from marshaling star power to oppose it. I wouldn't want to tick off Tommy Lee Jones.
- Snatching property to build a pipeline that locals don't need, and locals don't want. Must be the Trans-Pecos eminent domain fights, right? Nope. It's Vista Ridge, which could snake through Central Texas to San Antonio if city leaders won't put a stop to it.