Southwest (AZ NM OK TX)

Foul-Smelling Biofuels Plant In Southwest Dallas Is Shutting Down

"A plant near homes in southwest Dallas that renders animal fat into biofuel is shutting down after The Dallas Morning News found that it appears to be operating without proper zoning. Neighbors have complained for years about the smell of dead and rotting animals that they say comes from the facility owned by Envirotein."

Source: Dallas Morning News, 10/18/2023

Texas Quietly Sets Weak Cancer Risk Standard For Industrial Air Pollution

"The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has quietly proposed maintaining a target cancer-risk level for air pollution permits that scientists and public health officials consider inadequate to protect public health, especially for communities like those east of Houston that are exposed simultaneously to many sources of industrial emissions."

Source: Inside Climate News, 10/17/2023

Prying Open the Statehouse Doors

Reporting on environmental stories often leads to the state legislature, where key material can be frustratingly hard to access. Whether that’s because the state is deliberately hiding information, has poor systems for sharing it or isn’t even tracking it, there are ways to get what you need. Four seasoned environment reporters offer tips, tricks and commiseration.

SEJ Publication Types: 
Visibility: 
January 24, 2024 to January 26, 2024

Media Briefing on Plastic Pollution in Port Arthur, Texas

Beyond Plastics and the Port Arthur Community Action Network are hosting a free media briefing for journalists on multiple issues related to plastics, including a kickoff by  Dr. Robert Bullard on the 24th and a “toxic tour”of Port Arthur on the 26th. Lodging and meals included if you register by Dec 1.

Visibility: 

"Biden Suspends 26 Environmental Laws to Build Border Wall"

"President Joe Biden is suspending 26 environmental laws to build a border wall in south Texas, a move announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday. The laws include the Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Environmental Policy Act—all waived in favor of constructing a border wall to stop migrants fleeing into the U.S. through Mexico."

Source: Earther, 10/06/2023

Oil Firms Helped Craft Texas’ New Waste Rules For 2 Years Before The Public

"State regulators on Monday released their draft rules for what to do with all the hazardous oilfield waste that’s left over once a well is drilled. The announcement gives the public one month to comment on the new rules — while some industry representatives started giving input more than two years ago, documents and interviews show."

Source: Texas Tribune, 10/05/2023

Arizona To Cancel Leases Allowing Saudi-Owned Farm Access To Its Groundwater

"Arizona governor Katie Hobbs said this week her administration is terminating state land leases that for years have given a Saudi-owned farm nearly unfettered access to pump groundwater in the dry southwestern state."

Source: AP, 10/04/2023

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