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Environment & Energy

TCEQ News Release-TCEQ approves fines totaling $1,001,983

Just in from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

 

  
TCEQ APPROVES FINES TOTALING $1,001,983 
Diamond Shamrock fined $245,227 and Lubrizol Corp. fined $143,460

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality today approved penalties totaling 
$1,001,983 against 83 regulated entities for violations of state environmental regulations. 
Agreed orders were issued for the following enforcement categories: three agricultural, 16 air quality, three Edwards Aquifer, one industrial hazardous waste, one industrial waste discharge, three licensed irrigator, three multi-media, one municipal solid waste, eight municipal waste discharge, 23 petroleum storage tank, four public water system, and one public water system operator without certification. 

Penalties were also assessed in two petroleum storage tank cases following hearings at the State Office of Administrative Hearings. There were 12 field citations. In addition, default orders were issued for two licensed irrigator cases. 

Included in the total are penalties of $245,227 against Diamond Shamrock in Moore County for 17 air violations as a result of routine investigations conducted in February, April, and June of 2009. Of the total fines, $122,613 will be used to replace or retrofit school buses in the Amarillo and Lubbock regions. 

Also included are penalties of $143,460 against The Lubrizol Corporation in Harris County for four air violations as a result of routine investigations conducted in August, 2009. Of the total fines, $71,730 will be used to supplement air monitoring operations in the Houston area. 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2010                       
CONTACT: ANDREA MORROW      
PHONE: 512-239-5011 / PAGER: 512-896-3727 

A Personal Sustainability Reading List

Many in the field, including our sustainability consulting practice, agree that the gap between eco awareness and action may represent the single largest opportunity for global sustainability progress.  While traditional ‘green’ efforts have focused on expanding awareness, the recent explosion of information and global interest indicates that the message has been sent out and received. 

What Does It Mean to Be Green?

Is it living off the grid? Living in a green house? Working at a green job?  What exactly does it mean to be green?
 

Sustainability Needs Educated Consumers

Everything you buy affects the Earth, but some choices have a lesser impact. Educating yourself about the products you buy can empower you to make a difference in protecting the planet. It's called "green purchasing," and it's easy to do. As a green living consultant, I've found the problem is, most people are simply not aware of the problems associated with purchasing less sustainable products, let alone the solutions

GulfFuture.org campaign has launched

Just in from Aaron Viles, Campaign Director for of GulfFuture.org
 

Important Hearing: PUC Considers Solar, Efficiency

Just in from Luke Metzger of Environment Texas:

I am writing to encourage you to attend an important hearing next week on two rules under consideration at the PUC which could further Texas’ investment in clean energy. The rules would help cut pollution, reduce need for new power plants and help kick-start a solar industry in Texas.

 

Do You Practice Eco Excellence?

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. ~ Aristotle
 
Habits are routines of behavior that are repeated regularly and tend to occur subconsciously, without one directly thinking consciously about them.    In the world of personal sustainability plans, this unconscious display of habits is a fertile ground of opportunity offering low hanging fruit for eco action.   

The Role of Carbon Offsetting in Living Green

By Julie Urlaub
June 2010

I think Adlai E. Stevenson said it right, "Laws are never as effective as habits."   However, considering Cap and Trade legislation, it may be the laws that create new habits.  Habits concerning carbon emissions.  Although businesses are likely to be directly impacted, it has sparked several discussions in our personal consulting with clients pursuing a sustainable lifestyle.   More specifically, carbon offsetting for individuals.

How to Contact BP

Do you have ideas for BP?  

I received a string of e-mails today and the one below was included.  It is correspondence from Hunter Rowe, Deputy Technical Manager of the Alternative Response Technology (ART) Team for BP.  It includes the email address to which you can send your ideas about what they should do about the spill.  

The names were not changed but were XXX'd out to protect the innocent.

Yes, I am secretly hoping you cc: us so we can post the good ones!

Have fun and thanks for playing!

Not a Dime of Taxpayer $ for BP

Not One Dime for BP

Last week, scientists revealed that BP's oil spill is much worse than we thought. The oil is gushing into the Gulf of Mexico at a rate somewhere between 25,000 and 80,000 barrels per day -- with underwater oil plumes stretching on as far as 10 miles. Oil-soaked pelicans, fishermen idled, coastal economies disrupted -- some have put the bill as high as $14 billion.[1] Who will pay for all this?

Click here to help make sure that BP is held accountable for every dime of this disaster.

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