For years, the state of Texas and the federal Environmental Protection Agency have clashed over regulations covering major air pollution sources, like refineries. Now, that longstanding legal dispute may be giving way – somewhat. Last week, Texas and the EPA reached a deal on portions of the state's clean air plan, concerning the state's "flexible permitting program" for plants that might otherwise exceed emissions standards.
On this edition of Houston Matters, we'll learn more about flexible permitting and the deal that's been reached, as we talk with representatives of the environmental group the Sierra Club and the Texas Public Policy Foundation, an Austin-based conservative think tank. Then we'll welcome your questions about air quality standards in Greater Houston for the Bureau Chief of Pollution Control and Prevention for the city of Houston.
Also this hour: nearsightedness, farsightedness, double vision, cataracts, macular degeneration...there's an awful lot that can go wrong with our eyes. And even if you have 20/20 vision now, odds are pretty good your vision won't stay like that forever. Whether you're concerned about squinting at the computer screen, or you just want to know why it is you used to be able to read the ingredients on the back of a Sweet ‘n Low packet, and now you can't, we'll welcome your vision care questions for Optometrist Dr. Kelly Nichols, from the University of Houston's College of Optometry.
And: The Galveston Historical Foundation hosts a "Sacred Places Tour" on Saturday. We’ll learn about the tour, which features several churches of different faiths, highlighting their architecture, and their history in Galveston. The event benefits the foundation's ongoing restoration of St. Joseph's Church, the oldest wooden church building in Galveston, and – according to the Historical Foundation – the oldest German Catholic church in Texas.
