Posted on · In a surprising vote, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality rejected a staff-proposed penalty against TPC Group's Port Neches chemical plant — which was rocked by explosions last month — for a slew of 2018 pollution violations and asked that they be referred to the Texas Attorney General's Office.
Posted on · A House science committee is looking into why a NASA plane that could've tracked pollution after Harvey wasn't used.
Posted on · The Senate Committee on Water and Rural Affairs took public testimony on a bill that would strengthen state oversight of above-ground drums that hold hazardous hydrocarbons.
Posted on · A coalition of environmental and community groups are calling for change after the recent chemical fires in Deer Park and Crosby.
Posted on · They protested a state committee hearing that only included invited testimony from officials.
Posted on · On Wednesday's Houston Matters: In the wake of the deadly fire at a KMCO plant in Crosby we learn about the company's legal history. We get predictions for the upcoming hurricane season. Our experts discuss the latest political stories. Local food writers share their favorite places for Tex-Mex. And a Houston startup sends personalized stories through the mail.
Posted on · There's no timeline for when the clean-up will be completed, or when the Houston Ship Channel will fully reopen.
Posted on · The team has been collecting water and air quality samples in Galveston Bay on a quarterly basis since June 2017.
Posted on · ITC plans to enter the tank farm containment area to be more "aggressive" in the remediation process.
Posted on · The company has received 300 claims so far. Clean up efforts are ongoing and there are pockets of oil on regional bayous and the Houston Ship Channel.
Posted on · Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo will instruct county departments to look for ways to improve future response to incidents of this kind.
Posted on · The City of Deer Park says water is safe to drink, but residents who use wells north of Texas State Highway 225 should have it tested. The Deer Park, La Porte and Pasadena school districts have canceled classes for Friday.
Posted on · UH Professor Ramanan Krishnamoorti says government agencies and the petrochemical industry should be more proactive and transparent about safety and emergency plans.
Posted on · On Wednesday's Houston Matters: Why a state official rejected NASA's offer to fly a pollution-detecting plane over Houston after Harvey. Our weekly political roundup. The best places for pizza in town. And filmmaker Patrick Wang discusses his feature film, A Bread Factory.
Posted on · Rice environmental engineering professor Daniel Cohan discusses who's responsibility it is to insure Texas coal plants comply with federal emission standards.