San Antonio Planning Commission to discuss Guajolote Ranch financing model in January
Read full article: San Antonio Planning Commission to discuss Guajolote Ranch financing model in JanuarySan Antonio’s Planning Commission tabled discussions around a financing model for the Guajolote Ranch development in northwestern Bexar County, despite suggestions from opponents that the issue would be heard this week.
Guajolote Ranch opponents allege constitutional provision violation in filing for TCEQ rehearing
Read full article: Guajolote Ranch opponents allege constitutional provision violation in filing for TCEQ rehearingOpponents of the Guajolote Ranch development allege the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) exceeded its authority and violated constitutional provisions by approving a controversial wastewater permit last month, according to a motion for rehearing filed Monday.
Fight over Guajolote Ranch heats up as Texas Senator urges rejection of wastewater permit
Read full article: Fight over Guajolote Ranch heats up as Texas Senator urges rejection of wastewater permitTexas State Sen. Donna Campbell is urging state environmental regulators to deny a wastewater discharge permit tied to the controversial Guajolote Ranch development, a proposed 2,900-home Lennar project planned for northwest Bexar County.
Texas Senator sends opposition letter to TCEQ on recently approved Guajolote Ranch permit
Read full article: Texas Senator sends opposition letter to TCEQ on recently approved Guajolote Ranch permitTexas Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) sent a letter of opposition to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regarding a recently approved controversial wastewater permit.
SAWS president and CEO says Guajolote Ranch development will not cause ‘lower quality water’
Read full article: SAWS president and CEO says Guajolote Ranch development will not cause ‘lower quality water’The head of San Antonio Water System (SAWS) told KSAT that systems are in place to protect the city’s water supply after the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) gave the green light for Guajolote Ranch, a controversial development in northwest Bexar County.
Guajolote Ranch project moves forward as TCEQ approves wastewater facility permit over watershed
Read full article: Guajolote Ranch project moves forward as TCEQ approves wastewater facility permit over watershedThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approved the permit for a controversial wastewater facility in northwest Bexar County, as part of a development project known as Guajolote Ranch.
Guajolote Ranch project moves forward as TCEQ approves wastewater facility permit over Helotes Creek watershed
Read full article: Guajolote Ranch project moves forward as TCEQ approves wastewater facility permit over Helotes Creek watershedThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approved the permit for a controversial wastewater facility in northwest Bexar County, as part of a development project known as Guajolote Ranch.
Wastewater treatment facilities exist along the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. What makes Guajolote Ranch different?
Read full article: Wastewater treatment facilities exist along the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. What makes Guajolote Ranch different?Concerns are mounting over a proposed wastewater treatment plant at the Guajolote Ranch development in northwest Bexar County.
Bexar County commissioner emphasizes local decision-making on Guajolote Ranch wastewater permit
Read full article: Bexar County commissioner emphasizes local decision-making on Guajolote Ranch wastewater permitBexar County leaders are voicing concerns on the controversial Guajolote Ranch development proposed for northwest Bexar County.
2 state laws created after KSAT’s dirty water investigation in Wilson County just went into effect
Read full article: 2 state laws created after KSAT’s dirty water investigation in Wilson County just went into effectA slew of new state laws are officially in effect as of Sept. 1. Two of those laws were enacted following a monthslong KSAT investigation.
What’s in Spring Branch water? Families question safety after weeks of discoloration
Read full article: What’s in Spring Branch water? Families question safety after weeks of discolorationSome Spring Branch residents say their tap water has been discolored for nearly a month, with shades ranging from yellow to brown. Despite the murky appearance, residents remain frustrated as officials say the water is safe to drink.
$351 million in San Antonio taxpayer money wasted if proposed wastewater treatment plant approved, neighbor says
Read full article: $351 million in San Antonio taxpayer money wasted if proposed wastewater treatment plant approved, neighbor saysA northwest Bexar County resident is expressing outrage over a proposed wastewater treatment plant that could compromise San Antonio’s drinking water, potentially squandering $351 million in taxpayer funds meant for water protection.
Proposed wastewater treatment plant could make San Antonio’s water undrinkable, scientist says
Read full article: Proposed wastewater treatment plant could make San Antonio’s water undrinkable, scientist saysResearchers say building a treatment plant over the Helotes Creek watershed could present challenges unique to the region
Environmental group explains what steps people can take against the proposed wastewater permit in Guajolote Ranch
Read full article: Environmental group explains what steps people can take against the proposed wastewater permit in Guajolote RanchThe future of a wastewater permit for the controversial Guajolote Ranch development in northwest Bexar County is in the hands of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
10 Bexar County state House reps sign letter urging TCEQ to reject Guajolote Ranch permit
Read full article: 10 Bexar County state House reps sign letter urging TCEQ to reject Guajolote Ranch permitA bipartisan group of state lawmakers from the Bexar County area penned a letter to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) this week, rejecting a wastewater permit for the Guajolote Ranch development.
Canyon Lake-area communities under boil water notice following Guadalupe River flooding
Read full article: Canyon Lake-area communities under boil water notice following Guadalupe River floodingThe Texas Water Company has issued a boil water notice for residents in the Canyon Lake area following severe flooding along the Guadalupe River.
Live oak trees cut down for Northwest Bexar County development; residents argue it’s illegal
Read full article: Live oak trees cut down for Northwest Bexar County development; residents argue it’s illegalA northwest Bexar County neighborhood group claims the developer of the contentious Guajolote Ranch development is illegally cutting legacy live oak trees on private property.
KSAT investigation helps change water law in Texas; 2 bills passed keep communities safer
Read full article: KSAT investigation helps change water law in Texas; 2 bills passed keep communities saferWhat started as a KSAT story investigating brown water in two Wilson County neighborhoods has since concluded in the creation of two new state laws.
Judges recommend TCEQ approval of wastewater permit for controversial Guajolote Ranch development
Read full article: Judges recommend TCEQ approval of wastewater permit for controversial Guajolote Ranch developmentState administrative law judges recommended that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approve a wastewater permit for the controversial Guajolote Ranch development by Florida-based Lennar Corp. in northwest Bexar County. However, the decision is not final and could lead to further legal battles.
Texas bill seeking to keep toxic “forever chemicals” off farmland misses key deadline
Read full article: Texas bill seeking to keep toxic “forever chemicals” off farmland misses key deadlineSupporters say the bill would protect farmland in Texas. Opponents say limiting PFAS chemicals in biosolids will force water utilities to look at other disposal methods, which will lead to higher utility bills.
TCEQ issues air quality alerts for possible high ozone levels in San Antonio
Read full article: TCEQ issues air quality alerts for possible high ozone levels in San AntonioThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has issued multiple air quality alerts for Thursday, including one for San Antonio.
KSAT investigation into brown water in Wilson County prompts filing of 4 bills in Texas legislature
Read full article: KSAT investigation into brown water in Wilson County prompts filing of 4 bills in Texas legislatureSix months ago, KSAT began reporting on dirty, undrinkable water in several Floresville-area neighborhoods. Multiple bills filed by a state Senator, if passed, could bring meaningful change.
TCEQ recommends denying wastewater permit for Guajolote Ranch development
Read full article: TCEQ recommends denying wastewater permit for Guajolote Ranch developmentTCEQ's Office of Public Interest Counsel has officially recommended denying a wastewater permit for a Florida-based corporation planning to develop nearly 3,000 homes and a wastewater plant in northwest Bexar County.
Texas regulators grapple with a growing problem: old oil wells leaking polluted water
Read full article: Texas regulators grapple with a growing problem: old oil wells leaking polluted waterTwo years after lawmakers created a $10 million program to address leaking wells in rural counties, none of the money has been distributed.
Thousands of gallons of sewage spilled into San Antonio River due to mechanical issue at SAWS plant
Read full article: Thousands of gallons of sewage spilled into San Antonio River due to mechanical issue at SAWS plantThousands of gallons of sewage spilled into the San Antonio River on the South Side following a mechanical failure at a San Antonio Water Systems treatment plant.
TCEQ contradicts statement from water well company accused of producing brown, ‘undrinkable’ water
Read full article: TCEQ contradicts statement from water well company accused of producing brown, ‘undrinkable’ waterNeighbors in the Floresville area are continuing their battle with the private company that owns their water wells.
Detailed answers from water well company: What are they using, not using to deter brown water
Read full article: Detailed answers from water well company: What are they using, not using to deter brown waterKSAT sent a list of questions to a water well company about how it’s trying to keep the water clean, and Tuesday the company sent detailed answers.
Despite back-to-back deals on water from Mexico, relief for South Texas farmers is far from certain
Read full article: Despite back-to-back deals on water from Mexico, relief for South Texas farmers is far from certainTexas agreed to take 120,000 acre-feet of water from Mexico this month, only after the U.S. and Mexico agreed to an updated treaty.
City of La Coste issues boil water notice after well failure
Read full article: City of La Coste issues boil water notice after well failureThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has issued a boil water notice for residents of La Coste following a well failure that resulted in a city-wide water outage.
How Texas’ environmental agency weakened a once-rigorous air pollution monitoring team
Read full article: How Texas’ environmental agency weakened a once-rigorous air pollution monitoring teamFormer employees say the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality gutted the unit soon after the fracking boom swept the state oil industry. The operation never returned to what it was before.
Northwest Side sewer spill prompts SAWS, TCEQ notices
Read full article: Northwest Side sewer spill prompts SAWS, TCEQ noticesA damaged sewer main prompted the spill, which dumped an estimated 50,000 gallons of domestic wastewater, potentially affecting the nearby Zarzamora Creek, according to a notice from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
After six years, a Texas town’s boil-water notice has been lifted, but residents are still concerned
Read full article: After six years, a Texas town’s boil-water notice has been lifted, but residents are still concernedThe town’s troubles started in 2018, when its water tested positive for the dangerous E.coli bacteria.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality sets hearing for Guajolote Ranch development proposal
Read full article: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality sets hearing for Guajolote Ranch development proposalThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is set to hear the request for a waste water treatment plant permit that's been causing concerns among property owners near Grey Forest and environmental groups.
As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas cities look to alternatives for water
Read full article: As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas cities look to alternatives for waterMany of the solutions are costly, putting them out of reach for small towns. But the region's most populous cities are getting innovative.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asks state to halt new cement plant permits until 2025
Read full article: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asks state to halt new cement plant permits until 2025Citing community concerns about a planned cement plant in Grayson County, Patrick’s letter asks TCEQ to reject the permit and halt permit approvals statewide.
Neglected and exposed: Toxic air lingers in a Texas Latino community, revealing failures in state’s air monitoring system
Read full article: Neglected and exposed: Toxic air lingers in a Texas Latino community, revealing failures in state’s air monitoring systemPublic data from a network of state air monitors around the Houston Ship Channel is hard to interpret and is often inadequate, leaving Latino-majority neighborhoods like Cloverleaf unaware of whether the air they breathe is safe.
80+ parties join to stop TCEQ from allowing wastewater to be dumped into Helotes Creek
Read full article: 80+ parties join to stop TCEQ from allowing wastewater to be dumped into Helotes CreekThe City of San Antonio, San Antonio Water System and more than 80 parties are joining the effort to stop the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality from allowing wastewater to be dumped into a local creek.
Northwest Bexar County residents fight to stop waste water from being dumped near Edwards Aquifer
Read full article: Northwest Bexar County residents fight to stop waste water from being dumped near Edwards AquiferHelotes and Grey Forest residents are asking for more voices to join their cause to stop the legal dumping of millions of gallons of treated wastewater just miles from the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone.
Texas companies reported releasing 1 million pounds of excess pollution during recent cold snap
Read full article: Texas companies reported releasing 1 million pounds of excess pollution during recent cold snapCalled “upset” events, companies are required to tell the state when they emit pollution above what their permits allow.
Neighbors collecting testimonials against Southwest Side Scrap Yard over air quality concerns
Read full article: Neighbors collecting testimonials against Southwest Side Scrap Yard over air quality concernsNeighbors held a meeting in November with state and city officials to discuss growing concerns about multiple fires at Monterrey Iron & Metal Recycling. Now, they're working to build a case.
Judge overrules Texas, strikes down air pollution permit for Gulf Coast oil terminal
Read full article: Judge overrules Texas, strikes down air pollution permit for Gulf Coast oil terminalA judge reversed a 2022 decision by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that involved its controversial “one-mile rule” to deny hearing requests.
Unhealthy amounts of lead found in water at multiple San Antonio ISD schools
Read full article: Unhealthy amounts of lead found in water at multiple San Antonio ISD schoolsNearly 60 drinking fountains in Bexar County schools tested over the EPA threshold on the first round of testing for lead. Of those, 49 were at SAISD schools.
Federal court overturns Texas agency’s pollution permit for Gulf Coast natural gas export terminal
Read full article: Federal court overturns Texas agency’s pollution permit for Gulf Coast natural gas export terminalJudges overturned a state air pollution permit that was issued last year, arguing that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality illegally enabled Port Arthur LNG to avoid emissions control requirements.
Texas quietly moves to formalize acceptable cancer risk from industrial air pollution. Public health officials say it’s not strict enough.
Read full article: Texas quietly moves to formalize acceptable cancer risk from industrial air pollution. Public health officials say it’s not strict enough.Without public hearings, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is proposing to adopt its 17-year-old standard that scientists and public health officials say fails to account for cumulative air pollution.
The “1-mile rule”: Texas’ unwritten, arbitrary policy protects big polluters from citizen complaints
Read full article: The “1-mile rule”: Texas’ unwritten, arbitrary policy protects big polluters from citizen complaintsIt’s not found anywhere in state law or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s rules, but for years the agency has denied citizens the ability to challenge air pollution permits because they live more than a mile away.
EPA will decide if the state is doing enough to reduce pollution in two East Texas counties
Read full article: EPA will decide if the state is doing enough to reduce pollution in two East Texas countiesThe federal agency has settled a lawsuit the Sierra Club brought over pollution from a coal-burning power plant. The agreement requires the EPA to weigh in on the state’s plan to improve air quality in Rusk and Panola counties.
State environmental agency proposes new rules for concrete plants in Texas
Read full article: State environmental agency proposes new rules for concrete plants in TexasThe TCEQ has proposed changes to concrete batch plant permits including lowering production limits, reducing dust coming from plants and setting minimum distance requirements from nearby communities.
Texas House moves to crack down on polluters with stricter penalties and heavier oversight
Read full article: Texas House moves to crack down on polluters with stricter penalties and heavier oversightThe bill would require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to focus enforcement and increase penalties on repeat violators and increase public outreach. Still, environmental advocates say the effort was too “modest” in its reach.
Houston-area chemical fire highlights gaps in Texas environmental enforcement
Read full article: Houston-area chemical fire highlights gaps in Texas environmental enforcementA fire broke out at a Deer Park Shell plant the day after a public hearing on renewing the permit for ITC, a nearby facility that caught fire in 2019, sparking a Texas Tribune/Public Health Watch investigation that documented failures in state and federal oversight.
Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance works to protect water quality as development booms in NW Bexar County
Read full article: Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance works to protect water quality as development booms in NW Bexar CountyThe Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance is working to protect the drinking water for the region, but the task is growing more difficult as Texas sees a boom in high-density development.
At a heated public hearing, residents urge state agency to reject permit for chemical facility that burned in 2019
Read full article: At a heated public hearing, residents urge state agency to reject permit for chemical facility that burned in 2019In Deer Park near Houston, memories of the massive ITC fire are still fresh. Residents told state environmental regulators they should reject the company’s permit renewal, but officials said the fire won’t be part of the decision.
Toxic benzene lingered for weeks after shelter-in-place warnings ended following 2019 Houston-area chemical fire
Read full article: Toxic benzene lingered for weeks after shelter-in-place warnings ended following 2019 Houston-area chemical fireThe Texas Tribune analyzed previously unreported air monitoring data and records from the 2019 ITC chemical disaster near Houston and found that high benzene levels lingered in the air for two weeks after public health measures were lifted. Experts say more shelter-in-place advisories should have been issued.
Texas Senate seeks increased penalties on polluters as it renews state’s environmental agency
Read full article: Texas Senate seeks increased penalties on polluters as it renews state’s environmental agencyThe bill would require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to focus enforcement on repeat violators and increase public outreach.
Senator’s bill would fine Texans for multiple environmental complaints that don’t lead to enforcement
Read full article: Senator’s bill would fine Texans for multiple environmental complaints that don’t lead to enforcementThe bill would impose fines when residents make more than three complaints to the state environmental agency in a year if they don’t result in enforcement action. Critics warn the bill would discourage people from reporting pollution.
Environmental group says Texas fails to hold repeat polluters accountable for unexpected emissions
Read full article: Environmental group says Texas fails to hold repeat polluters accountable for unexpected emissionsA new report found that companies in Texas have had 21,000 unexpected pollution releases that emitted 400,000 tons of air pollution over six years, but only 1% of them prompted action by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Environmental advocates push feds to investigate Texas’ enforcement of water quality
Read full article: Environmental advocates push feds to investigate Texas’ enforcement of water qualityThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to investigate allegations that the state is failing to enforce the Clean Water Act. Environmentalists say the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s system of issuing permits has made it too easy for industries to contaminate rivers, lakes and estuaries.
Texas environmentalists push the EPA to crack down on methane emissions, saying state agencies have “failed us”
Read full article: Texas environmentalists push the EPA to crack down on methane emissions, saying state agencies have “failed us”Commenting on the EPA’s proposed new rule to reduce methane leaks nationally, environmentalists said Texas regulators are hesitant to address emissions of the climate super-pollutant.
Boil water notices lifted for communities in Bandera, Bexar, Kerr counties
Read full article: Boil water notices lifted for communities in Bandera, Bexar, Kerr countiesTexas Water Utilities lifted the remaining precautionary boil water notices for more than 1,500 households northwest of San Antonio on Friday afternoon, ending a days-long challenge for people to get clean tap water.
Houston officials say state made the call on water boil notice
Read full article: Houston officials say state made the call on water boil noticeFor more than 24 hours, nearly everyone in the nation’s fourth-most-populous city had been asked to boil water after a power outage at a water treatment plant Sunday.
Houston boil water notice forces schools to shut down
Read full article: Houston boil water notice forces schools to shut downMillions of Houston residents are expected to be under a boil water notice until Tuesday after a power outage at a water treatment plant. At least four school districts canceled Monday classes.
Texans affected by pollution from concrete plants push state agency to tighten regulations
Read full article: Texans affected by pollution from concrete plants push state agency to tighten regulationsAs the state’s environmental agency weighs new pollution limits on the plants, several lawmakers have filed bills that would put new restrictions on the facilities, which spew pollutants into mostly low-income neighborhoods.
Texas’ environmental regulators need to get tougher on polluters, group of lawmakers says
Read full article: Texas’ environmental regulators need to get tougher on polluters, group of lawmakers saysThe group that reviews the effectiveness of state agencies recommended several changes to how the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality operates.
Port Arthur pollution fight shows how Texas blocks citizen protests
Read full article: Port Arthur pollution fight shows how Texas blocks citizen protestsA local activist went before a judge, arguing for lower pollution limits on two new liquified natural gas facilities. The judge sided with him, but the state environmental agency sided with the companies.
After cancer-causing chemicals were found in Fifth Ward soil, Houston mayor says cleanup plans are inadequate
Read full article: After cancer-causing chemicals were found in Fifth Ward soil, Houston mayor says cleanup plans are inadequateThe city’s health department found dioxins in soil samples along the fence line of a Union Pacific rail yard. Mayor Sylvester Turner said during the 2022 Texas Tribune Festival that plans to clean up the contamination should now include relocating residents.
TCEQ notified Derby water supplier of compliance investigation before water shut off
Read full article: TCEQ notified Derby water supplier of compliance investigation before water shut offThe community of Derby has had to depend on donations of bottled water to cook, clean and go to the bathroom for the last month and a half.
Website aims to make pollution permit information more accessible in Houston
Read full article: Website aims to make pollution permit information more accessible in HoustonTexas’ environmental regulators make it tricky for residents to track, or speak out against, industrial projects proposed near their homes. Advocates in Houston built a high-tech workaround.
Texas regulators proposed cracking down on harmful plastic “nurdles” — and then changed their minds
Read full article: Texas regulators proposed cracking down on harmful plastic “nurdles” — and then changed their mindsThe Texas coast is a hot spot for “nurdle” pollution, tiny plastic pellets created in the process of producing everyday products. But a plan to require proactive prevention of their release has been scrapped.
Spring Branch residents concerned about wastewater amid new development proposal
Read full article: Spring Branch residents concerned about wastewater amid new development proposalDozens of Spring Branch residents attended a meeting hosted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) after bringing up concerns about the release of treated wastewater into a creek that feeds into Canyon Lake and the possible development of more than 700 homes.
EPA launches investigation into Texas environment agency’s permitting process for concrete batch plants
Read full article: EPA launches investigation into Texas environment agency’s permitting process for concrete batch plantsThe federal agency launched the inquiry after complaints from the Harris County Attorney and Lone Star Legal Aid about how the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issues permits to plants that predominantly impact communities of color.
Drought, standing water leads to questions about water quality in South Texas rivers and lakes
Read full article: Drought, standing water leads to questions about water quality in South Texas rivers and lakesThe drought and heat are gripping South Texas and the lack of rain has led to questions about standing water in area lakes, rivers and popular swimming destinations.
Boil water notice issued for City of LaCoste Public Water Systems customers
Read full article: Boil water notice issued for City of LaCoste Public Water Systems customersPublic Water Systems customers in the City of LaCoste are currently under a boil water notice due to reduced distribution system pressure and a water outage.
A Laredo plant that sterilizes medical equipment spews cancer-causing pollution on schoolchildren
Read full article: A Laredo plant that sterilizes medical equipment spews cancer-causing pollution on schoolchildrenCommunities such as Laredo, where the vast majority of the residents are Latino and more than a quarter live in poverty, have been left in the dark for years by regulators who had evidence of the dangers posed by ethylene oxide but never told the public about them.Out of all the pollutants that the EPA regulates, ethylene oxide is the most toxic, contributing to the majority of the excess cancer risk created by industrial air pollutants in the United States, according to an unprecedented analysis of the agency’s most recent modeling data by ProPublica, in collaboration with The Texas Tribune. That risk is in addition to those Americans already face from other factors like genetics or lifestyle.
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