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Region 6: EPA Texas
Featured Stories
EPA Proposal to Reclassify DFW for Ozone
The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to reclassify the DFW area from a moderate nonattainment area to serious nonattainment area for Ozone. The public will have 30-days to comment after the proposal is published in the Federal Register. The area failed to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone standard. The DFW area includes nine counties: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, and Tarrant counties.
Federal Register on Determination of Nonattainment and Reclassification of the Dallas/ForthWorth 1997 8-hour OzoneNonattainment Area (20 pages, PDF, 4.5 MB)
EPA Disapproves Texas Flexible Air Permit Program
The Environmental Protection Agency disapproved the Texas Flexible Permit Program that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality had submitted for inclusion in its federally approved State Implementation Plan. “Today’s action improves our ability to provide citizens of Texas with clean air by requiring companies to set individual pollution limits and will assure that all air emitting sources are properly permitted under the Clean Air Act,” said Al Armendariz, Regional Administrator. The Environmental Protection Agency intends to continue working with the state and interested parties as air quality permits are transitioned in a gradual and structured manner to be consistent with state and federal law.
LOG 560 Federal Register on Texas Air Permit, Revision to the New Source Review (109 pages, PDF, 3.05 MB)
Your ideas are needed for the 2011 National Brownfields Conference
The 2011 National Brownfields Conference will be held April 3-5, 2011 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Whether you're a newcomer to economic and environmental redevelopment, or a seasoned pro looking to make new connections, there is no better deal in the redevelopment marketplace than the National Brownfields Conference 2011. You’ll gain access to more than 150 educational and learning opportunities, outstanding plenary sessions, 200 exhibitors, scores of networking events, special training sessions, and much more- registration is free!
Visit the National Brownfields Conference 2011 Web site to submit your ideas for the conference by July 30, 2010.
If you have questions contact Rashmi Mathur at EPA or phone (215) 814-5234.
Find out more ways to get involved.
News
EPA to Study Hydraulic Fracturing and Hold Public Meetings
EPA announced that it will conduct a comprehensive research study to investigate the potential adverse impact that hydraulic fracturing may have on water quality and public health. EPA has requested that the Environmental Engineering Committee of the EPA Science Advisory Board evaluate and provide advice on EPA’s proposed approach. EPA will use this advice and extensive stakeholder input to guide the design of the study.
EPA is also holding a series of public information meetings around the United States on the proposed study of the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and its potential impacts on drinking water. The first of these public meetings was held in Fort Worth, Texas on July 8, 2010.
Hydraulic fracturing is a process that helps production of natural gas or oil from shale and other geological formations. By pumping fracturing fluids (water and chemical additives) and sand or other similar materials into rock formations, fractures are created that allow natural gas or oil to flow from the rock through the fractures to a production well for extraction.
More information on hydraulic fracturing
Voluntary Compliance Audit Program for Texas Flexible Permit Holders
EPA's responsibility is to ensure that the permitting program in Texas complies with the public-health protections and community right-to-know privileges provided for all Americans under the Clean Air Act. EPA is taking another important step to address deficiencies in the state’s air operating permit program by proposing a voluntary compliance audit program to help companies with Texas flexible permits obtain an air permit that meets the requirements of the Clean Air Act. Terms of the Audit Program has been published in the Federal Register with a 15 day public comment period. Instructions in the Federal Register Notice provide options for commenting on EPA’s proposed audit program. However, the easiest way to provide comments is directly through the docket (EPA-R06-OAR-2010-0510).
The published version of the proposed Audit Agreement is provided below for easy reference. Any changes to the Agreement, based upon comments received during public comment will be added to the docket and provided here following public comment.
Texas Flexible Permit Audit Agreement (50 pages, PDF, 196 KB)
City of Santa Rosa to Begin Wastewater Treatment Facility Project
On July 14, 2010, officials from the Environmental Protection Agency were joined by representatives from the New Mexico Environment Department, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the City of Santa Rosa, New Mexico to celebrate the start of the city’s Wastewater Treatment Facility project funded by the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The City of Santa Rosa’s Wastewater Treatment Facility requires significant improvement to meet the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System requirements; and to provide beneficial use of reclaimed wastewater, prepare for future expansion, and meet anticipated limits for land application of solids. The project includes an upgrade to water purification processes and construction of improved water treatment facilities.
Contractors Performing Renovation Must be Certified
EPA's lead renovation, repair and painting program rule requires contractors to be certified in lead-safe work practices and to be accredited by EPA. Contractors are now required to be certified by EPA to remove lead containing material.
EPA announces a Brownfields job training grant
The Environmental Protection Agency announces a Brownfields job training grant to Limitless Vistas, Inc. which will teach inner-city youth job skills in environmental assessment and improvement. Graduates are placed in environmental work-related jobs and their success is tracked for one year. Limitless Vistas, Inc. job training program is one of 12 awards nationwide and ranked highest in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
EPA Disapproves Air Permitting Exemption Program in Texas
EPA disapproved the Qualified Facilities exemption rule that TCEQ had submitted for inclusion in its federally approved State Implementation Plan. “Today’s action improves transparency by requiring companies that modify their operations to notify the public and will assure that all air emitting sources are properly permitted under the Clean Air Act,” said Al Armendariz, Regional Administrator. “Improved public review will better inform our communities about the environmental conditions where they live.”
Press Release -- Summary (23 pages, PDF, 625KB) -- Federal Register Notice (116 pages, PDF, 3.08MB)
Seeking Air Permit Scientists and Engineers
Need a job? EPA is hiring environmental engineers and scientists for its clean air permitting program in Dallas, Texas. Join our team in performing oversight of state and local permitting programs including program audits, direct assistance to state and local agencies, and recommending actions to correct program deficiencies. Dust off your resume applications will be accepted soon. Apply online at USAJobs.
Oil and Gas Production
Natural gas plays a key role in our nation’s clean energy future and the process known as hydraulic fracturing is one way of accessing that vital resource. But there are compelling reasons to believe that hydraulic fracturing may impact ground water and surface water quality in ways that threaten human health and the environment, which demands further study. To address those concerns and strengthen our clean energy future, a budget has been proposed to fund a comprehensive scientific study of hydraulic fracturing and EPA is working with Congress to start that study as soon as possible.
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Sign up for Texas air quality updates
Interested in receiving updates about air quality in Texas? Sign up for our electronic air quality alerts and get them directly to your email account. Sign Up HERE
Texas Qualified Facilities SIP Final Disapproval
On March 31, 2010, EPA disapproved the Qualified Facilities exemption rule that TCEQ had submitted for inclusion in its federally approved State Implementation Plan. The rule allows companies that have Texas issued air permits to avoid certain federal clean-air requirements including public review when they modify their plants. EPA has determined that this regulation does not meet several federal Clean Air Act requirements.
EPA’s action has been published in the Federal Register.
Press Release -- Summary (23 pages, PDF, 625KB) -- Federal Register Notice (116 pages, PDF, 3.08MB)
Environmental Reviews in Region 6
Based upon recent "Findings of No Significant Impact" issued by the Office of Air and Radiation for Houston, TX and Albu, NM, we are making these reviews available for comment through this website. Refer to our Region 6 Environmental Review Page to view the appropriate documents.
Public Participation
A copy of the new public participation proposal is available on the state's Web site.
If approved by the TCEQ Commissioners on December 9th, Texas would notice the proposal and accept public comment on their revisions.
In light of these developments, EPA will extend the deadline for final action on the state's public participation program until October 29, 2010. The extension will provide time for the state to adopt the necessary rules to reform its public participation program.
EPA Objection to Texas Permits
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to review permits proposed by the state and raise any objections within 45 days. The EPA regional office in Dallas is fulfilling its statutory requirement as one measure to ensure the state's program complies with national law. EPA has raised objections on permits proposed by the state. A complete listing is available (scroll down to "EPA Objection Letters). The state has 90 days to satisfy the objections by revising and resubmitting proposed permits or the permits default to EPA.
EPA Proposes to Disapprove Texas Changes to Air Permitting Program
EPA proposes to disapprove key aspects of the Texas clean-air permitting program in order to make those provisions more protective of air quality as required by the Clean Air Act. Final decisions about changing the program will be made under expedited schedule. Comment period closed on November 23, 2009. More
BCCA Settlement
EPA and business group reached an agreement regarding the timing of federal review of the Texas’ air permitting program. Comment period closed on August 31, 2009.
EPA 2010 Priorities
Administrator Jackson outlined seven priorities for EPA's future. The key themes of these priorities focus on work to protect human health and the environment for all Americans. Read Regional Administrator Armendariz's thoughts (PDF) (4 pp, 36K, About PDF) on how our work fits into the Administrator's priorities.
300-Day Plan
Our communities have placed their trust in us to protect their land, air and water. They expect measurable environmental results and transparency. Our Region 6 300-Day Plan for 2010 (PDF) (4 pp, 75K, About PDF) outlines how we will join with our partners to achieve the shared priorities outlined in this plan.
2009 300-Day Plan Accomplishments
Our 2009 300-Day Plan Accomplishments (PDF) (4 pp, 75K, About PDF) report tracks how the Region did in meeting the goals of our strategic plan.
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