Biden to place environmental justice at center of sweeping climate plan
The president has directed federal agencies to invest in low-income and minority communities that have traditionally borne the brunt of pollution. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Toxic substance or water supply? Lawmakers to weigh whether wastewater from oil fields could replenish the state's aquifers
A recent EPA decision will allow Texas to regulate water discharges from oil drilling operations. Some lawmakers see a future water supply for the state in the decision, while environmental groups — and some scientists — warn it could be risky. Full Story
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![Fracking water retention pond near Big Spring, Texas.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas legislators eye tougher rules on chemical tanks to prevent explosions, spills during storms
A string of explosions involving little-regulated petroleum and chemical storage tanks have lawmakers and regulators talking about new rules as the Legislature prepares to convene this month. Full Story
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![An aerial photograph of the Stolthaven Oil Tanking facility along the Houston Ship Channel on Nov. 10, 2015. Shell's Deer Park facility can be seen in the upper right.]()
Credit: Edmund D. Fountain/ProPublica/Texas Tribune -
Environmental groups allege Texas rubber-stamped industrial plants' pollution — and that the EPA looked the other way
The groups are suing the EPA, saying it failed to address concerns that air permits issued to big industrial facilities didn’t meet federal standards. Full Story
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![A house stands in the Manchester neighborhood while refineries are visible in the background in Houston on Sept. 8, 2018.]()
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Texas' move to control coal ash pollution could shield industry from tougher rules under Biden-led EPA
Texas is close to finalizing a years-long effort to wrangle control of coal ash pollution from the EPA, a move that could, for a time, keep coal companies insulated from tougher rules expected from the next administration. Full Story
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![The Fayette Power Project plant is a coal-fired power plant located near La Grange, in Fayette County. Jan. 16, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
In the shadow of “Shingle Mountain,” southeast Dallas neighbors fight to dismantle a legacy of environmental racism
The residents of Choate Road in southeast Dallas have seen the rise of Shingle Mountain, a more than 70,000-ton toxic waste dump that was created by a recycling company. Now they hope the city of Dallas keeps its promise to tear the mountain down. Full Story
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![Cecilia Del Toro Garcia stands in her backyard, where Shingle Mountain is visible in the background. Her backyard, which was once a home for Garcia’s garden, is now barren due to the toxic waste dump.]()
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As Texas grows, communities face an unwelcome neighbor: concrete companies. Homeowners have few options.
Concrete companies say they’re just following the law. A handful of bills addressing the issue have been filed for the 2021 legislative session. Full Story
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![Easy Mix Concrete Services LLC in southwest Austin.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Oil companies snag Gulf of Mexico waters for offshore drilling in last bid before Biden transition
President-elect Joe Biden has promised to ban new oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters. The Trump administration held its last Gulf of Mexico auction Wednesday. Full Story
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![An Offshore oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico.]()
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto -
Texas rolls out mobile pollution monitoring capabilities following failures during Hurricane Harvey
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has deployed technology to monitor emissions in real time, part of a $2.2 million effort to fix gaps in monitoring identified during Hurricane Harvey. Full Story
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![The Valero refinery, seen from across the ship channel in Houston on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Privately built border wall will fail, engineering report says
The report, set to be filed in federal court this week, confirms reporting from ProPublica and The Texas Tribune that found portions of the wall were in danger of overturning if not fixed due to extensive erosion just months after it was built. Full Story
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![The private border wall in South Texas on Aug. 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune -
“In survival mode”: How some evacuees are still dealing with the dual challenge of a hurricane and a recession
Many Southeast Texans were already struggling through a pandemic and its parallel recession. Then came Hurricane Laura and officials' evacuation orders. Full Story
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![Susan Collier and Donald Bass Jr. in what they described as their outdoor dining room.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Hurricane after hurricane wreaked havoc in Orange, Texas. Finally, residents say they got a break.
State and local leaders and thousands of residents surveyed the comparatively little damage with gratitude — and surprise. Full Story
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![Drainage foreman Robert Walker scans the side of his house for storm damage after Hurricane Laura blew through Orange.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Hurricane Laura in Texas: President Donald Trump to visit and survey damage
We're tracking the impact of Hurricane Laura, which made landfall after midnight Thursday. Full Story
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![A sign referencing COVID-19 and Hurricane Laura in Galveston on Aug. 26, 2020.]()
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“It could have been far worse”: Texas and local officials express relief after state avoids massive damage
Gov. Greg Abbott said an aerial view of the area revealed more ripped-off rooftops and downed trees in Orange than anywhere else in Texas. Full Story
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![A flooded street in Orange, the morning after Hurricane Laura made landfall.]()
Credit: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times via USA Today Network -
Still recovering from Harvey, Texans in Beaumont and Port Arthur are now preparing for a new hurricane during the pandemic
Groups that have been fixing homes and providing assistance to victims of the 2017 hurricane are now getting ready to face a new disaster, with the added challenge of COVID-19. Full Story
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![Port Arthur residents board buses to evacuate the area before Hurricane Laura strikes the Gulf Coast near Texas and Louisiana.]()
Credit: USA TODAY NETWORK via Reuters Co -
As Hurricane Laura heads for Southeast Texas, officials scramble to evacuate and shelter people during a pandemic
The storm is now a Category 4 hurricane whose dangerous winds and storm surge could cause damage along a large swath of the Gulf Coast and Southeast Texas. Full Story
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![A man rides a bike down Broadway Street in Galveston, past a sign that reads "Laura Go Away your' not welcome.” Hurricane Laura is expected to make landfall between Texas and Louisiana.]()
Credit: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times via USA Today Network -
Several Texas cities issue mandatory evacuation orders as Hurricane Laura strengthens in the Gulf
From Galveston to the Louisiana border, Texas communities are telling residents to seek shelter away from the coast as Laura is projected to intensify into a Category 3 hurricane. Full Story
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![Surfers rode high swells from Hurricane Hanna in Galveston in July. The city is currently under mandatory evacuation in anticipation of Hurricane Laura.]()
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Whether it's hurricanes or COVID-19, disasters are driving a mental health crisis
Mounting catastrophes are sowing stress and trauma. The country’s one program to help reaches only a fraction of survivors. Full Story
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EPA approves coronavirus cleanser for emergency use in Texas
Texas said it would allow American Airlines and two branches of a sports clinic to start using the new product. Full Story
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![American Airlines jets fill Terminal A at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in April of 2019.]()
Credit: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAY via REUTERS -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declares state of disaster in 23 counties ahead of Hurricane Marco, Tropical Storm Laura
With two storms gaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico, Abbott on Sunday declared a state of disaster in coastal counties and warned Texans to remember coronavirus health guidelines. Full Story
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![From left, current forecast models show Tropical Storm Marco making landfall near Texas and Louisiana as a hurricane on Monday afternoon, followed by Tropical Storm Laura also arriving in the area as a hurricane early Thursday.]()
Credit: National Hurricane Center