Citizen Guide for Participating in Government Decisions on Pollution Sources

This Guide is designed to help citizens participate effectively in government decisions on pollution sources. The Guide is focused on state agency decisions, particularly those of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ),the state's primary environmental agency.

Studies

The Control of Air Toxics: Toxicology Motivations and Houston Implications
Houston Endowment/Rice University, Fall 2006

Introduction Houston's poor air quality has marred the reputation of the city. As a giant in the petrochemical industry, a major port, and a large metropolitan center,Houston has numerous sources of air pollution and the impact on human health in the area cannot be ignored. The study summary focuses on health risks associated with four hazardous air pollutants -- benzene, 1.3-butadiene, formaldehyde and diesel particulate matter -- and urges government and business leaders to slash emission levels from industrial plants and motor vehicles. The study suggests that the city's long-term goal should be to match the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's benchmark of reducing excess cancer risk to less than one death in every 1 million people.

Making Sense of the "Coal Rush"
Environment Texas, Summer 2006

Energy companies are planning to build over 150 coal-fired power plants in locations across the United StatesFar from enhancing America’s energy security, the wave of proposed plants – most of them powered by dirty, last-generation technologies – would dramatically increase global warming emissions and pose energy security and economic problems.

Fair Warning: Global Warming and the Lone Star State
Environmental Defense, May 2006

The Texas impacts of global warming will vary by region. Because of Texas’ size, terrain, location and diversity, the list of those impacts is startling: more heat waves, worse air quality, increased risk of disease, droughts, wildfires and coastal erosion. If the sea level rises by three feet—as scientists predict it will—South Padre Island will be lost. Much of Galveston Island would be uninhabitable.

Benchmarking air emissions
Natural Resource Defense Council, January 2006

While emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide have decreased since the Clean Air Act went into effect, carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 27%. A relatively small number of companies are responsible for a relatively large amount of emissions. Few power plants use currently available, state-of-the-art tools.

Season creep: How global warming is already affecting the world around us.
Clear The Air, March 2006

More and more studies show that global warming is throwing off the seasonal rhythms of familiar species such as northern cardinals, tree swallows, lilacs and honeysuckles. Scientists who study the timing of the seasons are increasingly pointing their fingers at global warming as the reason for disturbing changes in wildlife, plants and the natural environment.

Stolen Inventory
Environmental Working Group, January 2006

An Environmental Working Group investigation of government and industry data shows that EPA has failed to require public disclosure of pollution data under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) for at least 10 industrial chemicals that meet EPA's own criteria for classification as persistent bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals, a category reserved for chemicals that present the greatest threats to human health and the environment.

Plagued by Pollution
U.S. Public Interest Group, January 2006

While air quality has improved in the U.S. since the inception of the Clean Air Act in 1970, more than 88 million Americans still live in areas with unsafe levels of fine particle pollution. Fine particle pollution is one of the nation?s most pervasive air pollutants and its most deadly, causing tens of thousands of premature deaths every year. This report examines levels of fine particle pollution in cities and towns nationwide in 2004 and finds that fine particles continue to pose a grave health threat to Americans.

Empty Pockets: Facing Hurricane Katrina’s Cleanup with a Bankrupt Superfund
Safe from Toxics, December 2005

Since 1980, the Superfund toxic waste cleanup program has worked to protect the one in four Americans, including more than 10 million children, who live within four miles of the nation’s most polluted toxic waste sites. After 25 years of experience, the Superfund program has evolved to protect Americans from toxic chemicals released when industry collides with nature, such as hurricanes and floods.

Made in the USA
U.S. Public Interest Group, September 2005

Three companies-- American Electric Power, Southern Company, and Reliant Energy-- are responsible for nearly one quarter of the nation’s total mercury emissions from power plants. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can affect the brain, heart, and immune system. Developing fetuses and children are especially at risk. EPA data indicate that about 30% of mercury deposition in the continental U.S. comes from U.S. power plants, and deposition can be much higher near individual plants.

Ten of the Nation’s Largest Utilities Would Reap $800 Million By Escaping Cuts in Mercury Pollution Mandated by Current Law
Environmental Action, August 2005

Ten of the nation’s largest utility companies would reap more than $800 million if they fight off a mandate to make deep cuts in toxic mercury pollution from power plant smokestacks. The White House and many of the nation’s utilities are pushing hard for Congressional passage of the “Unhealthy Skies” initiative, which would repeal the Clean Air Act requirement that power plants make 90% cuts in mercury by 2008. The report is the first to calculate how escaping tough mercury controls would benefit the balance sheets of the nation’s utilities.

Needless Risk: Oil Refineries and Hazard Reduction
U.S. Public Interest Research Group, August 2005

Across the country, petroleum refineries, chemical plants and other industrial facilities use and store large amounts of hazardous chemicals that could be released in the event of an accident or terrorist attack. Such releases could endanger thousands or even millions of people who live in communities in close proximity to these facilities. Many of these facilities, however, present an unnecessary risk to their surrounding communities. Industries often have multiple options for carrying out similar processes, and some of these options are inherently safer than others.

Dirty Kilowatts - America's 50 Dirtiest Power Plants Emit Up to 20 Times More Pollution than Plants with State-of-the-Art Controls
Environmental Integrity Project, May 2005

The American electric utility industry has a dirty secret: The top 50 among the nation's 359 largest power plants generate as little as 14 percent of the electric power, but account for a disproportionately large share of pollution emissions across four major categories: up to 50 percent of sulfur dioxide emissions, 42 percent of mercury, 40 percent of nitrogen oxides, and 35 percent of carbon dioxide pollution, according to a major new report from the nonprofit and nonpartisan Environmental Integrity Project (EIP).

Reducing Flare Emissions from Chemical Plants and Refineries
Industry Professionals for Clean Air, May 2005

Industrial flares in Texas are neither properly represented in planning and permitting documents, nor adequately controlled by regulation. The improper representation of flare emissions leads to a large, unquantified shortfall in emissions estimates for routine flare use and significant flaring events. This, combined with the highest concentration of refineries and petrochemical plants in the country, makes the Houston area a leader in ground-level ozone formation.

In Harm's Way
Houston Chronicle, January 13-20, 2005

Find out what levels of air toxics were found in local neighborhoods during a study by the Houston Chronicle. The study shows area industries contributing to air toxics that cause cancer. Meanwhile, Texas is relatively lenient in measuring and regulating these toxics.

Economic Valuation of Human Health Benefits of Controlling Mercury Emissions from U.S. Coal-Fired Power Plants
Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, February 2005

This report describes the results of a comprehensive study to estimate the health benefits of reducing mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in the United States. Reductions in mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants are anticipated to decrease methylmercury concentrations in fish. Fish consumption is the primary pathway of human exposure to methylmercury, which is a human neurotoxicant and possibly a cardiovascular toxicant.

Ambient air pollution: health hazards to Children
American Academy of Pediatrics, December 2004

The American Academy of Pediatrics, based on recent scientific evidence, is recommending that air qaulity standards be revised in order to protect children. Recommendations include revisions and reductions in mercury and diesel emissions.

Polluters Breathe Easier
Environmental Integrity Project, December 2004

Compared to Clinton's EPA, under the current administration EPA lawsuits against polluters have been reduced by as much as 75%. EPA is falling short of going after companies who refuse to voluntarily settle their Clean Air Act or Clean Water Act violations.

How Global Warming Causes Bad Air Days
NRDC, August 2004

Hot summer days are getting hotter because of global warming, but that's not all. This 2004 NRDC report shows that higher temperatures would also mean more summertime smog. The report presents a comprehensive new analysis by medical experts at the Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University, University at Albany-SUNY, Yale University and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Highway Health Hazards
Sierra Club, May 2004

A critical consequence of sprawling development and reliance on highways as a principal means of transportation is tailpipe pollution. Evidence is increasing that air pollution from vehicles increases a wide range of health risks.

Dirty Air,Dirty Power: Mortality and Health Damage Due to Air Pollution from Power Plants
Clear the Air, July 2004

24,000 lives are cut short annually as a result of power plant pollution in the United States. The report compares premature deaths of the Bush administration's Clean Air Act with other proposals which have to potential to protect more lives.

America's Dirtiest Power Plants. Plugged into the Bush Administration
Environmental Integrity Project, May 2004

Since 1999, the 30 biggest utility companies have poured $6.6 million into the Bush presidential campaigns and the Republican National Committee. Once Bush entered office, many of the utilities that contributed substantially to his campaign then hired Bush fundraisers to lobby the government or defend them against the EPA's pollution lawsuits.

State of the Air
American Lung Association, April 2004

Millions of Americans were subjected to dangerous levels of air pollution during the years 2000 to 2002. Almost half of America is living in counties where the air quality places them at risk for decreased lung function, respiratory infection, lung inflammation and aggravation of respiratory illness. Over one quarter of the U.S. population lives in areas with unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution.

A is for Air Pollution Pt. II: The Toxic Threat to Texas Schools
Refinery Reform Campaign, March 2003

More than 142,000 children in Texas go to school in the shadow of refineries and chemical plants that every year are allowed to collectively release millions of pounds of toxic chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities and other serious health problems. The study includes information on eight Texas counties, demonstrating the risk posed to children attending schools near major toxic polluters.

Lethal Legacy: A Comprehensive Look At America's Dirtiest Power Plants
USPIRG Education Fund, October 2003

In August 2003, the Bush administration issued final rule changes to the Clean Air Act's New Source Review program, breaking a decades-old promise codified in the Clean Air Act itself—that old power plants, when making other life-prolonging modifications, would be required to install modern pollution controls. This policy change marks a full retreat from the previous administration's effort to enforce this law.

Children At Risk: How Air Pollution From Power Plants Threatens The Health Of America’s Children
U.S. PIRG, May 2002

Many studies have confirmed that children are more susceptible to harmful effects of air pollution than adults. This report describes child health linked with pollution from power plants, a primary source of pollution affecting U.S. children.

Benchmarking Air Emissions of the 100 Largest Electric Generation Owners in the U.S. - 2000
Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies, March 2002

This report examines and compares the air pollutant emissions of the 100 largest electric generation owners in the U.S. based on year 2000 plant ownership and emissions data. These companies together own about 2,000 power plants and account for about 90% of reported electric industry generation and emissions. The report focuses on on four pollutants - carbon dioxide (CO₂), Mercury (Hg), oxides of nitrogen (NO_X) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂).