"Critics say TCEQ is erroneously using a federal rule to exclude counties that are failing federal soot rules."
"Twelve Texas counties have recently exceeded federal air quality standards for particulate matter, commonly known as soot. But Texas environmental regulators are proposing that only four of them be required to take action to improve their air quality.
In its proposal to exclude eight counties from stricter federal pollution rules, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality cited either bad air monitoring data or "exceptional events” — unusual or naturally-occurring events that can temporarily affect air quality such as wildfires, dust storms or emissions from outside the state.
The agency looked at air quality data from 2021-23 and proposed that four counties — Dallas, Harris (which includes Houston), Tarrant (Fort Worth), and Bowie (Texarkana) — be declared out of attainment with new federal air standards. But it’s recommending that eight other counties — Travis (which includes Austin), Montgomery (Conroe), Kleberg (Kingsville), Harrison (Marshall), Ellis (Waxahachie), Webb (Laredo), Hidalgo (McAllen) and Cameron (Harlingen and Brownsville) — be allowed to avoid the tougher standards.
Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency slashed the level of particulate matter permitted in the air from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter annually, marking the first update to the standard since 2012. It was one of the most ambitious parts of the Biden administration’s environmental agenda."
Alejandra Martinez reports for the Texas Tribune January 15, 2025.
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