FORUM TO BE HELD ON HOUSTON/GALVESTON
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown & State Representative Warren Chisum to Speak

(Austin, Texas) --What environmental legislation and regulations might impact the Houston/Galveston area this coming year? Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, chairman of the Natural Resources Committee; State Representative Warren Chisum, chairman of the House Committee on Environmental Regulations; and Robert Huston, Chairman of the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC) will address this question during a forum hosted by the statewide nonprofit organization Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB.)

The forum, which is the second in a series of environmental sessions being hosted around the state, will be held on Thursday, October 19th from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Astrodome Convention Center.

"This forum will provide a unique opportunity for the citizens and businesses of the Houston and Galveston gulf coastal area to visit with representatives of the regulatory agencies who write and make the laws," said Kyle Frazier, Keep Texas Beautiful Government Partnership Committee Chairman. "Environmental issues will be important topics during the upcoming legislative session and this is a chance not only to hear from the legislators but to also interact with them on these important issues."

Environmental issues were a priority during the 76th Legislature and will again be at the top of the agenda during this upcoming session beginning January 2001. More than 150 bills were presented before the 76th Legislature dealing with environmental issues regarding air quality, water, recycling, and solid waste.

Air quality remains an important issue for Houston and the surrounding area. Proposals have been made by TNRCC for possible revisions to the Houston/Galveston Clean Air Rules and Plans that could affect an eight-county region. They include proposals such as a Mass Emission Cap, speed limit reduction on all roadways with a current speed limit of more than 55 mph, construction equipment operating instructions, and nitrogen oxides reduction systems for some diesel trucks, locomotives and commercial marine vessels.

There is some good news for the Houston/Galveston area. Lake Conroe and Lake Houston have been proposed by TNRCC for removal from the impaired waters list. However, there remains a large number of water bodies on the list. They include the San Jacinto-tidal portion, the entire Houston ship channel, Upper Galveston Bay, Tabbs Bay, Scott Bay, Black Duck Bay, and the San Jacinto Bay.

Solid waste management issues are a major concern in the Houston/Galveston area. Rising disposal costs and conservation issues are sure to bring changes to the region. Nearly 3.9 million people live in the Houston/Galveston region with expectations of growth to increase by 40 percent over the next 20 years. Current waste management systems will be challenged to keep up with that population growth.

Additionally, nearly 90 percent of the region's solid waste ends up in landfills. Using projected population growth and waste generation rates, the region has approximately 13 years of landfill capacity. However, environmental and transportation constraints pose concerns for the location of future sites and facilities.

These and other important environmental issues will be addressed at the forum by the distinguished panel members.

Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB), the nonprofit state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, strives to empower Texans through education to take responsibility for enhancing their community's environment. KTB works with volunteers, elected officials, businesses and state and federal agencies to ensure that every Texan has the opportunity to take individual responsibility for making Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation.

The legislative forum is free and open to the public, however reservations are required. A reception will be held immediately following the forum. Please contact the Keep Texas Beautiful office at 1-800-CLEAN-TX for reservations.