Media Releases

Fossil fuel pollution

Report: Damaging methane gas pipeline leaks happen every 40 hours in the U.S.

AUSTIN, Texas - Methane gas – commonly referred to as “natural” gas – has been piped through our communities for heating and cooking for a century, and for just as long, has been subject to dangerous leaks. On Thursday, Environment Texas Research and Policy Center, TexPIRG Education Fund and Frontier Group released a new report that finds from 2010 through nearly the end of 2021, almost 2,600  gas pipeline incidents occurred in the United States that were serious enough to require reporting to the federal government. That’s the equivalent to one every 40 hours.

Media Releases ●  June 23, 2022

Forests

Logging mature and old trees threatens U.S. climate goals

 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday signed a memorandum to clarify the U.S. Forest Service’s direction on climate policy. The memo, "Climate Resilience and Carbon Stewardship of America's National Forests and Grasslands," follows a recent White House executive order highlighting the importance of conserving mature and old-growth forests on federal lands as a climate solution. The memo, which lays out “actions to restore forests, improve resilience, and address the climate crisis”, falls short in meeting the ambition outlined in President Joe Biden’s order on old forests and trees. Secretary Vilsack acknowledges the role that older trees play in absorbing and storing carbon and supporting biodiversity. But he fails to outline a plan for his agency to protect mature and old-growth forests and trees from commercial logging. 

Media Releases ●  June 23, 2022

Clean energy

Rhode Island legislature commits to 100% of state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2033

The Rhode Island legislature has passed legislation that would set the fastest timeline for any state in the nation to procure 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources.

Media Releases ●  June 23, 2022

Clean water

Environmental, public health groups to Senate: Act on toxic PFAS in drinking water

Eighty-two organizations, including Environment America and U.S. PIRG, delivered a letter Wednesday to the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee calling for comprehensive federal legislation to protect Americans’ drinking water from contamination by the toxic class of chemicals known as PFAS. The organizations, which hail from 30 states, asked the EPW Committee to designate all PFAS as hazardous substances, prohibit their use in firefighting foam, and direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue drinking water standards and stop the dumping of PFAS into our nation’s waterways.

Media Releases ●  June 22, 2022

Wildlife & wild places

Environment Texas celebrates Pollinator Week

AUSTIN – As we celebrate birds, bats, bees, beetles and butterflies during Pollinator Week 2022, Environment Texas is kicking off actions to generate visibility around the impacts of pesticides on declining pollinator populations, especially bees.

Media Releases ●  June 20, 2022

Clean water

Over one hundred environmental and community groups urge U.S. Supreme Court to uphold federal clean water protections

Environmental and community organizations from across the nation Friday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the longstanding scope of the Clean Water Act and reject industry attempts to eliminate federal clean water protections that have kept families, communities, and rivers and lakes safe from pollution for decades. Environment America and several of its state affiliates are among the 113 groups signed onto the brief filed by Natural Resources Defense Council and the Southern Environmental Law Center, in support of the Environmental Protection Agency in the case, Sackett v. EPA.

Media Releases ●  June 17, 2022

Clean water

Council Moves Toward More Equitable Environmental Rules

“From industrial discharges of toxic chemicals in our creeks to algae blooms killing dogs in our lakes, Austin continues to have serious water pollution problems,” said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas. “Council Member Tovo’s resolution takes critical steps towards reducing the pollution and making all our waterways safe for people and animals alike.”

Media Releases ●  June 16, 2022

Clean air

Texas home to three of nation’s top 10 dirtiest power plants

Media Releases ●  June 16, 2022

Beyond plastic

U.S. Interior Department to phase out sale of single-use plastic products in parks, public lands

WASHINGTON --- Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland issued an order on Wednesday, World Oceans Day, to phase out single-use plastic products on lands managed by the Department of the Interior by 2032. The order is intended to reduce -- and eventually eliminate -- plastic and polystyrene food and beverage containers, bottles, straws, cups, cutlery and disposable plastic bags at national parks and on other public lands.

Media Releases ●  June 8, 2022

Clean air

Four environmental advocacy groups and a Permian Basin midstream gas company have settled a Clean Air Act lawsuit

The Environmental Integrity Project, Sierra Club, Environment Texas, and Texas Campaign for the Environment reached the agreement with the gas plant’s owner, DCP Operating Company, after the company agreed to make improvements that reduce gas flaring. The company also agreed to pay $500,000 to help improve local air quality and public health in the Odessa area. In addition, the company agreed to pay automatic penalties in the future – up to $14,500 per ton of hydrogen sulfide – if emissions exceed certain limits. 

Media Releases ●  May 27, 2022