Issues
Around the state, ACT organizations work on the broad array of environmental issues facing Texas. ACT convenes policy working groups to analyze issues such as lowering toxic emissions from industrial facilities or developing state-wide programs for recycling electronic waste. ACT makes legislative recommendations when the issue is of state-wide concern and can be addressed through legislation. ACT works in the following areas in the Texas Legislature:
Air
Clean Energy
Land
Waste
Water
As a coalition of organizations working for environmental and public health protection in communities throughout the state, ACT recognizes that there are thousands of specific issues that must be addressed for the well-being of these communities. ACT seeks to address these issues at the regulatory and legislative level, working closely with local organizations and individual citizens.
2011 Special Issue: TCEQ Sunset Review
The 2010-2011 Sunset review of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) was a primary focus of ACT’s issue analysis and policy development in preparation for the 82nd Texas Legislature. Almost every state agency in Texas goes through a once-a-decade “sunset review,” where legislators evaluate the effectiveness of state government operations and assess whether or not particular state agencies are needed. This year the TCEQ is up for review.
To learn more about the sunset process and TCEQ, click here.
Air Quality
In 2008, Texas was ranked number one in emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and the known carcinogen benzene. Air pollution in Texas is impairing our scenic landscapes, making Texans sick and costing our economy billions of dollars. Additionally, our state is failing to meet federal air quality standards. These facts are disturbing and indicative of the critical air pollution problem Texas is facing. The U.S. EPA has declared TCEQ’s air pollution permit system violates the federal Clean Air Act and fails to allow significant public participation.
To learn more about air quality in Texas, click here.
Water
TCEQ recently proposed rules that would increase the amount of E. coli bacteria allowed in Texas waterways before they are considered polluted.
To learn more about water issues in Texas, click here.
Waste
Rather than require new landfills to meet decades-old federal standards, TCEQ currently allows trash facilities to expand atop old landfills–frequently over sites without protective liners–often creating literal mountains of garbage.
To learn more about waste issues in Texas, click here.
2011 ACT Legislative Agenda
ACT's 2011 Legislative Agenda is now available online. In 2011, ACT calls on the Texas Legislature to safeguard our health and our environment by adopting key recommendations in air, clean energy, land, waste & recycling, water and reform of our state government.
