david a. ramirez area director for border and permian basin texas commission on environmental...
TRANSCRIPT
Border Transportation: The TCEQ’s Role
David A. RamirezArea Director for Border and Permian BasinTexas Commission on Environmental Quality
Border to Border Transportation ConferenceNovember 13-15, 2012
Preview of Presentation
Overview of the TCEQ
Air Quality
Transportation
Hazardous Spills/Responses
Border Initiative
Mission of the TCEQThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality strives to protect our state's human and natural resources consistent with sustainable economic development.
Our goal is clean air, clean water, and the safe management of waste.
TCEQ Commissioners
Bryan W. Shaw,Ph.D.,
Chairman
4
Carlos Rubinstein, Commissioner
Toby Baker,Commissioner
Funding of the TCEQ
16 Regional Offices
Overview:Roles of the TCEQ
Rulemaking as directed by legislature and EPA Permitting activities affecting the environment Monitoring ambient and incident conditions of
air and water quality Investigations -- scheduled or resulting from
complaints Enforcement until compliance is achieved Emergency response to spills, releases, disasters
Air Quality
Monitoring Network
CO and O3 Attainment in El Paso
PM10 Nonattainment in El Paso
Tools to address VOC concerns
Air Quality Sites
XX monitors in border counties
Enter photo
Canister Sampler - Collects samples for the analysis of more than 80 volatile organic compounds (right)
Continuous Air Monitoring Station with monitors for ozone, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, PM10, and PM2.5 (left)
Air Quality in El PasoEl Paso’s Nonattainment and Attainment for Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO)
In 1990, El Paso County was designated in nonattainment of the one-hour ozone NAAQS of 0.12 ppm with attainment scheduled by November 15, 1999. On April 15, 2004, the El Paso area was designated attainment for the 1997 eight-hour ozone standard.
In 1990, a portion of El Paso was designated moderate nonattainment for CO. On Aug. 4, 2008, the EPA approved Texas’ request for redesignation to attainment and a maintenance plan for CO in the El Paso area.
http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/sip/
Air Quality in El PasoEl Paso nonattainment Particulate Matter (PM10)
El Paso PM10 Moderate Nonattainment Area (1990 to Present)
The TCEQ developed a natural-events action plan (NEAP)
Regulated Transportation Services and Assistance Program
Transporters
Clean School Bus Program
Regulated Transportation Services and Assistance Program
Hazardous Waste Medical Waste Sludge Scrap Tires Used Oil
Key to Investigations Manifest
Clean School Bus Program
Clean School Bus ProgramThe Texas Clean School Bus program awards grants to Texas school districts and charter schools for the purchase and installation of technology to reduce diesel emissions and onboard exposure of schoolchildren and bus drivers to the emissions.
State Wide $20.2 million dollars have be awarded 6,787 Buses Retrofitted in 181 School Districts
Along the Border: $3,501,618.77 Awarded to Counties on the Border 624 Buses Retrofitted in 20 School Districts
Clean School Bus Program Brownsville ISD (Cameron County)
$1,738,090.79 Reimbursed with 129 Buses Retrofitted
Carrizo Springs ISD (Dimmit County) $180,909.21 Reimbursed with 22 Buses
Retrofitted Socorro ISD (El Paso County)
$199,061.50 Reimbursed with 10 Buses Retrofitted
Idea Public Schools (Hidalgo County) $319,647.20 Reimbursed with 35 Buses
Retrofitted
Hazardous Spills/ResponseWhich State Agency has Jurisdiction?
Depends on what is spilled and where
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality General Land Office Texas Railroad Commission Texas Department of State Health Services Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Texas Department of Public Safety Governor’s Division of Emergency Management
Hazardous Spills/Response
Accidents
Floods
Fires
Hazardous Spills
Hazardous Spills
Hazardous Spills
The TCEQ’sBorder Initiative
