Houston Air Alliance, along with Community In-Power and Development, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, and Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, filed a lawsuit in May 2013 against the Environmental Protection Agency. The prosecution reported research showing that smog-forming emissions can be 10 to 100 times greater than what the EPA estimates. The EPA estimates on industry VOC emissions had been based on almost 30 year old data, despite laws mandating that the EPA review and revise it's guidelines every 3 years. Pollution from flares was being neglected, which are used in industry to burn off excess gas. Without accurate data and better policies for reporting emissions from flares, the organizations involved in the lawsuit felt that the EPA could not safely and accurately govern air pollution controls. 5 years earlier, the city of Houston also requested that the EPA reevaluate their process, but the agency took no action. In the revisions following the lawsuit, the EPA made revisions and included more factors, and they found that flares from plants and refineries emit approximately 4 times more VOC's than previously reported. An interesting factor of this lawsuit is it challenges the perception of the EPA as an absolute and just organization, and shows smaller city organizations taking initiatives to challenge the norm.
"EPA Concludes Flares at Refineries and Chemical Plants Release Four Times More Volatile Organic Compounds than Reported." Air Alliance
Houston. AirCurrent News, 29 Apr. 2015. Web. 11 Sept. 2015. <http://airalliancehouston.org/news/epa-concludes-flares-at-refineries-and-
chemical-plants-release-four-times-more-volatile-organic-compounds-than-reported/>.
The University of Texas School of Public Health published a study in 2007 focusing on the pollution surrounding the Houston Ship Channel. The study reported that children who live within 2 miles of the ship channel are at a 56% higher risk of developing acute lymphocytic leukemia compared to children living more than 10 miles from the channel. The study also revealed that children whose homes were exposed to elevated 1,3-butadiene levels from the petrochemical plants were more at risk to develop any kind of leukemia.This was the first study to discuss the possibility of a link between cancer risks and pollutants in the area. To conduct the study, the University of Texas School of Public Health examined reported cancer incidents in the Texas Cancer Registry from 1995 to 2003, as well as the 1,3-butadiene and benzene emissions recorded by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality since 1992. This event brought public health to the attention of many Houston citizens, and challenged the industry surrounding the Houston Ship Channel.
In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released data revealing that Texas has the third highest rate of pedestrian accidents in the US. The Texas Department of Transportation also reports that in Harris County, between 2003 and 2008, approximately 100 deaths and 1,175 injuries occurred annually from pedestrian accidents. While these incidents can't directly be correlated to air pollution, they emphasize the attitude of the Houston community towards Transportation, which greatly contributes to pollution. Compared to similarly sized cities, Houston has much less utilization of public transit, and the attitude of commuters prioritizes the convenience of cars and neglects their environmental burden. This obsession with cars has prevented infrastructure considerations for bicyclists and pedestrians. The lack of safe sidewalks and bike lanes actively discourages more environmentally friendly transportation.
(image source: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/09/21/alberta-air-quality-advisory-refineries-edmonton_n_3968773.html)
Houston Air Alliance, along with Community In-Power and Development, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, and Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, filed a lawsuit in May 2013 against the Environmental Protection Agency. The prosecution reported research showing that smog-forming emissions can be 10 to 100 times greater than what the EPA estimates. The EPA estimates on industry VOC emissions had been based on almost 30 year old data, despite laws mandating that the EPA review and revise it's guidelines every 3 years. Pollution from flares was being neglected, which are used in industry to burn off excess gas. Without accurate data and better policies for reporting emissions from flares, the organizations involved in the lawsuit felt that the EPA could not safely and accurately govern air pollution controls. 5 years earlier, the city of Houston also requested that the EPA reevaluate their process, but the agency took no action. In the revisions following the lawsuit, the EPA made revisions and included more factors, and they found that flares from plants and refineries emit approximately 4 times more VOC's than previously reported. An interesting factor of this lawsuit is it challenges the perception of the EPA as an absolute and just organization, and shows smaller city organizations taking initiatives to challenge the norm.
"EPA Concludes Flares at Refineries and Chemical Plants Release Four Times More Volatile Organic Compounds than Reported." Air Alliance
Houston. AirCurrent News, 29 Apr. 2015. Web. 11 Sept. 2015. <http://airalliancehouston.org/news/epa-concludes-flares-at-refineries-and-
chemical-plants-release-four-times-more-volatile-organic-compounds-than-reported/>.
Tresaugue, Matthew. "EPA Reviews Accurate Flare Emission Levels." Houston Chronicle, 21 Apr. 2015. Web. 11 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/science-environment/article/Emissions-from-plant-flares-much-higher-than-6214909.php>.
2007: University of Texas School of Public Health Study
(image source: http://www.texasobserver.org/mo-money-mo-problems-houstonians-expect-increased-pollution-sickness-port-expansion/)
The University of Texas School of Public Health published a study in 2007 focusing on the pollution surrounding the Houston Ship Channel. The study reported that children who live within 2 miles of the ship channel are at a 56% higher risk of developing acute lymphocytic leukemia compared to children living more than 10 miles from the channel. The study also revealed that children whose homes were exposed to elevated 1,3-butadiene levels from the petrochemical plants were more at risk to develop any kind of leukemia.This was the first study to discuss the possibility of a link between cancer risks and pollutants in the area. To conduct the study, the University of Texas School of Public Health examined reported cancer incidents in the Texas Cancer Registry from 1995 to 2003, as well as the 1,3-butadiene and benzene emissions recorded by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality since 1992. This event brought public health to the attention of many Houston citizens, and challenged the industry surrounding the Houston Ship Channel.
Horswell, Cindy, and Susan Caroll. "Study: Children near Ship Channel Face More Risk." Houston Chronicle, 19 Jan. 2007. Web. 12 Sept. 2015. <http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Study-Children-near-Ship-Channel-face-more-risk-1583566.php>.
2009: Texas Third in the Nation for Pedestrian Accidents
(image source: http://www.kevinkristlaw.com/practice-areas/vehicle-accident-lawyer/pedestrian-accidents-houston-injury-lawyer/)
In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released data revealing that Texas has the third highest rate of pedestrian accidents in the US. The Texas Department of Transportation also reports that in Harris County, between 2003 and 2008, approximately 100 deaths and 1,175 injuries occurred annually from pedestrian accidents. While these incidents can't directly be correlated to air pollution, they emphasize the attitude of the Houston community towards Transportation, which greatly contributes to pollution. Compared to similarly sized cities, Houston has much less utilization of public transit, and the attitude of commuters prioritizes the convenience of cars and neglects their environmental burden. This obsession with cars has prevented infrastructure considerations for bicyclists and pedestrians. The lack of safe sidewalks and bike lanes actively discourages more environmentally friendly transportation.
"Texas Is Third Highest in the Nation for Pedestrian Accidents." Van Wey Law, P.L.L.C., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2015. <http://www.vanweylaw.com/library/houston-ranks-in-top-5-cities-for-pedestrian-accidents.cfm>.