David A. Ramirez Area Director for Border and Permian Basin Texas Commission on Environmental...

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

Thank you

David A. RamirezTCEQ

956-425-6010David.Ramirez@tceq.texas.gov