Public hearings to eye controls on air pollution
February 5, 2008
State lawmakers are laying the groundwork for legislation that could force cement plants to test cutting-edge pollution controls and require state regulators to consider regional effects before permitting new power plants.
Written by Scott Streater, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
State lawmakers are laying the groundwork for legislation that could force cement plants to test cutting-edge pollution controls and require state regulators to consider regional effects before permitting new power plants.
At the urging of Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth, the Senate Natural Resources Committee will hold public hearings this summer to discuss these issues, both of which could affect North Texas. The three cement plants in Midlothian are the largest industrial sources of ozone-forming pollution in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. And a coal-fired power plant southeast of Waco approved by the state last year could hamper North Texas' efforts to meet federal ozone standards.
Brimer sponsored a bill last year that called for the state to test equipment that promised to slash pollution by as much as 90 percent. The bill failed after lobbying by the cement industry.
CLEANING THE AIR
The study
At the request of Sen. Kim Brimer, the Senate Natural Resources Committee will hold public hearings to "access the use of advanced control technologies" on industrial plants. Brimer's office said the goal is to hammer out legislation aimed at cement and power plants for the legislative session beginning in January.
The history
In March, Brimer filed a bill that would have required the state to test pollution-control technology at cement kilns. Brimer and Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, said they had negotiated a commitment from Holcim Inc. to test the equipment at its Midlothian plant. But when the bill moved to the House, Brimer said, Holcim lobbied to kill it. Michel Moser, Holcim's Midlothian plant manager, angered Brimer by telling state regulators in May that the company never volunteered to test the controls.
"They should have worked with us," Brimer told the Star-Telegram in May. "I think they're going to pay heavy since they didn't cooperate."
The technology
Brimer and others want cement plants to test technology called selective catalytic reduction. The controls turn emissions mostly into harmless water vapor.
Under pressure
The area's three cement plants -- Ash Grove Cement, Holcim and TXI Operations -- are under increasing pressure from local leaders to further curb pollution. Arlington, Fort Worth and Dallas have all decided to require contractors to use only cement from the cleanest plants. And a state-approved ozone cleanup plan awaiting federal approval would require the local cement plants to reduce ozone-forming pollutants by 40 percent.
Industry response
Local cement plants have either installed or are testing pollution control equipment that can halve the amount of ozone-forming pollution they emit. Ash Grove, for example, has installed such a system and it will come online by April, said company spokesman Scott Matter, who said reducing ozone-causing emissions is a "top priority."
What's next
Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco, the committee's chairman, has not set dates for the hearings.
On the Web
To view the list of studies the Natural Resources Committee will conduct this summer and fall, go to www.senate.state.tx.us, then click on the link "Interim Committee Charges for the 80th Legislature."
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