The “reforms” that came from our once-every twelve years Sunset Review for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality were NOT real reform. They were a pro-forma exercise in maintaining the status quo for an agency that is already under scrutiny by the federal government ALREADY for not doing its job. TCEQ is already known as “reluctant regulators.”
Specifically, the US EPA is reviewing legal challenges to the way that TCEQ applies (or does NOT) the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. If allegations by dozens of organizations and hundreds or thousands of affected individuals are found to be true, TCEQ could already be at risk.
If the current legislature rubber stamps the milktoast (read: weak) actions suggested by its own members after a strenuous and fairly robust public input process demanded otherwise, TCEQ may well go down at the hands of its own enabling legislative body.
Take action now. Please write to your legislators and the Senate Committee members who will have a next hearing and opportunity to strengthen protections for our health and environment… the JOB of TCEQ.