Urges Continued Talks Between EPA TCEQ
Texas Insider Report: Washington D.C.U.S. Representative Solomon P. Ortiz (D-Texas) has written the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to emphasize his concerns about continuing disagreement between Texas officials and the EPA over permitting for Texas petrochemical refiners and chemical plants under the federal Clean Air Act.
Ortiz told Administrator Lisa Jackson that he was pleased that the staff of EPA continue to work closely with the Texas Council on Environmental Quality to resolve differences on enforcement of the clean air law but wants to be sure that area refineries and plants are not caught in the middle of a regulatory dispute.
July 2 2010
The Honorable Lisa Jackson
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington DC 20460
Dear Administrator Jackson:
My office continues to monitor the progress of discussions between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Council on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) concerning the flexible permit system submitted by TCEQ as part of its implementation of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and we are aware of EPAs disapproval this week of TCEQs flexible permit program.
I understand following disapproval of the Texas Flexible Permits Program 30 TAC Chapter 122 Subchapter G that EPA is working actively with TCEQ to put in place a federally enforceable permit process under the Clean Air Act and in fact discussing a process in which flexible permit holders and permit applicants can convert to Subchapter B permits from the State of Texas in as little as 45 to 60 days if they wish.
We also understand that some conversions to Subchapter B are already underway in which applicants have had as long as six months to review and analyze their permitting history including monitoring reporting and recordkeeping data and as long as 24 to 30 months to complete the permitting process.
I know we all share a commitment to safeguard the publics health and protect our citizens from harmful air pollution. At the same time I intend to do everything I can to ensure the uninterrupted operation of permit holders. As you know there are several petrochemical refining and chemical facilities in the 27th Congressional District of Texas. They provide thousands of well-paying stable jobs and are an anchor of the Texas economy. I want to be sure that they are not caught in the middle of a dispute over process between state and federal regulatory agencies.
Im pleased that your staff continues to work closely and cooperatively with TCEQ to resolve differences in interpretation over enforcement of the federal statute. I hope you will keep my staff and I appraised of the progress of your discussions with TCEQ and let us know if there is any way we can assist the process.
