Communities statewide have demanded that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality strengthen environmental regulations for concrete batch plants, which combine raw materials such as sand, water and cement to make concrete. Residents who live near the plants have complained about air, noise and light pollution.
Now, proposed changes to a TCEQ permit these plants need to operate — lower production limits, dust reduction and setting minimum distance requirements from nearby communities — give some Texans hope that state regulators are cracking down on the plants’ emissions, while others believe the state agency is falling short on prioritizing the health of Texans.
Critics of the permit changes say the state has not taken into account the overall health impact of living near multiple concrete plants or required operators to report their emissions to the state.
To view the full story, visit https://www.ksat.com/news/texas/2023/06/12/state-environmental-agency-proposes-new-rules-for-concrete-plants-in-texas/