The Houston Chronicle
www.chron.com

More rules promised on cutting smog here

By BILL DAWSON
May 10, 2001

The state's environmental commission tentatively approved a revision of Houston's smog plan Thursday to bolster its vow to add pollution-cutting measures.

The proposed change does not alter or remove any major rules in the plan adopted last December, such as its deep cuts in industrial pollution, a 55 mph speed limit and stricter tailpipe tests.

The commissioners promised to add more rules at a later date because the December plan did not include enough pollution cuts to comply with a national health standard by 2007.

The Environmental Protection Agency, which still must approve the smog plan, asked for specifics about the promised additions.

Thursday's action by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission was meant to do so.

The commissioners' promise for extra rules listed possibilities, including new clean-air technologies such as fuel additives and fuel cells, plus an energy-efficiency program related to local building codes and appliances.

Essentially, the plan revision would require 25 percent of the extra pollution cuts by 2002, and all by 2004, TNRCC official Bill Jordan said.

TNRCC will hold three hearings on the revision before giving final approval. They will be at 6 p.m. June 13 at Galveston's City Council chambers, 823 Rosenberg; 10 a.m. June 14 at Rosenberg's Civic and Community Center, 3720 Airport Ave.; and 6 p.m. June 14 at Houston's City Council chambers, 901 Bagby.