Latest news with #TexasCommissiononEnvironmentalQuality
Time of India
3 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Massive Saharan dust crosses Atlantic, reaches Texas: what it means for air quality, health, and hurricanes
Saharan dust is expected to reach southern Texas by May 30, 2025, causing hazy skies and potential respiratory issues, especially in eastern regions from Houston to Dallas. While impacting air quality with elevated particulate matter, this dust also suppresses hurricane formation due to its dry air and wind shear. The dust enhances sunsets and fertilizes ocean ecosystems. Saharan dust consists of fine mineral particles from the Sahara Desert, the largest hot desert. Trade winds carry these particles across the Atlantic, reaching the Caribbean, South America, and parts of North America, including Texas. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How does Saharan dust travel to Texas? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Impact on air quality and health Benefits: suppression of hurricane formation Additional effects: Sunsets and ocean fertilization As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1, another atmospheric shift is on the horizon for Texas , this time in the form of Saharan dust drifting across the Atlantic Ocean. The plume is expected to reach the southern Texas coastline by Friday, May 30, bringing with it hazy skies and air pollutants to parts of the the heaviest concentrations are forecast for the southeastern US, areas in eastern Texas, particularly from Houston to Dallas, will also see dust-filled skies over the weekend. While the dust won't be as dense as in other regions, it may still affect visibility and can create trouble for respiratory dust consists of fine mineral particles lifted from the Sahara Desert, the world's largest hot desert. Prevailing trade winds transport these particles across the Atlantic Ocean, often reaching the Caribbean, South America, and parts of North America, including journey begins with strong winds and thunderstorms in the Sahara region, which lift dust particles into the atmosphere. These particles enter the Saharan Air Layer (SAL), a mass of dry, warm air that moves westward across the Atlantic Ocean. The SAL typically resides 5,000 to 20,000 feet above sea level and can transport dust thousands of trans-Atlantic journey of Saharan dust to Texas can take several days. The dust is carried by the trade winds, which are east-to-west prevailing winds in the Earth's equatorial region. Upon reaching the Gulf of Mexico, the dust can descend into the lower atmosphere, affecting air quality and visibility in coastal and inland areas of arrival of Saharan dust in Texas will make the skies hazy and reduce air quality. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies Saharan dust as a particle pollutant, which can pose health risks, particularly for individuals with respiratory conditions such as asthma or the dust event, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has forecasted elevated levels of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in several regions, including Houston, Austin, and San is not bad with the African dust, as it plays a role in suppressing hurricane development. The dry air and increased wind shear associated with the Saharan Air Layer can inhibit the formation and intensification of tropical cyclones. The dust particles absorb sunlight, warming the SAL and creating a temperature inversion that stabilizes the atmosphere, further reducing the likelihood of storm dust can enhance the colors of sunrises and sunsets, leading to vivid sky displays. Additionally, the dust contains nutrients like iron and phosphorus, which can fertilize ocean ecosystems, eventually supporting the growth of phytoplankton and marine food chains.
Business Journals
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Journals
Financing the future: How special districts are shaping the path to attainable housing in Texas
Texas is in the midst of a housing attainability crisis — one that's growing more acute by the year, particularly in rapidly developing regions like North Texas. As the median home price pushes past $400,000 and the average first-time homebuyer approaches age 39, the long-held perception of Texas as a haven for affordable housing is being challenged. According to Steve Robinson, founding partner at Allen Boone Humphries Robinson (ABHR), these pressures are not just reshaping the real estate landscape — they're threatening the very foundation of the so-called 'Texas Miracle.' 'If we can't house our people — if workers can't afford to live where the jobs are — it's going to stifle the economy,' Robinson says. 'What we do at ABHR is help build great communities. We use innovative financing tools to make those communities more attainable for more Texans.' One of the most powerful tools in Texas' housing development toolbox? The Municipal Utility District, or MUD — a mechanism Robinson and his team have helped deploy across the state to fund critical infrastructure and enable large-scale, master-planned developments. What exactly is a MUD? At its core, a MUD is a governmental entity empowered to levy taxes in order to finance public infrastructure — think water, sewer, drainage and roads. Originating in the Houston area more than 60 years ago, MUDs were initially developed to address the city's explosive growth. Today, they've become a cornerstone of real estate development across Texas. 'MUDs allow developers to shoulder the upfront costs of infrastructure in areas where cities aren't extending services yet,' says Kelsey Taylor, attorney at ABHR. 'That means development can proceed where demand exists, instead of waiting years for a city to act.' Importantly, MUDs also promote long-term planning by allowing developers to phase infrastructure alongside home construction, resulting in cohesive, high-quality communities. These districts are governed by locally appointed boards and regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), which provides layers of public oversight that enhance accountability and quality control. Texas vs. the nation: What makes our system different? While special districts are common across the U.S. — with California's Mello-Roos districts, Florida's Community Development Districts (CDDs) and Colorado's Metropolitan Districts — Texas' MUD system stands out for its financial structure and regulatory rigor. 'Texas' system is unique in that it is reimbursement-based,' Robinson explains. 'The developer takes the risk — building the public infrastructure and private development first — and is only repaid after performance.' This structure, paired with tax-based financing rather than assessments, results in lower borrowing costs and greater financial stability. Since the current rules were implemented in 1989, Texas MUDs have maintained a 0% default rate. 'This is a performance-based system with very high oversight,' Robinson notes. 'It's efficient, it's stable, and it's the largest and most robust system of its kind in the country.' Speed, scale and attainability While MUDs don't directly shorten development timelines — they generally take about a year to form — they dramatically improve the financial feasibility of development by decoupling public infrastructure costs from home prices. 'If you can remove $100,000 in infrastructure costs from the lot price, there's a broader group of people who will qualify for a $400,000 mortgage instead of a $500,000 one,' Robinson says. 'That increases attainability, which in turn increases the velocity of development.' Taylor agrees. 'In many areas, without a MUD, development wouldn't happen at all. Developers would simply pass on the opportunity. With a MUD, they can move forward, and that speeds up access to housing.' Funding amenities and green space Although certain counties — primarily in South and Central Texas — allow MUDs to issue bonds specifically for park development, North Texas does not currently have that capability. Still, MUDs play a significant role in creating amenitized communities by reallocating reimbursed infrastructure dollars toward parks, trails and public gathering spaces. 'Today's buyers expect more than just a home — they want vibrant communities,' Taylor says. 'While we can't use tax-secured park bonds in North Texas, we can leverage other financing tools to support those amenities. That's part of what we love to do: find creative solutions that enhance quality of life.' A North Texas transformation While MUDs have long been embraced in the Houston area, their use in North Texas has historically been limited. That's changing — and fast. 'There are more than 200 cities in North Texas, most with their own water and sewer systems,' Robinson explains. 'Development used to be constrained to areas where those services were available. But with rising land prices, interest rates and infrastructure costs, developers began asking why comparable homes in Houston were significantly less expensive. One big answer was the use of MUDs.' Over the last decade, legislative changes and market forces have paved the way for widespread adoption of MUDs in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Today, virtually every major master-planned community in North Texas is using a special district to finance infrastructure — something that would have been rare just 10 years ago. Spotlight: Viridian in Arlington One standout example is Viridian, a master-planned community in Arlington that was made possible through a Municipal Management District (MMD) — a cousin of the MUD structure that offers expanded flexibility. Developed on challenging land within the Trinity River floodplain and adjacent to a landfill, the project faced steep financial and logistical hurdles. "It is critical that cities and counties invest in their community development. These district tools can achieve best in class environments for cities with the right developers. Viridian is one great case study of PPP success," says Robert Kembel, partner and president of The Nehemiah Company. Unlike traditional MUDs, MMDs can levy assessments to reimburse costs for features like parks and public amenities — expenses that are difficult to fund through bond financing in North Texas. That gave Viridian the resources to create a highly amenitized, high-quality community complete with trails, green space and even a 90-acre lake where residents can sail. 'Arlington didn't have much new single-family housing stock,' adds Robinson. 'Viridian brought it in at scale, in a part of town that had been previously overlooked. The district financing model made it all possible.' The path forward As Texas continues to grow, MUDs will play an increasingly vital role in ensuring that housing remains accessible, communities remain livable and economic growth remains sustainable. In Robinson's words, the model is the ultimate public-private partnership. 'Cities can't always move fast enough to meet demand,' he says. 'MUDs allow the private sector to take that risk, while still complying with public oversight. It's a powerful model that allows Texas to keep growing — and to keep the dream of homeownership within reach for more families.' To learn more about ABHR, visit
Cision Canada
4 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
enCore Energy Receives Radioactive Materials License for Upper Spring Creek ISR Uranium Project, South Texas; Commences Construction
DALLAS, May 29, 2025 /CNW/ - enCore Energy Corp. (NASDAQ:EU| TSXV: EU) (the "Company" or "enCore"), America's Clean Energy Company TM, today announced the approval for the inclusion of the Upper Spring Creek In-Situ Recovery ("ISR") Uranium Project (the "Project") in the existing Radioactive Materials License ("RML") from the TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality). This license allows enCore to handle radioactive materials, which includes the final product, U 3 O 8 ("uranium"). The current RML includes the Rosita Uranium Project, which has now been extended to cover the Upper Spring Creek Project's Brown Area. The RML allows the construction of wellfields and a Satellite Ion Exchange ("IX") Plant to commence, which will feed the Rosita ISR Uranium Central Processing Plant ("CPP"). These Satellite IX Plants, located adjacent to wellfields, are a key part of the satellite ISR process; they are modular, efficient, and relocatable, allowing for cost-effective uranium extraction across multiple remote sites which can be moved once a wellfield is depleted. The RML is scheduled for renewal in 2032, provided the Project's operation remains in compliance. The RML provides safety, material handling, record keeping and reporting protocols. William M. Sheriff, Executive Chairman of enCore Energy stated: "The receipt of the RML, allowing enCore to build its next remote Satellite Ion Exchange Plant and wellfield in a timely manner from application, is a testament to the efficiency of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The ability to operate and issue these critical permits under authority of being an Agreement State in conjunction with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is a clear competitive advantage for enCore. This is our third permitted facility in Texas with each of our preceding permits having been granted in 20 months or less. The Upper Spring Creek Project brings important uranium mineralization into the operations of the Company, and we look forward to recovering (capturing) increasing amounts of uranium from late this year into 2026. On behalf of the Board, I want to thank our dedicated team for bringing this project to the point of permit application and issuance. We have the utmost confidence in them completing the new construction in the coming months." enCore has commenced advancement of the Project with drill rigs moving to site to begin development of the production wellfield; enCore previously began staging equipment in anticipation of receiving this approval. Construction activities will include surface preparation, well construction, road construction and installation of support facilities and utilities. The construction of the Satellite IX Plant concrete pad is planned to start in 30 days. enCore now holds two RML's in Texas; one for the Alta Mesa ISR Uranium Project and the amended RML which now includes the Upper Spring Creek's Brown Area, Rosita and Kingsville Project areas. The TCEQ is a part of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission's ("NRC") Agreement State Program where Texas assumes regulatory authority over certain radioactive materials, including production of uranium. As part of the agreement, regulations adopted by Texas are required to be compatible with NRC regulations. About the Upper Spring Creek ISR Uranium Project The 100% Company-owned Project is a planned Satellite IX Plant operation for the Rosita CPP. The Project consists of several future potential production units within the historic Clay West uranium district. The Project was previously held by Signal Equities LLC, who previously licensed and permitted the property as an ISR uranium project, maintaining the aquifer exemption and ceased work following continued low uranium spot prices. In December 2020, the Company acquired the Project. The uranium mineralized sands that are associated with the project area lie within the Oakville Formation. These historic uranium producing sands stretch across an area of approximately 120 miles long by approximately 20 miles wide in South Texas. The uranium mineralized ore body at the Upper Spring Creek Project occurs at depths typically between 300 and 450 feet from surface. Rosita ISR Uranium Central Processing Plant The Rosita CPP can receive uranium-loaded resin from remote project areas across the South Texas region through a network of Satellite IX Plants. These Satellite IX Plants, located near wellfields, are a key component of the ISR uranium extraction process. A lixiviant, consisting of groundwater mixed with oxygen and sodium bicarbonate, is injected into the wellfield using ISR technology, where it dissolves uranium from the underground sandstone. The uranium-bearing solution is then pumped to the surface and directed through the IX columns at the nearby Satellite IX Plant, where uranium is absorbed onto resin beads. The uranium-loaded resin is then transported to the Rosita CPP, where the uranium is removed from the resin and processed into yellowcake. Once processed, the resin is recycled and trucked back to the Satellite IX Plants for reuse. These modular, efficient, and relocatable IX Plants allow for cost-effective operation across multiple sites without the need to construct full processing facilities at each location, and they can be relocated once a wellfield is depleted. Technical Disclosure and Qualified Person John M. Seeley, Ph.D., P.G., C.P.G., enCore's Chief Geologist, and a Qualified Person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) S-K 1300, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news release on behalf of the Company. About enCore Energy Corp. enCore Energy Corp., America's Clean Energy Company™, is committed to providing clean, reliable, and affordable fuel for nuclear energy as the only United States uranium company with multiple central processing plants in operation. enCore operates the 100% owned and operated Rosita CPP in South Texas and the 70/30 joint venture Alta Mesa CPP with Boss Energy Ltd., with enCore operating as the project manager. The enCore team is led by industry experts with extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of ISR uranium operations and the nuclear fuel cycle. enCore solely utilizes ISR for uranium extraction, a well-known and proven technology co-developed by the leaders at enCore Energy. Following upon enCore's demonstrated success in South Texas, future projects in enCore's planned project pipeline include the Dewey-Burdock project in South Dakota and the Gas Hills project in Wyoming. The Company holds other assets including non-core assets and proprietary databases. enCore is committed to working with local communities and indigenous governments to create positive impact from corporate developments. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws that are based on management's current expectations, assumptions, and beliefs. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by such words as "expects", "plans", "believes", "intends", "continue", "potential", "remains", and similar expressions or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", or "will" be taken. Forward-looking statements and information that are not statements of historical fact include, but are not limited to, any information relating to statements regarding future or potential extraction, and any other statements regarding future expectations, beliefs, goals or prospects, statements regarding the success of current and future ISR operations, including projects in our pipeline, our development plans including construction of wellfields and a satellite IX plant to feed the Rosita Project, the commencement of and timing of commencement of construction at the Project, our future extraction plans and our commitment to working with local communities and indigenous governments to create positive impact from corporate developments should be considered forward looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and forward-looking statements are subject to important risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward looking statement, including those described in greater detail in our filings with the SEC and on SEDAR+, particularly those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, annual information from and MD&A. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with assumptions regarding project economics; discount rates; expenditures and the current cost environment; timing and schedule of the projects, general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments; the ability of enCore to implement its business strategies; and other risks. A number of important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements, including without limitation exploration and development risks, changes in commodity prices, access to skilled personnel, the results of exploration and development activities; extraction risks; uninsured risks; regulatory risks; defects in title; the availability of materials and equipment, timeliness of government approvals and unanticipated environmental impacts on operations; litigation risks; risks posed by the economic and political environments in which the Company operates and intends to operate; increased competition; assumptions regarding market trends and the expected demand and desires for the Company's products and proposed products; reliance on industry equipment manufacturers, suppliers and others; the failure to adequately protect intellectual property; the failure to adequately manage future growth; adverse market conditions, the failure to satisfy ongoing regulatory requirements and factors relating to forward looking statements listed above. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated, or expected. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as required by law. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by the Company with the various securities commissions which are available online at and Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations, beliefs and plans of management. Such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes and readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, that speak only as of the date hereof, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oil companies win protections from Texas Legislature ahead of selling fracking water
The Texas Legislature has given oil and gas companies legal cover to sell wastewater to be treated and released into the state's rivers, lakes and streams. State Rep. Drew Darby's House Bill 49 — on its way to Gov. Greg Abbott — marks a step the oil and gas industry has said is a key barrier to expanding the treatment of the brine it generates, known as produced water, and making it available for reuse. The bill protects landowners, oil, treatment and transportation companies from liability should consequences arise after they sell or treat the liquid. In Texas, record oil and gas production is only outmatched by the backwash that surfaces with the fossil fuels. There are five barrels of produced water for every barrel of oil. Texas oil companies are increasingly using this liquid, which is trapped in the rock where drilling and fracking occur, to frack more. Now, companies believe the water can help replenish the state's water supply, which is under strain due to a larger population, withering infrastructure and climate change. Four treatment companies applied for state permission to release the water into the state's waterways. 'I think this will really free up some water transactions to start happening, where people will more freely exchange water,' said Laura Capper, a produced water expert and oil and gas consultant. [Can Texas clean up fracking water enough to use for farming? One company thinks so.] Under Darby's bill, companies that sell the water can't be held responsible for the consequences if someone else uses the water. Treatment and transportation companies and landowners also qualify for protection, including in cases of personal injury, death, or property damage. Companies and landowners can only be sued when they are grossly negligent, commit intentional, wrongful acts of omission, break state or federal laws, or fail to satisfy standards set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which sets and enforces the state's environmental rules. The bill directs the environmental quality commission to write rules around produced water research and reuse. Darby's bill also prohibits courts from issuing what are known as exemplary damages, or additional punitive measures, to deter companies from committing the same mistake. Cyrus Reed, a legislative and conservation director for the Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy organization, said the state is moving too fast. He said scientists and regulators should continue experimenting with treatment methods until they can be sure the water can be treated continuously. In 2021, lawmakers began to fund treatment research, putting $10 million toward the effort, called the Texas Produced Water Consortium. The environmental quality commission has said the consortium's findings will help decide whether to let companies release water into the environment. But Reed said the consortium should spend more years on pilot projects, experimenting on soil, before laws are introduced, adding that the water, even when treated, could still contain contaminants the environmental quality commission has not accounted for. 'I understand why (lawmakers) want this,' Reed said. 'They're trying to make it work so that this water can be reused, but who's going to ultimately pay the price? It's going to be the public.' Capper, the water consultant, said the law places the responsibility on the state's regulatory agencies to make sure the water is safe, which also gives the industry security to sell it. She said there is enough research through Texas and New Mexico, which has also funded produced water treatment research, to make the water safe to discharge. 'We've studied this water to death,' she said. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Time of India
5 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
SpaceX's 9th Starship rocket loses control during test flight; what went wrong this time?
Elon Musk's giant Starship rocket launched again from Texas on May 27 for another test flight. This time, the rocket lost control of its altitude due to a leak. SpaceX announcers said during the live broadcast that a controlled landing was unlikely. Starship had a similar problem during its third test flight. Two test flights ended in explosions over the Caribbean, scattering debris and forcing airplanes to change course in early 2025 too. Starship, the largest rocket ever built, on Tuesday's (May 27) flight, used 33 engines in its lower stage, called 'Super Heavy' to lift the rocket to near space. After separation, Starship ignited its six engines and flew around Earth for less than an hour, performing several tests. The rocket was supposed to launch dummy satellites, but a door on the spacecraft did not open as planned. Coverage of the flight ended when contact was lost with the rocket. Announcers predicted the rocket would land in a disoriented position. SpaceX planned to land the booster over water. The company wanted to test whether the booster could land safely without one of its three center engines firing. This engine was deliberately turned off to see if the other engines could handle the landing. Live Events Starship has made similar flights three times before. However, it never flew beyond North America on its last two flights. Both times, it exploded shortly after launch, sending debris over the Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos and forcing flight diversions. The launchpad is near a state park and wildlife refuge in Boca Chica, Texas. This has raised concerns among environmentalists. Reports from the Environmental Protection Agency and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality show that SpaceX violated the Clean Water Act by releasing tens of thousands of gallons of wastewater. The company was fined about $150,000 in September 2024. Environmental groups also report that launches have destroyed nests of vulnerable shorebirds in the area. SpaceX says two different problems caused the failures. The January failure was due to a stronger-than-expected vibration, which stressed the rocket's propulsion hardware. The March failure was caused by a hardware failure in one engine, leading to a fire onboard. After investigating, SpaceX said these failures happened at similar points in flight but were caused by different issues.
