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.
Read more from Alejandra Martinez with the Texas Tribune here.