Sunset Review for TCEQ

State agencies periodically undergo legislative review to see if they are performing well and consider improvements. TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) is one of the agencies the Sunset Advisory Commission will evaluate this year—and it’s a valuable opportunity to implement significant changes and badly needed reform.

It’s our turn to rate TCEQ! How are they doing?

• Is TCEQ adequately protecting our health and natural resources?
• Does TCEQ follow their mission statement or are they more concerned with approving permits for polluting activities?
• Does TCEQ conduct environmental impact studies and thoroughly evaluate applicable science before approving new activities that will add contaminants to our air and could pollute our water?
• Does TCEQ adequately respond to your questions and address your concerns at public meetings?
• Are TCEQ wastewater discharge permits protective of our pristine streams, creeks, and rivers?
• Are TCEQ standard concrete batch permits protective of nearby schools, churches, hospitals, and homes?
• Is TCEQ capable of, and do they have the wherewithal to understand what risks the APO industry poses to area residents and our natural resources—and do they even care?
• Why are companies like Vulcan Materials, with over 80 formal complaints in Texas and over 35 violations cited at a single plant, considered by TCEQ?
• Does TCEQ enforce their own rules and hold violators accountable?
• Is TCEQ too cozy with out-of-state quarry and APO corporations such as Vulcan Materials?
• Why is TCEQ continuing to fight Texas citizens in the courtroom?

What to Do — By February 1

No later than Tuesday, February 1, submit your comments to the Sunset Advisory Commission.

Four ways to submit your comments and tell the commission what you think about TCEQ and what needs to change:

👉 Online Public Input Form
📨 Email to sunset@sunset.texas.gov
📄 Letter to Sunset Advisory Commission, Attn: TCEQ, P.O. Box 13066, Austin, Texas 78711
📞 Phone call to (512) 463-1300, Robert Romig, project manager of the TCEQ review

What’s Next? Sunset staff is currently evaluating TCEQ and seeking public input. Next, they will issue a report recommending solutions and improvements, then hold two public meetings. Stay tuned for future developments!

Candidate Questionnaires Sent in Key Primary Races

We want to help inform voters where our candidates stand on issues related to aggregate production operations (APOs) such as quarries, and TCEQ’s regulations (or lack thereof). So we developed and sent a candidate questionnaire to seven contestants in the upcoming March primary elections.

Candidates are asked to answer several questions and state their positions on issues related to the protection of residents and natural resources from the hazards of aggressive expansion and insufficient permitting, monitoring, and supervision of the aggregate industry. Questions cover legislative objectives, and issues of water, air, eminent domain, and TCEQ.

We are covering the following races:

• State Representative, District 73
• State Senator, District 25

The questionnaire was sent to all candidates certified by the Texas Secretary of State:

• Channon Cain
• Justin Calhoun
• Donna Campbell
• Barron Casteel
• George Green
• Carrie Isaac
• Robert Walsh

We look forward to publishing responses in early February. Early voting starts on February 14. Make sure you are registered (deadline is January 31) and ready to vote!

2022 Bluebonnet Extravaganza Dinner & Auction

Tickets are selling fast! You won’t want to miss out on this beautiful event at the historic Knibbe Ranch in Spring Branch. Fabulous Texas BBQ, local libations, unique photo opportunities, music, dancing, and more. Tickets are $125 and all proceeds will support legal counsel and experts needed for the continued fight against the proposed Vulcan quarry.

Saturday, April 2, 2022
4:00 – 10:00 pm
Knibbe Ranch
9836 Spring Branch Road
Spring Branch, TX 78070
Map & Directions
More Information
Facebook Event Page
Printable Flyer
Purchase Tickets

Myth vs. Fact

MYTH: When Vulcan disregards regulations, TCEQ will hold them accountable.

FACT: TCEQ has a poor track record of monitoring and enforcing compliance as well as a history of overlooking violations, discounting already-small fines, and firing apparent whistleblowers. Furthermore, ensuring that Vulcan will not exceed TCEQ air contamination limits will be impossible. Why? There are no air quality monitors near the proposed quarry site! The nearest station measuring particulate matter dust is ten miles away. Finally, TCEQ only considers air pollution produced by the actual rock crusher machinery—not the mining or blasting, dusty roads, product transport, or any other quarry operations— and any air quality issues beyond the fence line are apparently not the responsibility of Vulcan or TCEQ!

Thank you for helping to protect our families and preserve our beautiful Hill Country!