Harris County Pollution Control Department Leads The Way For - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Harris County Pollution Control Department Leads The Way For Local Government Community Monitoring & Environmental Enforcement October 31, 2019 H-GAC- Regional Air Quality Planning Advisory Committee Presented by: Latrice Babin, PhD

Goals • Provide a historical overview • Sections and activity • Introduce monitoring plan & initiatives • Summary • Conclusion

Historical Overview Harris County Health Department Stream and Air Pollution Control Section Harris County Pollution Control Public Health & Environmental Services Pollution Control division (1998) Harris County Pollution Control

Organizational Structure • Administration • Technical Services • Laboratory • Emergency Response • Field – Air – Water – Solid Waste • Stormwater • Compliance

General Activities

Routine Tasks Respond to Citizen Complaints • Investigations (routine and complaint) • Review air quality permit applications and submit • comments to TCEQ Conduct site reviews as part of the permit review process • Conduct Emission Event investigations • Comment of TCEQ Rule Making • Comment on Proposed Legislation and provide SME • testimony as needed

Routine Tasks - Cont’d • Participate on regional committees • Ozone Monitoring Network (presently part of TCEQ’s network) • Enforcement • Civil enforcement • Criminal enforcement Data available at: https://tceq.texas.gov

Cleaner Air Shed

Recent Environmental Quality Challenges • Exxon Fire • ITC Fire • KMCO Explosion • Kirby Barge Collision • Exxon Explosion • Canal Barge Collision • ITC Spill Photo credit: Jon Shapley, staff photographer, Houston Chronicle

Moving Forward In Protection Community Monitoring Plan Photo credit: Aeroqual

Funding Provided • Harris County Commissioner’s Court has authorized funding Pollution Control Services • Over the next 24 months - $5.9M – 29 staff – Monitoring equipment – Mobile monitoring vehicle – Assets to augment current daily capabilities

Tier II Chemical Facilities located in Harris County Taken from the Penta Gap Analysis report via ATLAS

Extremely Hazardous Substances at Facilities in Harris County

Extremely Hazardous Substances at Facilities in Harris County

Monitoring Strategy • Centralization of current data • Focused identification of prevailing toxins • Engagement of Stakeholders • Enhanced monitoring – Blue sky – Emergency • Education and PR Data available at: https://pcs.harriscountytx.gov

New Initiatives

Advancing Normal Operations • Permit Reviews – Moving beyond the norm – Facility inspections – Increase frequency of facility paperwork inspections for waste disposition – Title V review • Facility Tank Inspections – Fugitive emissions – Seal gap inspections • Concrete Batch Plant – Initiating a pilot program – Compliance profile

PCS Efforts AEs UEs • Unauthorized emissions Timely response to • Authorized Emissions e-merge Title V Permits notifications Reviews of e-merge Permit Apps (new, notifications from renewal, EE perspective amendment) (non-reportables) Continued Focus on High Profile Sources Enforcement

Enforcement

Coordinated Enforcement Focus • Meetings with Subject before enforcement action recommendation • Monthly meetings with CAO and DA • Injunctive relief and civil penalties • Criminal charges • Citizen Suit

Compliance • 426 VNs this CY • 486 VNs 2018 (same time) 252 185 Notices 157 152 82 84 Violation Air Waste Water 2018 2019

Enforcement Referrals • County Attorney’s Office • District Attorney’s Office 14 Referrals 7 6 2 2018 2019 CAO DAO

Questions

Contact Information Latrice Babin, PhD Director (713) 274-6413 Latrice.babin@pcs.hctx,net