Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals
One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.
HOUSTON — Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have previously violated the pollution limits in their permits have recently applied for new federal operating permits or renewals.
These facilities include the Chevron Pasadena Refining facility, the LyondellBasell Houston refinery, and the Chevron Phillips Chemical Sweeny Complex in Brazoria County, all of which are seeking renewed Title V permits.
Title V air permits are required for facilities that are considered major sources of air pollution by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In general, a facility is considered a major source when it emits more than 100 tons of most pollutants or more than 10 tons of hazardous air pollutants, which are known to cause cancer or serious health effects, each year.
There are 1,455 Title V facilities in Texas, according to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) spokesperson Victoria Cann. This represents more than 10% of all Title V facilities in the U.S., according to data from 2020, which puts the national total of Title V facilities at 12,726. There are currently 88 facilities seeking new or renewed Title V permits in Texas, according to TCEQ.
Chevron’s Pasadena refining facility
Chevron is seeking a renewal of their Title V operating permit for the company’s Pasadena refining facility.
The facility violated the Clean Air Act in eight of the past 12 quarters and violated the Clean Water Act in seven of the past 12 quarters, including elevated effluent water discharges of benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylenes at levels up to 520% as high as the legal limit, according to the EPA’s compliance database. Benzene has been linked to a number of health problems, including an increased cancer risk and cell disruption. Ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylenes have been linked to short-term impacts like headaches, dizziness, and fatigue, and long-term problems like memory, vision, and hearing loss.
Houston area residents recently gathered to attend a hearing on Chevron’s Pasadena Title V permit renewal. Some attendees shared support for renewing the permit, citing economic and community donations, while others shared concerns about health impacts from the refinery’s operations.
Inyang Uwak, an environmental epidemiologist and research and policy director at the environmental group Air Alliance Houston, said the refinery’s benzene fenceline monitoring levels have been above the EPA action level since April of last year.
While exceeding the action level is not a violation in itself, it does require the refinery to determine a “root cause analysis and take corrective action.” In the past two years, Chevron Pasadena Refinery has exceeded the EPA action level for benzene 18 times.
“I know benzene can be very scary,” Chevron Pasadena Refinery’s environmental manager Steph Seewald said at the hearing, stating that the new data for the first quarter of 2025 should be available soon, and is “trending downward.” Federal data to confirm this is not yet available at the time of publication.
Pasadena Refining’s general manager Tifanie Steele said that since Chevron purchased the refinery six years ago from Petrobras, the facility has made “several improvements” and cited decreases in overall emissions by “investing time and money into improving compliance.”
LyondellBasell’s Houston refinery
LyondellBasell's Title V permit hearing for its Houston-area refinery is scheduled for May 6, 2025, despite an announcement that this facility will soon close.
Violations in the last three years at this facility, according to EPA data, include one quarter violating the Clean Air Act, four quarters violating the Clean Water Act and three quarters violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which governs the disposal of solid, hazardous waste.
The future of the facility remains unclear, but the company stated it plans to start operations of “circular projects” in 2025. Residents and environmental groups like Air Alliance Houston say they hope this hearing will provide clarity about the company’s future in Houston.
Chevron Phillips Chemical’s manufacturing facilities in Brazoria County
Chevron Phillips Chemical’s second largest manufacturing facility in Brazoria County, which spans across three sites, is also seeking a renewal of their federal operating permit.
According the the EPA, the Chevron Phillips Chemical Sweeny Complex has violated its permits numerous times during the past three years: for one quarter it violated the Clean Air Act, for seven quarters it violated the Clean Water Act, for six quarters it violated the Safe Drinking Water Act, and for five quarters it violated the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
The Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area is home to one of the nation’s largest concentrations of petrochemical facilities, accounting for nearly 42% of the nation’s supply. The dense population of petrochemical facilities creates concern about cumulative impacts for communities that live in these regions, which recent studies suggest are often underestimated.
In order to keep community members in the Greater Houston area informed, Air Alliance Houston told Environmental Health News that they maintain a database called AirMail to alert residents of upcoming public meetings regarding permits. The TCEQ has made attempts in the past five years to increase public participation in meetings through avenues like increasing language accessibility, but participation is still lacking.
“Similar to voting, [attending public meetings] is your opportunity to have a voice,” Air Alliance representative Cassandra Cassados Klein told EHN. “We know that civic engagement is a great tool in protecting our air quality.”
17 states sue Trump administration over blocked wind energy development
Seventeen Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C., are suing the Trump administration for halting wind energy projects on public lands and waters, citing harm to energy diversification efforts.
In short:
- President Trump’s first-day executive order barred new offshore wind auctions and blocked rights for wind projects on public lands.
- Federal agencies have since stopped approving wind energy projects and even ordered an approved wind farm to halt construction.
- The lawsuit claims these actions hinder states' access to diversified, affordable energy amid rising electricity demand.
Why this matters:
Wind energy has become a vital component of the United States’ shift toward cleaner, renewable power sources, offering a carbon-free alternative to fossil fuels that drive climate change. By blocking wind projects, the administration’s policies not only stymie innovation but also jeopardize states' goals to diversify energy supplies and improve grid reliability. This comes as energy demand rises and extreme weather events, often worsened by climate change, strain existing infrastructure. Wind farms also represent economic opportunities for rural communities and public coffers through lease revenues. Additionally, slowing renewable energy development undermines efforts to reduce air pollution, improve public health, and meet international climate commitments.
Read more: Trump administration halts offshore wind project already under construction in New York
EPA plans to dismantle key offices overseeing climate and air pollution regulation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will dissolve two main offices responsible for regulating greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, signaling a broad retreat from federal climate oversight.
In short:
- The EPA will eliminate the Office of Atmospheric Protection and the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, moving some remaining duties to two new offices within the Office of Air and Radiation.
- Many programs, including the greenhouse gas reporting system and the annual emissions inventory, are likely to be discontinued unless legally mandated by Congress.
- The Office of Research and Development, which employs over 1,500 staff focused on science and research, will also be shut down unless Congress intervenes.
Key quote:
“This kind of information is just vital for us to understand where the heat-trapping emissions are coming from and how that’s changing over time. There’s no reason to get rid of it, except to try to bury the evidence.”
— Rachel Cleetus, senior policy director, Union of Concerned Scientists
Why this matters:
The dismantling of these EPA offices reflects a major shift in U.S. climate policy, one with deep implications for public health, environmental transparency and global climate commitments. Federal data collection on greenhouse gas emissions has long served as the backbone for state and local governments, businesses, and scientists striving to understand and combat air pollution and climate change. Without reliable federal tracking and reporting, policymakers and researchers may face serious blind spots in addressing emissions trends. This move could also limit the public's ability to hold polluters accountable. Additionally, the phase-out of research and development functions threatens progress in environmental science and innovation.
For more: EPA moves to cancel nearly 800 climate justice grants issued under Biden
House Republicans push sweeping fossil fuel expansion in budget bill
Lawmakers are preparing to fast-track legislation that would expand mining and fossil fuel leasing while rolling back environmental reviews and clean energy incentives.
In short:
- The House Natural Resources Committee this week began marking up a Republican-led budget reconciliation bill aiming to expand oil, gas, and mineral extraction, lower royalties, and streamline permitting by introducing pay-for-speed review fees.
- The bill proposes quarterly onshore oil and gas leases, new offshore leases, and opens more areas in Alaska, while reversing Biden-era mining restrictions and reducing royalties to pre-Inflation Reduction Act rates.
- Environmental groups and Democrats criticize the legislation for prioritizing fossil fuel interests and cutting climate funds, while also charging that it undermines public oversight and accelerates pollution.
Key quote:
“Worst of all, it allows fossil fuel companies and other big polluters to buy their way out of meaningful review or public input into their projects. So, that would mean one set of rules for the fossil fuel and logging barons, and another for the rest of us.”
— Kyle Jones, director of federal affairs at Natural Resources Defense Council
Why this matters:
The proposed legislation marks a significant escalation in U.S. fossil fuel policy, potentially reshaping how public lands are used and how environmental reviews are conducted. By reducing royalties and introducing fast-track permitting fees, the bill could accelerate fossil fuel extraction at a time when scientific consensus urges a shift away from carbon-intensive energy sources to mitigate climate change.
Opening new leases in sensitive areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Alaska’s Cook Inlet could impact biodiversity and Indigenous communities. Furthermore, the bill’s provisions to cut climate-related funds and rollback clean energy incentives threaten to undermine the Inflation Reduction Act’s climate goals, which had aimed to accelerate the nation’s transition to renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Public health experts warn that increased fossil fuel extraction can worsen air and water pollution, contributing to respiratory problems, cancer risks, and other health hazards, particularly for vulnerable populations near extraction sites. If passed, the bill could set back environmental protections and climate efforts for years to come.
Related: Trump moves to block state climate rules and lawsuits tied to fossil fuel emissions
Europe steps up funding to attract U.S. scientists facing cuts under Trump
As the Trump administration reduces research funding and tightens restrictions on universities, European leaders are offering financial incentives to lure American scientists.
Catherine Porter and Roger Cohen report for The New York Times.
In short:
- French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced major investments to attract U.S.-based researchers, including a €500 million EU initiative a $113 million commitment from France.
- Trump administration policies, including funding freezes and attacks on diversity and climate science, have caused concern among American academics and prompted lawsuits from major universities like Harvard.
- European universities, such as Aix Marseille University, are launching programs to provide refuge for scientists affected by U.S. policy changes, while debates continue over Europe’s own research funding levels.
Key quote:
“In the United States, once a paradise for researchers, academic freedom is being challenged. The line between truth and falsehood, between fact and belief, is being weakened.”
— Elisabeth Borne, France’s education minister
Why this matters:
Scientific research thrives in environments where inquiry is open and funding is stable. As the U.S. government imposes new limits on federal support and subjects universities to ideological litmus tests, Europe is seizing the moment to position itself as a haven for researchers. This shift has profound implications not just for the careers of individual scientists but for the global scientific enterprise. Disciplines like climate science, public health, and biomedical research could see talent migration, potentially altering where and how breakthroughs occur. Furthermore, limiting scientific freedom in the U.S. may erode public trust in academic institutions and weaken responses to health and environmental challenges. Europe’s proactive stance may cushion the impact of these policies, but the long-term effects of such an academic brain drain — and the political forces driving it — remain uncertain.
Read more: Mass exodus of senior staff reshapes federal energy and environmental agencies under Trump
Scientists worldwide pledge to support U.S. colleagues facing political attacks on climate research
More than 18,000 researchers gathered in Austria to discuss climate science and vow solidarity amid increasing political pressure and funding cuts in the U.S.
In short:
- At the European Geosciences Union conference in Vienna, global science leaders condemned political interference and pledged to aid U.S. scientists affected by the Trump administration’s anti-science policies.
- The American Geophysical Union and the American Meteorological Society are working together to maintain climate assessments and are legally challenging staffing cuts at U.S. federal science agencies.
- Scientists are experiencing significant emotional and professional stress, with some considering moving abroad due to suppressed research funding and travel restrictions.
Key quote:
“If you love freedom, come and do research here.”
— Emmanuel Macron, President of France
Why this matters:
Political suppression of science not only hampers the ability to develop effective policies but also erodes public trust in evidence-based decision-making. The current political climate in the U.S. is leading to reduced funding, mass firings, and restricted communication for scientists, particularly those in federal agencies. These actions stifle innovation and deter young scientists from entering the field or continuing their careers domestically, potentially creating a “brain drain.” Suppressing climate science is especially dangerous as it delays responses to global warming’s accelerating effects that threaten both ecosystems and human health worldwide. International collaboration and solidarity maintain the flow of critical environmental data and help ensure that scientific inquiry remains open and resilient in the face of political adversity.
Read more: Opinion: Scientists stand ready to lead — but will governments follow?
Analysis: Australia’s voters give Labor a mandate to speed up the renewable energy transition
Australia’s landslide election result signals public support for faster renewable energy growth and leaves the Labor government poised to make bigger climate policy moves.
In short:
- Labor’s plan to derive 82% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 was upheld despite attacks from conservative groups and fossil fuel interests.
- The Greens will hold the Senate balance of power, while climate-focused independents gained voter support, showing broad backing for stronger environmental action.
- Labor has started work on decarbonizing six economic sectors and is expected to set a 2035 emissions reduction target between 65% and 75% below 2005 levels.
Why this matters:
As one of the world’s largest fossil fuel exporters, Australia has long faced criticism for policies that lag behind its international peers. This election outcome suggests public readiness for an energy transition that could reshape not just domestic power generation but also industries tied to mining, transport and agriculture. Accelerating the move to renewables would lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets and protect public health by cutting air pollution. Yet, even with voter momentum, major challenges remain. Balancing economic growth, job transitions in fossil fuel regions and biodiversity protections during the energy buildout will test policymakers. The next few years could set a blueprint for how developed economies like Australia navigate the complex, high-stakes shift to clean energy.
Related: Australia expands large-scale battery projects as energy sector pivots toward renewables
Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities
“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”
Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study
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A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations
An open letter from EPA staff to the American public
“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”
New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants
“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.
Op-ed: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist
We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts.