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Texas companies skirt federal environmental laws with permit loopholes

In Texas, industrial facilities are avoiding stricter federal environmental regulations by classifying themselves as "minor" sources, raising concerns about air pollution and regulatory oversight.

— Dylan Baddour, Martha Pskowski and Alejandra Martinez report for Inside Climate News and Texas Tribune.

In short:

Companies in Texas exploit legal distinctions between major and minor pollution sources to bypass stringent federal environmental standards, a practice that exacerbates air pollution.
Environmental attorneys and experts identify a systemic issue in Texas' permitting process, where facilities underreport emissions or split their operations to evade federal oversight.
This practice, while legal, contradicts the spirit of environmental protection laws, leading to significant environmental and health concerns in areas like Greater Houston.

Key quote:

"This is sort of a foundational problem with Texas permitting and it’s leading to a lot of harm,"

— Gabriel Clark-Leach, former staff attorney for the Environmental Integrity Project.

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