Air Issues in Texas

On this page

• Air Programs and Issues in Texas
• Ethylene Oxide
• Air Permitting in Texas
  • EPA finalized its conditional approval of the Texas Flexible Permit program
  • EPA Region 6 Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permitting for Greenhouse Gases (GHG)

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Air Programs and Issues in Texas

The Clean Air Act (CAA) establishes a number of permitting programs designed to carry out the goals of the act.  Some of these programs are directly implemented by EPA's South Central Region (Region 6), but most are carried out by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Ethylene Oxide

Inspector General Status Reports

Follow up reports by State and Company to the Inspector General Management Alert.

Upcoming scheduled community meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled at this time.

Ethylene Oxide 101: EPA Webinar held on May 25, 2021

• Video of the May 20, 2021, Webinar
• PowerPoint of presentation used in the Webinar
• Transcript of Webinar
• Original invitation to the Webinar

Risk Assessment of Ethylene Oxide Emitting Facilities in Texas and Louisiana

Results of the Risk Assessment of Ethylene Oxide Emitting Facilities in Texas and Louisiana (21 pp, July 8, 2021) (Rev 1 8/6/21) (pdf) (1.95 MB)
This 21 page memorandum discusses the Risk Assessment conducted of select ethylene oxide emitting facilities located in Louisiana and Texas. This is of general interest to those who are interested in this subject for one or more specific sites in either of the two states.

Site Specific Information for Ethylene Oxide Emitting Sources in Texas

• Indorama Ventures (formerly Huntsman), Port Neches Operations, Port Neches, TX. EIS Facility ID number 4945211
• Eastman Chemical Texas Operations, Longview, TX, EIS Facility ID Number 4941511, RN 00219815
• Shell Technology Center Houston, Houston, TX EIS Facility ID 3736811, RN100209832

Air Permitting in Texas

EPA finalized its conditional approval of the Texas Flexible Permit program.

The EPA and Texas collaborated to identify what additional elements were needed for an updated rule to meet all Clean Air Act requirements. The final rule establishes an air permitting program where emissions caps for air pollutants can be utilized to help minimize emissions while protecting human health and the environment. The rules also are enforceable and compliance must be demonstrated.

The EPA is reopening the original public comment period for the proposed full approval of the Texas Flexible Permit Program for 30 additional days beginning April 17, 2015 because we neglected to include two supporting materials in Docket. No. EPA-R06-OAR-2013-0542 at www.regulations.gov.

EPA Region 6 Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permitting for Greenhouse Gases (GHG)

On November 10, 2014, EPA published in the Federal Register our final SIP and FIP GHG actions as follows:

1. The final action to rescind a majority of the Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for Texas for greenhouse gas (GHG) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting, titled “Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Withdrawal of Federal Implementation Plan; Texas; Prevention of Significant Deterioration; Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule Revisions”.
2. The final approval of the majority of the revisions to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), titled “Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Texas; Prevention of Significant Deterioration; Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule Revisions.” A copy of both actions may be found at the Federal Register website available online.