By Lisa Wheeler - TCEQ News Release - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2009
Residents in the Corpus Christi, Beaumont-Port Arthur, and Houston-Galveston-Brazoria areas may soon notice a white helicopter hovering over or near pipelines, oil and gas production facilities, and other industrial facilities, as part of an airborne study being conducted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Beginning the second week of August, the helicopter flights will be conducted over industrial areas in Harris, Jefferson, and Nueces counties. The study will conclude no later than August 21, 2009.
The specially-equipped helicopter utilizes an infrared camera called the HAWK that can image volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hydrocarbon emissions invisible to the eye. VOCs are a class of compounds present in common things like gasoline and used as solvents or industrial chemicals. VOCs can combine with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the presence of sunlight and light winds to form ground-level ozone.
When the camera detects possible VOC emissions, the technician on the helicopter will note the time and location and other information about the emissions source. The helicopter may hover or circle a particular location for an extended period of time to gather images and data on potential emission sources.
The TCEQ project is a follow-up to similar efforts conducted in the Texas Gulf Coast, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Tyler-Longview-Marshall areas to identify VOC sources that may potentially be unreported or under-reported. Identifying the emissions will assist the agency in improving the region's air quality by advancing the study of ozone formation and VOC sources, thus leading to improved air quality planning efforts.
Notification of similar flights in the future will be posted on the TCEQ Point Source Emissions Inventory page http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/industei/psei/psei.html, rather than via news releases.
DFW Regional Concerned Citizens collaborate to be informed on air quality and water issues. Breathable air and safe drinking water is essential. Air Quality impacts transportation funding, health and quality of life.
Gas drilling in the Trinity and Barnett Shale Aquifiers presents challenges for residents calling for sensible ordinances to balance safety, quality of life, water quality and water availabilty with other resources.
- TCEQ Rules for Service Station VRSs
- TCEQ Emission Tables by County - Barnett Shale
- SMU Pollution Study of Barnett Shale Gas Production, Transmission and Storage
- Preventable Pipeline Hazards
- NPR: Health and Gas in DISH
- News 33 Coverage of Daniel Dr Pipeline May 2009
- NCTCA
- Natural Gas Devastation: An Aerial View
- Natural Gas Devastation - Arial View
- E Arlington - Industrial Pipeline Construction
- Drilling Rigs In Arlington and Grand Prairie
- DFWRCC
- Daniel Dr. DFW Midstreams Pipeline Update
- Corinth Cares
- Child endangerment: Cedar Point Apt.and Bob Cook Park
- Child Endangerment in Arlington - open gas pipeline drilling holes
- Child Endangerment - Sump Holes in Residential Neighborhoods
- Blue Daze
- Atlngton Texan
About Air and Water
Thursday, August 6, 2009
TCEQ HELICOPTER TAKES TO THE SKY FOR GULF COAST CLEAN AIR STUDY Looking for unreported, under-reported emissions
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Travel to other worlds ... UTA Planetarium
Immersive full-dome 3-D Digital planetarium show narrated by Ewan McGregor (Obi wan Kepobi from Star Wars) - Astronaut takes you exporing the worlds of inner and outer space. The movie is projected all around you. You recline in specially constructed chairs which enables you to comfortably view the immersive full-dome planetarium show. Astronaut! (produced from the National Space Centre in England) goes beyond the stereotypical space movie. Experience a rocket launch from inside the body of the astronaut. Float around the international Space Station moving thorugh the microscopic regions of the human body! Discover the beauty and perils as "Chad", the test astronaut experiences everything thrown at him.
Summer Schedule (June 2-August 26):
Astronaut!
shows at the UTA Planetarium.
Wed. through Saturdays at 11 a.m.
and Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
Cosmic CSI
shows at the UTA Planetarium 3-D Digital Dome.
Wed. through Saturdays at 2 p.m.
Rock Hall of Fame 1 (The Original)
shows at the UTA Planetarium.
Thursday at 8:00 p.m.
Read more (Warning their flat dull website doesn't give much of a glimmer of the multi-dimensional experience you'll have once you enter the dome of the UTA Planetarium!)
Admission: Adults: $5.00
Seniors, Students, Children: $4.00
UTA Faculty, Staff & Alumni (with ID): $3.00
UTA Studens (with ID): $2.00
Groups of 10 or more with reservation: $3.00
Call 817 272-1183 or e-mail planetarium@uta.edu
Astronaut!
shows at the UTA Planetarium.
Wed. through Saturdays at 11 a.m.
and Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
Cosmic CSI
shows at the UTA Planetarium 3-D Digital Dome.
Wed. through Saturdays at 2 p.m.
Rock Hall of Fame 1 (The Original)
shows at the UTA Planetarium.
Thursday at 8:00 p.m.
Read more (Warning their flat dull website doesn't give much of a glimmer of the multi-dimensional experience you'll have once you enter the dome of the UTA Planetarium!)
Admission: Adults: $5.00
Seniors, Students, Children: $4.00
UTA Faculty, Staff & Alumni (with ID): $3.00
UTA Studens (with ID): $2.00
Groups of 10 or more with reservation: $3.00
Call 817 272-1183 or e-mail planetarium@uta.edu
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