Environment→Pollution Control

Pollution Control

Industrial emissions, runoff, and the regulations that are supposed to keep air and water clean.

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Environment

Houston is filled with potentially polluted properties. Residents want them cleaned up.

About 4 in 5 Houston-area residents say cleaning up polluted brownfield sites is an important priority, a new Kinder survey shows.

HIGH ORDER OF OWL TAILGATING SOCIETY

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Environment

Request for approval of a renewal option with Houston Spraying & Supply, Inc / DBA Sprayco for herbicide application at various channels and basins for the Flood Control District for the period of November 1, 2026 - October 31, 2027, at a cost of $1,125,750, and for the County Clerk to execute any applicable bonds to be received (240251), MWBE Contracted Goal: 25%, MWBE Current Participation: 32.71%.

Harris County Commissioners Court

Environment

Request by the Office of the Purchasing Agent for approval of an award on the basis of low bid to Waste Corporation of Texas, L.P. dba GFL Environmental (Primary); and Waste Management of Texas, Inc. (Secondary) in the amount of $773,850 for landfill services to accept type IV, non-putrescible, non-compacted solid waste and recycling materials for Harris County and the Flood Control District for the period of July 9, 2026 - July 8, 2027 with four (4) one-year renewal options (260115), Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: 0% - Minimal MWDBE Availability.

Harris County Commissioners Court

Environment

Restoring Federalism in Clean Water Permitting Act

U.S. House of Representatives

Who’s doing the work

Clinics, agencies, nonprofits, funders, and community groups

Health is delivered by many kinds of people and institutions. Start here to see who is providing care, organizing support, funding work, and shaping the system.

Harris County Commissioners Court

13 connections in this ecosystem

Texas House of Representatives

2 connections in this ecosystem

Also connects to

How Pollution Control connects

policy

Request for approval of a renewal option with Houston Spraying & Supply, Inc / DBA Sprayco for herbicide application at various channels and basins for the Flood Control District for the period of November 1, 2026 - October 31, 2027, at a cost of $1,125,750, and for the County Clerk to execute any applicable bonds to be received (240251), MWBE Contracted Goal: 25%, MWBE Current Participation: 32.71%.

policy

Request by the Office of the Purchasing Agent for approval of an award on the basis of low bid to Waste Corporation of Texas, L.P. dba GFL Environmental (Primary); and Waste Management of Texas, Inc. (Secondary) in the amount of $773,850 for landfill services to accept type IV, non-putrescible, non-compacted solid waste and recycling materials for Harris County and the Flood Control District for the period of July 9, 2026 - July 8, 2027 with four (4) one-year renewal options (260115), Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: 0% - Minimal MWDBE Availability.

policy

Restoring Federalism in Clean Water Permitting Act

policy

Request for approval to revise and update the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office (FMO) Training and Hazardous Materials (HazMat) fee schedules to better align fees with the cost of services, support program sustainability, and ensure continued delivery of high-quality training and emergency response capabilities for these essential public safety functions.

policy

Request for approval of a renewal option with DRC Emergency Services, LLC; and Aftermath Disaster Recovery Inc for emergency response for storm debris removal and disposal services for the Flood Control District for the period of January 1, 2027 - December 31, 2027, at a cost of $23,841,624, and for the County Clerk to execute any applicable bonds to be received (250290), MWBE Contracted Goal: 8.34%.

Over 170,000 properties projected to move into the high-risk 100-year floodplain

Properties moving into the 100-year floodplain (draft FEMA maps)

Source: FEMA/Harris County Flood Control District MAAPnext draft flood maps, as reported by KHOU

About 200,000 acres, up from 150,000 under current maps (+33%)

100-year floodplain area under draft FEMA maps

Source: FEMA/Harris County Flood Control District MAAPnext draft flood maps, as reported by KHOU

7th worst of 228 U.S. metro areas for high ozone days

Houston metro rank for ozone pollution

Source: American Lung Association, State of the Air 2025 (2021-2023 monitoring data)

34.8 unhealthy ozone days per year (grade F)

High ozone days per year

Source: American Lung Association, State of the Air 2025 (2021-2023 monitoring data), Harris County

About 2.0 million tons of carbon stored (valued at $272 million)

Carbon stored by the urban forest (City of Houston)

Source: Houston's Urban Forest, 2015 — USDA Forest Service with Texas A&M Forest Service

18%

Tree canopy cover (City of Houston)

Source: Houston's Urban Forest, 2015 — USDA Forest Service with Texas A&M Forest Service

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Organizations working here

Who works in Pollution Control in Houston

Organization

Texas House of Representatives

The lower chamber of the Texas Legislature

Eldridge / West Oaks

Organization

Houston Public Media

Houston Public Media is a nonprofit public broadcaster serving Southeast Texas with free local news, educational content, and NPR/PBS programming through TV 8,

Organization

Harris County Commissioners Court

The governing body of Harris County, Texas

Downtown

Pollution Control

Learn

Engage

Connect

Act

Choose a starting point

Start with the story

Find one way in

Look around your neighborhood

What's happening.

Houston is filled with potentially polluted properties. Residents want them cleaned up.

Who’s doing the work

Clinics, agencies, nonprofits, funders, and community groups

How Pollution Control connects

Restoring Federalism in Clean Water Permitting Act

Available support.

Who works in Pollution Control in Houston

Texas House of Representatives

Houston Public Media

Harris County Commissioners Court

Request for approval of a renewal option with ES OPCO USA LLC, DBA: Veseris for ultra-low volume chemical spray units for Public Health Services for the period of October 30, 2026 - October 29, 2027, at a cost of $101,453 (250239), Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: 0% - Non-Divisible.

Request for discussion and possible action regarding the integration of the Office of Sustainability into Pollution Control Services in the 2027 Proposed Budget.

American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026

Request for approval to oppose Derichebourg Recycling USA’s application to amend TCEQ air quality permit for its metal shredding facility at 1 Wharf Street, Houston, Texas; CAO File No. 26ENV0090.

Texas House Environmental Regulation Committee Hearing — 9/15/2026