Ought to TxDOT proceed to supervise its personal environmental compliance? – Houston Public Media

The Texas Division of Transportation is asking the federal authorities to resume its capacity to take care of its personal compliance with environmental rules. TxDOT and the Federal Freeway Administration say this supplies a extra environment friendly approval course of for initiatives, however critics accuse TxDOT of utilizing their oversight capacity to push by means of initiatives with impunity and little regard for his or her precise environmental impacts.

Megan Kimble is Texas political economic system reporter for the Houston Chronicle who’s been reporting on this. Within the audio above, she tells Houston Issues producer Joshua Zinn what TxDOT is asking for, and why some discover it controversial.

Then, we discuss with Peter Eccles, director of coverage and planning for LINK Houston, which advocates for “a sturdy and equitable transportation community” within the Houston space.

NOTE: Whereas TxDOT was unable to offer somebody to hitch us for this dialog, the division reiterated to Houston Issues that for its bigger initiatives, TxDOT “prepares an environmental evaluation” that features ‘human and pure’ environmental impacts, together with ‘visitors noise, air high quality, neighborhood [impact], [effects on] pure sources, parks, land use, cultural sources and unsafe materials websites.’” TxDOT additional notes that the method consists of public enter earlier than signing off on any venture, and that “if one other company is required for an environmental assessment and approval along with TxDOT, it may lead to substantial delays.”

If you’re fascinated about commenting on TxDOT’s software to resume their NEPA (Nationwide Environmental Coverage Act) task, you possibly can weigh in right here.