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TWOA, EPA, TNRCC, and HGAC Enter Agreement to Reduce Air Pollution in the Houston-Galveston Area

Release Date: 6/22/2001
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     A voluntary agreement to reduce air pollution in the 8-county Houston area was signed today by the Texas Waterway Operators Association (TWOA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), and the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC).

     Through the TWOA, 23 tug, barge, and towing companies have agreed to reduce their emissions by 1.1 tons per day of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), which equates to approximately 400 tons per year.  NOx contributes to a variety of environmental problems, including ground level ozone (smog), acid rain, and haze.  NOx also contributes to various health problems, especially for persons who have preexisting lung conditions.  The Houston area has exceeded health-based air quality standards for ozone on ten days in 2001 and 42 days in 2000.

     In signing a "Memorandum of Agreement" today, the TWOA and its member companies have entered into EPA's Voluntary Mobile Source Emission Reduction Program.

     Implementation of this Memorandum includes actions such as early integration of new marine engines or the retrofit of existing engines, local fleet management by using more efficient equipment, and application of methods to reduce tug and towing vessel idling time.  The operators may upgrade vessel engines and use new technologies to reduce emissions.  These measures will be phased in by the State Implementation Plan deadline of 2007 under the federal Clean Air Act.

     "Today's agreement significantly benefits the environment and the citizens of the Houston-Galveston area and demonstrates the Texas Waterway Operators' continued commitment to air quality.  It shows what can be done when private industry and government work together to solve a common problem," Texas Waterway Operators Association President Gerald Gallion said.

     "We are very pleased that these companies are stepping up to the plate to help the Houston area breathe easier. If every company in the area echoed this level of commitment, Houston's air quality would be greatly improved. Houston's children and families deserve no less," EPA Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke said.

     The TNRCC has agreed to include these voluntary marine industry reductions in its air quality plan for Houston.

     TNRCC Commissioner Ralph Marquez said, "We need every single reduction possible so today's announcement is an important step in identifying additional air pollution reductions to clean up the air in the Houston-Galveston non-attainment region. We applaud the work of all of the partners in this effort."

     Houston-Galveston Area Council Executive Director Jack Steele said, "The Region's local governments recognize and appreciate the benefits that the waterway companies' good citizenship commitment will bring. We hope that many other companies will join them in voluntary emissions reduction commitments."

     The HGAC has been instrumental in coordinating this agreement, which provides similar emissions reduction objectives contained in an agreement reached in December 2000 with two major railroad operators, the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company and the Union Pacific Railroad.  

     More information on EPA's air emission requirements for engines of marine vessels is available on the Internet at https://www.epa.gov/otaq/marine.htm