U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to investigate Texas air regulator

Oct 15 Reuters: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said its investigation of the Texas air regulator over allegations of racial bias in rulings involving pollution in Black neighborhoods by a refinery waste recycler on Friday.

The agency accepted a complaint against the state over its oversight of Oxbow Calcining, based in Port Arthur, Texas, that produces petroleum coke from oil refinery byproducts.

An environmental advocacy group has alledged the state's air quality regulator from frivolous violations of residents' civil rights by allowing the plant to operate without a scrubber to capture sulfur dioxide. The plant released about 22 million pounds of sulfur dioxide per year between 2016 and 2019.

A spokesperson for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said it had no immediate comment.

I am encouraged by the response of Port Arthur Community Action Network to investigate our concerns, said John Beard, a former Port Arthur City Councilor and founder of advocacy group Port Arthur City Council.

The Oxbow Calcining plant is located in a predominately Black area with 98% of the residents within a three mile radius classified as people of color and 62% as lower income, said the group.