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  Newsletters > April 07

Chapman Engineering
April 2007 Newsletter 

LPST Rules, the Reimbursement Fund, and Other Legislative “Shakings”

We received word last week from meetings in Austin that the PST Reimbursement Fund will very likely be extended another FOUR years!  Though it does not affect that many sites and people any more, this is big.  We did not expect such an extension this time around, and we hear it is happening because TCEQ just could not build its own “State Lead” program well enough to take over the case load.
Another bit of news that is not so good:  a bill was filed to remove newer LPST case discoveries from being addressed under the very expensive “Texas Risk Reduction Program” (TRRP) rules.  This bill, which wanted to take all LPST work back to the Chapter 334 rules for assessment and cleanup, has a very poor chance for passing.  So discovering and dealing with a new LPST case remains more expensive, more complicated, and gives adjacent property owners more ammunition to use against the “responsible person.”

What’s Causing Fuel Prices to Rise?

It is springtime, not a heavy driving season, but gasoline and diesel prices have spiked a great deal.  What is going on?  First, we are told many refineries are doing “turnarounds,” big-time plant repair and maintenance work.  That makes sense.  Refining capacity is down now, to get ready for the bigger summer consumption season.
Next, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled very recently that U. S. EPA has the authority to regulate carbon dioxide, the main “greenhouse gas,” as an air pollutant from new vehicles.  This means EPA is probably going to start some rule-writing on carbon dioxide emissions – and probably will not limit itself to just vehicles.  No one can say what the implications are, or how fast such rules may occur.  The big oil firms are probably putting some money away now to deal with this impact that’s coming at them “down the road” – hence, some of the recent price hikes so they build their “insurance policies.”  This is a huge change in how energy companies, auto-makers, utility entities – basically, MOST BUSINESSES – view carbon dioxide emissions.  And it may change how Congress views the debate over greenhouse gases and global warming.