New Business

This meeting was a joint work session for discussion between Texas Transportation Commissioners of the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commissioners and their respective staff.

1. Discussion of joint agency coordination of requirements under the Federal Clean Air Act, specifically issues associated with the State Implementation Plan and Transportation Conformity. Jeff Saitas, Executive Director, TNRCC, Alvin R. Luedecke Jr., Transportation Planning and Programming, TxDOT, Tonia Ramirez, Legislative Affairs Office, TxDOT, and Dianna Noble, Environmental, TxDOT presented this issue. Recent actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several court cases have prompted these two agencies to work more closely together on issues of common concern. Two work activities, which compete for limited staff resources, are the state implementation plan (SIP) and the transportation conformity process. Federal legislation links the two, thus necessitating that the transportation plans established throughout Texas contribute to meeting specific goals for improving air quality. Staff identified several coordinated agency objectives:
   • Evaluate new ways to reduce emissions
   • Benchmark regional & statewide options
   • Participate in development of local control strategies for reducing emissions
   • Work to regain transportation conformity flexibility
   • Reinforce SIP and transportation conformity coordination
   • Utilize all analysis options currently available
   • Evaluate new ideas & leading edge technology
   • Implement effective ways to improve air quality

   No formal action was taken on this issue by either commission.

2. Discussion of joint agency coordination of issues associated with recycling. This issue was presented by Tom Weber, Water Quality Planning and Assessment, TNRCC, Kathey Ferland, Pollution Prevention and Industry Assistance, TNRCC, Linda Brookins OEPAA/Technical Analysis Division, TNRCC, Anne Rhyne, Office of Permitting, Remediation and Registration, TNRCC, and Rebecca Davio, General Services Division, TxDOT. Staff presented a collaborative composting project using federal nonpoint source grant funds made available to the state by EPA in accordance with President Clinton's Clean Water Action Plan to facilitate the removal of manure from impacted watersheds. The objective of the project is to build a sustainable market for compost by promoting the use of composted manure on highway rights-of-way and other state government uses. In addition, staff presented a report on scrap tires entitled Progress Report on Using Scrap Tires and Crumb Rubber in Highway Construction Projects and outlined the following four steps TNRCC and TxDOT will undertake in the next year to help expand the potential uses for scrap tires:
   • Maintain current, accurate data about stockpiles, processors, and end uses, and disseminate this information to relevant parties
   • Systematically evaluate end use options to compile information that will enable selection of use or uses that a re economically viable or market driven
   • Identify funding sources outside TNRCC and TxDOT to cover the cost of cleaning up existing tire stockpiles
   • Prepare action plans to encourage use of tire derived fuel and scrap tires in highway end uses

   No formal action was taken on this issue by either commission.

3. Discussion of and planning for possible future joint agendas addressing issues of mutual interest to the two agencies. A decision was made to convene a future joint work session between the two agencies in the June or July time frame. Staff from both agencies will recommend an appropriate date.