Research Projects

These studies have been critically important as they have not only led to a greater understanding of air pollution and more knowledgeable decision-making by the TCEQ, but they have also become an invaluable way to address community concerns, since many of these studies were originally requested by citizens.

Studies have been completed in Houston, Midlothian, and the Dallas–Fort Worth area as well as the Corpus Christi and Barnett Shale areas. (The Barnett Shale is a large natural gas reserve encompassing more than 5,000 square miles and covering at least 17 counties in North Texas.)

By Fiscal Year

Aggregate production operations (APOs)
APOs are sites where materials have been removed from the earth and include TCEQ regulated activities such as rock crushing; these sites may be located close to communities. This has led to communities being concerned about potential air quality impacts of APO activities. Because silica is present in soil, sand, and rock formations, silica emissions can be associated with APO activities. The TCEQ is conducting an air monitoring project using published methods to measure crystalline silica concentrations near APOs. The goal is to determine what contribution, if any, the APO facilities have to ambient air concentrations of crystalline silica and total particulate matter (PM2.5) relative to background levels in the Central Texas area. An interim report of the monitoring study is available, based on 4 months of validated data.

It was conducted in FY 2022 and FY 2023.