I need help identifying air and water pollution issues for Graham, Texas.?

Question

I need references also. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Search the EPA/NOAA databases given in the references. You can do it by the name or zip code.

Answer 2

These are just ideas to search on, because I don't know so much about Graham.

Is there alot of cattle grazing? this can lead to land degradation and desertification

Is there alot of agriculture? Water used for irrigation? In semi-arid areas the water used for irrigation may contain salts, which then are deposited in the fields and harm the land. Agriculture uses fertilizers and pesticides that may pollute natural waters as they dissolve and run off.

Is there alot of industry? Many types of industries use water for cooling purposes...if these waters are returned to the streams they came from polluted or at a significantly different temperature than the stream it can harm aquatic life. Industries also tend to create air pollution problems...what type of fuel do they use (is it high in Sulfur? low quality cheap coal?) Do they have pollution control stacks to remove the sulfur waste and not emit it into the atmosphere? Do the prevailing winds and topography keep the emissions there (sometimes a hazard for the people who live there) or carry them away?

Do people plant native vegetation? Are there lots of golf courses that require large amounts of irrigation?

Answer 3

I would contact the district office of the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality and ask them for some general issues.

But, to answer your question:

If there is a car paint booth, it has to have an air permit.

All manufacturing plants will potentially have a air permit or a pretreatment permit for their wastewater.

If new construction is happening, and it involves more than 1 acre of surface, they have to have a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan to address stormwater runoff and sediment control.

If a gas station has gas tanks, then it is an environmental issue. Dry Cleaners are subject to regulation.

Oil and Gas Exploration is regulated by the Texas RailRoad Commission. They supervise the environmental aspects of the petroleum exploration and distribution.

Answer 4

DrHenry gave the best answer. Check out the EPA website for your zipcode. It will list any business in Graham that has an EPA ID number and what type of waste or pollution they are producing.