Public Meeting on Feb. 22 to Discuss Air Permit Renewal

Houston, TX – Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC is seeking to renew its air permit with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to continue the operations of its asphalt plant located at 600 Lockwood Drive, Houston, Texas 77011. This renewal application raises significant environmental and health concerns due to emissions of harmful air pollutants, including Particulate Matter, which pose severe risks to nearby residents’ respiratory and cardiovascular health.

News media members are invited to attend a public meeting on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 7:00 PM on HCC Felix Fraga Campus, 301 N. Drennan, 3rd Floor, Room 360, Houston, Texas 77003. During the meeting, residents of Houston’s East End community will voice their concerns about the air permit renewal for the asphalt plant. The meeting represents a significant opportunity for the community to demand cleaner air and oppose the continuation of harmful pollution in their neighborhood.

Key Concerns:

• The plant’s operations contribute to over 97 tons of air pollution annually, impacting more than 780 households within a half-mile radius.
• The proposed renewal permit lacks crucial dust emission controls and fails to include measures recommended by Harris County Pollution Control, such as vegetative barriers and operating hour restrictions.
• The community affected by the plant’s emissions predominantly consists of people of color (91%) and low-income households (57%), with a significant portion (67%) speaking Spanish as their primary language.
• Proximity to sensitive areas such as childcare centers, schools, community centers, and parks heightens the risk of adverse health outcomes for vulnerable populations.

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Media contact: Riikka Pohjankoski, [email protected], 713.589.7079

About Air Alliance Houston 
Air Alliance Houston is a non-profit advocacy organization working to reduce the public health impacts from air pollution and advance environmental justice through applied research, education, and advocacy. For more information and resources, please visit www.airalliancehouston.org.