Harris County Takes Legal Action in Opposition to State of Texas Over Air Quality Standards
Houston, Texas – Harris County has intervened in a lawsuit by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenging the new air quality standards set by the Biden-Harris Administration. The new standards will lower the amount of fine particle pollution emitted by plants and factories and better control pollution.
The State has filed an action opposing the new guidelines. In response, the Harris County Attorney’s Office has filed an intervention to ensure that the new standards--which are backed by scientific studies showing the current standards were harmful to human health—are upheld and should protect human health, not industries.
“The new air quality standards set by the EPA are based on modern science. We know that these pollutants can lead to serious health problems and have seen that too many times in Harris County neighborhoods. Instead of wasting time suing the federal government, the TCEQ should be working to protect human health and the environment,” said Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee. “The Attorney General is prioritizing short-term economic interests over the health and well-being of the people who live here. The status quo was not good enough, and the companies that are responsible for these emissions should be willing to update the way that they operate to protect the people who work and live nearby.”
County Attorney Menefee had previously submitted a formal comment advocating for stronger protections, outlining the ways that exposure to these pollutants has affected local communities with some of the lowest life expectancy in the country.
To view the complete motion for leave to intervene, click here.
About the Harris County Attorney's Office
Christian D. Menefee serves as the elected, top civil lawyer for Texas’ largest county. The Harris County Attorney’s Office represents the county in all civil matters including lawsuits. Menefee leads an office of 250 attorneys and staff members. He entered office at 32 years old, making him the youngest person and first African American elected as the Harris County Attorney.