Resources, Naturally
Looking Ahead to Interim Charges

As you can tell from this issue of our newsletter, the Speaker of the House has released the interim charges; we expect the Senate to do so before too long. There are a range of charges given to the various House committees related to how we use this earth. The Committee on County Affairs will take the study of “the current practices and tools available to counties to manage growth and development.” Environmental Regulation will “examine the regulation of air quality” and “monitor federal legislative and regulatory changes as they pertain to climate change.” Land and Resource Management will study coastal erosion and pedestrian-only areas on public beaches.

Natural Resources will “evaluate groundwater regulations and permitting processes throughout the state” to include the role state agencies play in the management of groundwater and how the adoption of groundwater management plans relate to regional and state water planning. The committee is also monitoring any federal initiatives that may affect the implementation of the State Water Plan and looking at what other states have done to address their long-term water needs. The committee will monitor drought conditions and efforts to promote water conservation. Despite some rain we have been blessed with, we must remember the old adage that the normal condition for Texas is drought, interrupted by flood.

All these matters to be studied by the House are worthwhile because they reflect an interest in and, we trust, a commitment to, looking ahead to see what impact we have and will have on the land and its resources. Let’s keep an ear out for tocsins — for warning bells — and adjust our patterns and practices, lest the warning bells turn into alarms, and we find ourselves without time to change our ways.