By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-879833.mp3
Dallas, TX –
More than 13 million pounds of toxic chemicals were dumped into Texas rivers and streams in 2007 - according to Environment Texas.
State Representative Allen Vaught joined the group on the Trinity River levee in downtown Dallas to release its report called "Wasting our Waterways". He says government needs to do more to stop pollution.
Vaught: The state of Texas has some of the weakest water laws in the entire nation. In fact, I worked last session against a measure that would have given immunity to toxic polluters when they contaminate our water with certain toxic substances.
In a statement, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality says it is committed to water quality, and is using daily industry discharge limits and watershed protection plans to address problems.
Environment Texas analyzed the EPA's latest Toxic Release Inventory, and says the Trinity River through Dallas-Fort Worth falls within the top third most polluted, and is risky for swimming and fishing.