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End Notes 

1 Three joint ventures formed by three pairs of Chemical Council members are also included here: Lyondell-Citgo Refining, DuPont-Dow Elastomers and PD Glycol (a DuPont-OxyChem venture).
2 See “Industrial Pollution Rises After Years of Decline,” Associated Press, May 13, 1999;  “1997 Texas Toxics Release Inventory Report,” www.epa.gov/enviro/html/tris/state/texas.html.
3 “In Strictest Confidence: The Chemical Industry’s Secrets,” Houston Chronicle, October 25, 1998.
4 The full name is the Association of Chemical Industry of Texas Free Enterprise PAC (FREEPAC).
5 Sen. David Sibley, R-Waco, and Reps. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, and Steve Wolens, D-Dallas.
6 Fisher also reported a $10,000-$25,000 lobby income from the Texas Agricultural Industries Association, which represents the pesticide and herbicide industry.
7 “Ex-managers of chemical plant accused of lying about emissions,” Dallas Morning News, November 17, 1998.
8 “1996 Toxics Release Inventory Public Data Release,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, March 1999 (see http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/tri/pdr96/drcont01.htm).
9 Known carcinogens such as benzene have been shown to cause cancer in humans; suspected carcinogens such as styrene have been shown to cause cancer in animals.
10 Polluters ordinarily do not report the release of a TRI chemical disposed of in chemical mixtures unless it accounts for at least 1 percent of the mixture. If the TRI chemical is on the carcinogen list, however, it must be reported if it constitutes as little as 0.1 percent of the mixture.
11 Simpson Pasadena is not a member of the Texas Chemical Council.
12 See www.sierraclub.org/toxics/cancer.
13 “Too little, too late, ” Environmental Defense Fund, December 3, 1998.
14 “Texas’ largest grandfathered facility agrees to emission cuts,” Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission news release, April 16, 1999.
15 Telephone interview, April 16, 1999.
16 Texas Elections Code, Title 15, Sec. 251.
17 Monsanto is not a TCC member.
18 “Plant-pollution exemption bills ready to rumble,” Houston Chronicle, March 28, 1999.
19 New Railroad Commissioner Tony Garza received $21,250 from reporting TCC-member PACs.
20 New Agricultural Commissioner Susan Combs took $5,000 from reporting TCC-member PACs.
21 See “Barry McBee: God’s Steward at the TNRCC,” Texas Observer, December 5, 1997, and “Poison, Politics and Prevarication,” Texas Observer, October 23, 1998.
22 The Chemical Council’s agenda also included: deregulation of electric utilities; shielding employers from liability for contract workers’ injuries; eliminating Texas’ “Robin-Hood” formula that shares the revenue of rich schools with less-fortunate ones; investment tax credits; a repeal of state limits on the amount of tax breaks local governments can give to businesses; and opposition to HMO reforms.
23 For data on political contributions by Texas’ grandfathered polluters, see: “Follow the Money: Grandfathered Air Polluters and Campaign Contributions,” Public Research Works, April 1999; and “Dirty Air, Dirty Money,” Texans for Public Justice, June 1998.
24 HB 3019, which took effect in September 1997.
25 For details on this unseemly process, see “How a Bill Becomes Law,” Texas Observer, June 11, 1999.
26 SB 1732 and HB 3245.
27 “Eliminating the right of citizens and local governments to obtain contested case hearings,” Texas Center for Policy Studies, February 15, 1999.
28 HB 2444; the original 1997 Senate bill, SB 764, resurfaced as Armbrister’s SB 1953 after powerful Sen. Bill Ratliff, R-Mount Pleasant, withdrew his sponsorship of it.
29 SB 402 and HB 801.
30 HB 1283.
31 HB 3678 and SB 1845.
32 SB 1591.
33 HB 1131 and HB 1927. Zbranek filed his bill prior to his 1999 appointment to the House Environmental Committee.
34 Rather than report precise amounts, Texas lobbyists typically report the value of their contracts in ranges, such as between  $50,000 and $100,000.
35 See “Texas Revolvers: Public Officials Recast As Hired Guns,” Texans for Public Justice, February 1999.
36 “Painful encounter: Leak of toxic chemicals sends Texas City Residents scurrying,” Houston Chronicle, April 2, 1998.
37 “Texas City not told immediately of leak,” Houston Chronicle, May 10, 1994.
38 Telephone interview, April 14, 1999.
39 “Dark smoke raises environmental concerns,” Odessa American, December 31, 1998.
40 “Huntsman says smoke will clear,” Odessa American, January 5, 1999.
41 “Dark smoke raises environmental concerns,” Odessa American, December 31, 1998.
42 “TNRCC to confront Huntsman,” Odessa American, January 13, 1999.
43 “Huntsman setbacks minor,” Odessa American, January 17, 1999.
44 “Huntsman apologizes to Odessa residents,” Odessa American, February 26, 1999.
45 “This Court finds that Exxon’s sampling plan does not comply with the policy dictates of the RCRA [Resource Conservation and Recovery Act],” Judge Hoyt ruled.

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