(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) led an effort to ensure the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 6 Laboratory remains in Houston.  Last year, the EPA proposed a plan to relocate its Houston Laboratory to the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center in Oklahoma.  In a letter, Congresswoman Fletcher called on the House Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies to include language in upcoming legislation that would prevent the EPA from closing the Region 6 Houston Laboratory and relocating its employees.  She was joined by Representatives Al Green (TX-09), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Vincente Gonzalez (TX-15), and Cedric Richmond (LA-02).

“Houston is home to a large number of chemical plants and refineries, and this Lab and its highly trained staff are essential to EPA’s mission of protecting human health and the environment.  In the case of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes or severe rain events, these scientists are among Houston’s essential first responders,” the members wrote.  “This closure will undoubtedly cause the forced retirement of many EPA employees and threaten Houston’s access to the critical air, water, and soil testing performed at the Lab and the return of results as quickly as possible.”

Despite concerns from stakeholders and Members of Congress, on February 19, 2020, Deputy Regional Administrator David Gray met with Laboratory staff to announce that this relocation will occur no later than June 2022.  The relocation of the EPA Region 6 Laboratory would represent a loss of vital environmental expertise specific to Houston’s needs.  An EPA Inspector General report highlighted that the Region 6 Laboratory’s deployment of staff during Hurricane Harvey provided important information to the public about how to protect themselves. 

In her letter, the members noted that the loss of EPA staff would negatively impact emergency response in the future and urged for report language to be offered under the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that would prevent the EPA from closing the Region 6 Houston Laboratory.

You can read the full text of the letter here.