Summary:

- The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has significantly reduced its air pollution monitoring team, cutting the number of staff from 100 to just 30 over the past decade.
- This reduction in personnel has led to a decline in the agency's ability to monitor and respond to air quality issues, particularly in areas with high levels of industrial activity and emissions.
- Experts warn that this reduction in air pollution monitoring could have serious consequences for public health and the environment, as it becomes more difficult to identify and address air quality problems in a timely manner.