The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has released five pre-proposals for public comment for program areas within Texas for Bucket 2/Funded Priorities List (FPL) 4. According to Toby Baker, Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Greg Abbott and the governor’s appointee to the RESTORE Council, these pre-proposals aim to address various environmental concerns in Texas.

Among the pre-proposals is the program focusing on "Protection and conservation of current wetland and future wetland mitigation corridors," which aims to protect existing wetlands and coastal prairie habitats. Another proposal is centered on "Oyster reef restoration," which seeks to enhance ecological resources in Texas estuarine waters and shorelines.

Furthermore, there is a program dedicated to "Enhancing coastal water quality by preserving and rehabilitating natural floodwater pathways" to improve the conveyance, storage, and filtration of floodwaters. The fourth pre-proposal focuses on "Barrier-island ecosystem protection and enhancement" to safeguard barrier island habitats from the effects of development.

Lastly, the fifth pre-proposal aims at "Protecting and restoring waterbird rookery habitat" to address the habitat loss of rookery islands and support the protection of bird species.

TCEQ is inviting public participation during the 45-day public comment period, which will run through Friday, March 22 at 5 p.m. CST. A public meeting is scheduled for March 5 at the Harte Research Institute in Corpus Christi to discuss the pre-proposals for FPL 4.

More information about the pre-proposals can be found on the Texas RESTORE website, and public comments can be submitted via email to RComments@tceq.texas.gov.