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August 25, 2010 · As more research is directed toward biofuels production, Texas Parks and Wildlife is taking action to protect against microalgae contamination in the environment. Manufacturing biofuels from Microalgae is largely considered to be the only renewable source of oil that could eventually meet global demand for transportation fuel. Ken Kurzawski, Regulations Coordinator of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Inland Fisheries Division, says new rules go into effect Jan. 1 that require regulation of many exotic aquatic grasses and all microalgae.
“We always have a concern about exotics coming in and replacing natives but with algae there’s the added things - they can be toxic, cause large blooms that will impact other organisms in the aquatic environment. So there’s another level there that we need to recognize to protect the environment,” Kurzawski said.
Kurzawski says his department has been working with a variety of companies involved in biofuels production in Texas. “Well, there’s a number of companies and corporations in Texas that are investigating the use of algae for biofuels, extracting the lipids. And there’s corporations such as Exxon Mobil, Shell, and Dual Technologies have various projects underway in this state,” Kurzawski said.
Although all microalgae will have to be permitted, some aquatic grasses that have been identified as non-invasive may be listed as allowable. Other grasses, however, will have to go through the same permitting process as the algae, such as exotic species of aquatic grasses used in water ponds and aquariums.
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