524  TEXAS—1992during 1992. According to estimates 
provided by the University of Texas Bureau of Business Research, monies spent
on overall residential construction was higher in 1992 than in 1991 by about
30% . Total estimated construction costs in 1992 for single and multiple
family residentialconstruction was $5.96 biffion. 
The number of single family residences constructed during 1992 was up by
29%. 
In contrast, however, the budget of the Texas Department of Transportation,
another barometer for sales of construction aggregate, was only $ 1.217 billion.
Compared to 1991, the agency's budget was down 9 % and at the lowest level
it had been in 10 years. Very little Federal funding from the new Intermodal
Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (enacted in 1991) trickled into Texas

during 1992. 
 To aid grade-school science teachers who are increasingly challenged to
engage students' interest, a new earth 
science curriculum was developed by 
Phillips Coal Co. and Texas A&M University using a grant from Phillips
Petroleum Co. The program, "Resources and the Environment: A Thematic
Earth

Science Curriculum," was sponsored and 
distributed during 1992 by the Texas 
Mining and Reclamation Association (TMRA). According to TMRA, 47 Texas and
Louisiana earth science teachers attended two July seminars to learn about
the course. The new course had a "hands on" emphasis and demanded
more than
regurgitating information for exams. Students had to plan a fictitious 
"Black Gold Lignite Mine." During the pilot program, classes toured
an operating
coal mine, watched a drill rig, took core back to the classroom, studied
geophysical logs, identified zones to sample, and sent samples to a lab for
analysis (lab test costs were paid by program sponsors). Students described
the deposit and overburden thickness, went to the courthouse to determine
property ownership, learned about reclamation, pretended to file for a mine
permit, and prepared a mine plan. The curriculum began a positive relationship
between business and schools that would hopefully ultimately benefit both.

EMPLOYMENT 
 
 According to the Texas Employment 
Commission, 1992 Texas unemployment 
grew to 7.5 % from an average of 6.6% 
in 1991. Compared with 7. 17 million people in 1991, an average of 7.27 million
were employed in the nonagricultural sector. About 170,600 people were employed
in the mining sector for 1992, compared with 185,100 workers so employed
during 1991. Jobs in the metals and coal subcategory averaged about 9,000,
as opposed to 9,500 in 1991; those employed in the oil and gas subcategory
totaled about 161,600, versus about 175,600 during 
1991. 
 Sulfur prices continued to decay, triggering the layoff in October of 60
employees at Pennzoil Co. ' s west Texas frasch sulfur operation. The sulfur
price collapsed to $95.91, 22% of the average ~ 1991 price. Sulfur prices
had declined ~ since 1989 because of sharp world consumption decreases. 
 In its 1992 economy wrap-up, the Houston Business Journal reported that
energy companies continued to downsize. Shell Oil Co., for example, announced
a sweeping 10% labor force cut and, subsequently, made an additional 5% payroll
reduction (a total of 2,400 jobs). 
The litany of major Houston energy company layoffs and early retirements
included the following: Exxon Co. USA 
(more than 700 employees), Transco Energy Co. (500 jobs), Chevron Corp. (in
excess of420jobs), and Amoco Corp. (about 400 jobs). A few companies added
employees in Houston: Unocal Corp. (140 relocated from Los Angeles and London);
Solvay Minerals Inc. (40 relocated from Denver); and Amoco Corp. (plant expansion-SO
new employees). 
 
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 
 
 Despite strong local opposition, the 
Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste 
Disposal Authority approved an area in 
Hudspeth County as a new low-level 
radioactive waste dump site. The first of 
its kind in Texas and the fourth in the United States, the site will be near
Sierra Blanca, about 90 miles east of El Paso. 
 In an action that streamlined 
permitting, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the transfer
of clean air permitting authority from the Federal Government to the Texas
Air 
Control Board. 
 EPA continued remedial action at the Tex Tin Corp. tin smelter at Texas
City (Galveston County). The tin smelter began operations in World War II.
The 175-acre site was included on the National Priorities List because of
the presence of arsenic, lead, nickel, and tin found in surface water, ground
water, soils, and in ambient air. A secondary copper smelter continued to
operate on the site. Late in 1992, EPA completed the second and final phase
of its remedial investigation and indicated it would announce its findings
in April 1993. 
 
LEGISLATION AND 
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS 
 
 The Texas Legislature meets only in odd-numbered years except for specially
called sessions. At the request of the Governor, the third special session
of the 72d Texas Legislature was convened in January to pass an appropriations
bill, consider redistricting, address prison overcrowding, and other issues.
A total of 50 bills and 2 joint resolutions were filed, of which 4 bills
were enacted. Additionally, the Governor called a fourth special session
during November and December to get a head start on resolving issues that
would be important to the 1993 regular session. During this lastcalled session,
33 bills, 40 concurrent resolutions, 10 joint resolutions, and 261 resolutions
were introduced into both legislative houses, of which only 33 joint resolutions
and 155 resolutions were enacted. 
 Among the tasks the 1993 regular session likely would face was devising
limits on traditional water supplies for central Texas residents and businesses,
including a number of important Texas mineral producers. During April, the