It's not as if Houston Mayor Bill White doesn't have enough headaches.

In the midst of all the city's problems, there is concern his plan to reduce benzene emissions could get pushed aside.

Though he insists, it won't.

“We are going to reduce benzene in our community,” said White.

City officials identified the chief emitters of the cancer-causing benzene and went from there.

"There aren't that many of them. And the most cost-effective way to run the program is to have those sources bring their levels down,” White said.

Among refineries 14 of the country's 15 largest benzene emitters were in Texas and among chemical plants it was 14 of the top 17.

Still, along the ship channel, they balked.

So, the greater Houston partnership organized a task force to come up with something better. 

They were due back six weeks ago.

Jane Laping, one of 20-some members of the task force, thinks their plan will disappoint the mayor.

"It's very general. A general plan. It's not even a plan. It's a resolution,” she said.

For years after the clean air act was passed, some of Houston's refiners and chemical producers reportedly ran a quiet campaign dismissing the danger of ozone.

But White turned the debate to toxic chemicals with health effects no one can deny.

"If companies producing benzene will not cooperate with their own chamber of commerce to come up with a plan, I think they'll lose all credibility."