Residents to keep tabs on air

Bucket Brigade intends to monitor refineries' impact

By VENESSA SANTOS-GARZA
© Corpus Christi Caller-Times
08/03/2003

Mary Beth Nelson wrinkled her nose at the musty smell that seemed to sit on the air. She watched as about a dozen community members learned how to take air samples along Up River Road near the refineries.

"So, this is sparkling Corpus Christi," she laughed. "I made the mistake of rolling down my window on the way out here."

Nelson and a handful of community members met at Oak Park United Methodist Church on Saturday to learn how to test air quality for themselves, independent of government agencies or big business.

The event, sponsored by Citizens for Environmental Justice and the Oak Park United Methodist women's group, introduced the Bucket Brigade program to area residents.

"Anytime there is an explosion or fire at a refinery, a representative from industry announces that nothing hazardous was released into the environment and Texas Commission for Environmental Quality concurs. No longer will we have only TCEQ or the industry's word on what we are breathing," said Susie Canales, chairwoman for Citizens for Environmental Justice. "We have cancer clusters throughout the city, as well as very high rates of birth defects. The Bucket Brigade is a way to shift power within the community."

The Bucket Brigade is an international program founded by the Refinery Reform Campaign. Denny Larson, program coordinator for the campaign, spent the afternoon showing the group how to use the 5-gallon plastic bucket system and keep records of what they see and smell.

"Not everyone in the community network can have a bucket, so it's our sniffers, our journal keepers that are the most important. They are the ones that keep watch and record what happens. They are the ones that call to let others know if they should be testing and it is their logs that are used to back up test results, " Larson said. "Everyone can play a role."

Samples taken from various communities are shipped overnight to an independent lab and results are returned to residents in 10 working days, all for about $500.

Canales said Citizens for Environmental Justice has been taking donations and is working on fundraisers to help offset the costs of lab work and shipping. It's expensive, Canales said, but the work is too important to let that deter them.

Nelson, who has a cable access television show called "Common Cause," taped the training session and the group's time in the field to include on her program. She's hoping the Bucket Brigade will get more interest that way.

Larson, who is based out of Austin but spends much of his time traveling the country teaching courses like this one, urged residents to be vigilant.

"You have to write down everything. Where you are, what time it is, what you see, what you smell. You are just like a cop on the beat," he said. "Think of yourself as the environmental Dragnet."

Contact Venessa Santos-Garza at 886-3752 or santosv@caller.com

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