Community In-power and Development Association - CIDA
National Refinery Reform Campaign
Media Release
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Contact:
Hilton Kelley, CIDA: 409-498-1088;
Denny Larson, National Refinery Reform Campaign: 415-845-4705
Dr. Neil Carman, Lone Star Sierra Club: 512-472-1767
CIDA members
(Port Arthur, TX) Local Environmental Justice organization, Community In-
power and Development Association (CIDA) has filed a legal challenge to
the giant Motiva/Shell expansion and labeled the proposal an "
environmental injustice" to largely African-American community living on
the fenceline. CIDA is supported in their challenge by a team of
national and regional leaders and experts and a growing number of angry
refinery neighbors in the west side neighborhoods near Motiva's refinery.
If approved, the Motiva expansion would make t he facility the largest
refinery in the nation. Port Arthur has been a frequent site for Civil
Rights and Environmental Justice complaints regarding refinery/chemical
plant pollution and regulatory failures by the state and federal EPA.
"Port Arthur residents on the west side are tired of being dumped on and
left out of the benefits of these billion dollar projects," said Hilton
Kelley of CIDA. "If Motiva wants to build the biggest refinery in the
nation on top of us then they need to be ready to sign a Good Neighbor
Agreement that builds our community and protects our health."
The CIDA will seek full party status at a contested case hearing as part
of the TCEQ permit process on August 8, 2006, at 1 PM in Port Arthur at
the library. CIDA is represented by a legal led by Jim Blackburn, an
environmental attorney from Houston. The CIDA support team also includes
the Environmental Integrity Project of Washington, D.C., attorneys from
firm of Lowerre and Frederick, and Lone Star Sierra Club.
"Motiva, a part of Shell Oil, is guilty of using a double standard and
operating better in other locations than they do here in Port Arthur,"
said Denny Larson of the National Refinery Reform Campaign. "Motiva/
Shell has put in sophisticated community warning systems at their other
facilities and has also relocated an entire neighborhood in Louisiana,
but in Port Arthur they have taken advantage of a poor black community
with no political power and done of these things."
The Port Arthur area is a non-attainment status for air pollution and new
sources in
must meet the most stringent emission standards, and offset any emission
increases. Motiva's Port Arthur refinery seeks to expand and increase
emissions by 31% above 2003 levels of 7,350 tons to at least 9,632 tons
with major increases in sulfur dioxide and particulate matter pollution,
both contaminants that can harm the respiratory system and fine
particles are associated with increases in premature mortality. Motiva's
expansion means more harmful pollution in an overloaded airshed with
Port Arthur residents having to breathe more dirty air.
Motiva plans to more than double amounts of dangerous particles released
and to increase sulfur dioxide emissions dramatically - over 6 times
higher with the expansion -- compared to current emissions. Motiva
neglected to include any emission increases in its estimates from either
the new flares it is proposing to build or from existing flares at the
site. Motiva plans to increase odorous hydrogen sulfide emissions by at
least 1.75 times the current emissions.
Projected community sulfur dioxide pollution concentrations will barely
meet national health standards with less than a one percent margin once
the facility is built, according to Motiva's own air quality modeling
studies. EPA existing sulfur dioxide standards do not protect asthmatic
individuals from adverse health effects.
CIDA has stated the Motiva should be prepared to sign binding agreement,
known as a Good Neighbor Agreement, that would ensure community
empowerment, health and justice for the historically neglected west side
of Port Arthur. Among the areas such an agreement would guarantee include:
- An option to for residents to relocate through a fair buy out program
- A real and verifiable decrease in emissions and fewer upsets and flare offs
- A real time monitoring system on the fenceline that reports instantly
to the web
- An Integrated warning network - sirens, reverse 911, TV and radio
announcements
- A community controlled environmental education and health center run
by CIDA
- An evacuation plan for homeland security issues (natural and terrorist
disasters)
- An independent program to monitor compliance and refinery performance
long term
