Recently, the paper’s editorial lauded the approval of FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) permits for the 3 LNG Export Terminals proposed for the Brownsville Navigation District but let’s look more critically at these accolades.
1. “While the companies have negotiated abatements…, ultimately benefiting cities, counties, school districts and other entities that rely on property tax revenue.”
So, who will pay the costs of the following?
· Cost of repairing roads on which large industrial trucks will travel?
· Cost of increased traffic accidents due to larger and more dangerous trucks?
· Cost to human health and services in Cameron County due to drastically increased pollutants?
· Cost of emergency and evacuation procedures that will certainly occur?
The locals will pay for all.
2. “What will be the procedure and schedule for inspecting pipelines to ensure they are properly maintained and don’t leak?”
· The state of Texas has slashed overall spending on TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) pollution control programs by more than a third during a decade when the oil and gas industry was booming and overall spending on state government rose by 41 percent in fiscal 2018.
· TCEQ states it has “adequate resources” but state records reveal that the agency penalizes less than 3 percent of illegal air pollution incidents reported by industry.
Bravo to the city of Pt. Isabel (PI) as the city and its mayor, and a city commissioner have filed suit against the BND over its lease agreements with the LNG export facilities. The suit requests a preliminary injunction followed by a permanent injunction against construction and operation of LNG plants at the port alleging that such activity shall have a detrimental and negative impact upon the environment, including air, soil, and water quality for residents of PI and wildlife in and around Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.
Diane Teter, Edinburg
