02-18-2002 Port of Houston Expansion Review Committee Meeting

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WE BELIEVE THAT OUR ORIGINAL CONCERNS REMAIN VALID AND REQUEST THE CORPS RESPOND TO THESE OBSERYATIONSAS WELL. 1) The development will bring about changes in our community which are disruptive and more than just a nuisance. Homes on the north side of the Channel to Bayport will experience noise, air pollution, lighting, and shoreline erosion problems. These issues, if not addressed, will cause the property owners' land values to be lowered, and their ability to sell their homes would be very difficult without taking a loss. If the Port Authority cannot correct these real estate concerns, then consideration from the Port Authority should be given to buy out the homes at fair market value, which abut the development. 2) The proposed development will bring with it major rail and vehicle transportation issues which will impact the City of La Porte and will affect neighboring communities. The proposed development will cause delays at rail crossings of major thoroughfares such as Fairmont Parkway, Shoreacres Boulevard, and Red Bluff Drive. Consideration from the Port of Houston must be given to working with local jurisdictions to resolve traffic concerns. In addition, the Port Authority should petition the State of Texas Highway Department to insure that State Highway 146 and State Highway 225 roadways are designed and constructed in advance to provide for the growth of the area and this development. It is recommended the Port Authority approach the State Highway Department to create a specialized truck lane on State Highway 146 to isolate the truck traffic to and from port facilities. The Port Authority should actively take a lead role in insuring rail crossings have overpasses and should also seek ways to fund these overpasses and their construction before the proposed development occurs. 3) The proposed development will add significant air pollution issues that cannot be ignored. The Bayport facility will generate additional air pollution from its use of diesel trucks, diesel ships, diesel cranes, and diesel vehicles that will operate at this location. The Port Authority should study the impact of this air pollution to the surrounding communities and to Harris County. Consideration should be given to using equipment that uses a cleaner burning fuel alternative. In addition, consideration should be given to the placement of air monitoring devices along the site boundaries to measure the air quality leaving the site. East Harris County is under orders of the EPA that our region must reduce nitrogen oxides (Nox) emissions by as much as 85 percent to come into compliance with the national ozone standard by the year 2007. Adding this facility at this location contradicts any state goal adopted to reduce Nox emissions in our region. 10