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

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Z/l 5/2002 8:30 am Draft acid not assumed to be less than signijicarzt because it was spread out or balanced over an eight county area. There are alternative sites where the Airshed Impacts would not affect such a large population. - The entire eight county region is being subjected to rules related to heavy construction limitations, landscape and lawn mowing limitations and new speed limits. Even though small in their total effect, we 've all been asked to share the load while this proposed activity is a point source aizd a real impact borne by a few people, not fully projected for year 2007 and not projected at all beyond 2007. - All of these concerns are amplified by the fact that the 200. 7 SIP Plan still falls 56 tons per day short of needed NOX reductions ^ Harris County officials have recently indicated they may take action on the proposed SS mph speed limit. If this occurs and the ~5 mph restriction is removed then the projected NOx 2007 shortfall would be 68 tons per day. ^ Furthermore, five petitions filed with the S`" U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals cite d~erent flaws in the plan as reasons the court should review and set aside the EPA 's approval. The petition argues that the 2007 SIP Plan did not account for the future growth of emissions expected for entities like the Port of Houston. Please advise what the petition claims was not accounted for. LIGHT POLLUTION Homes to the north side of the channel will experience disruptive amounts of light pollution. The DEIS states "Development of the terminal complexes would change the visual character at any of the terminal location alternatives from a low level undeveloped area to awell-lighted, 24-hour transportation facility with high-mast lighting." • The DEIS indicates the residential areas north of Bayport terminal would not experience cnz increase in nighttime ambient light due to the distance from the light sources. However, operational lighting at Bayport could lead to nightglow that would be visible by virtually all the residential areas adjacent to Bayport. There are several alternative sites where there are no residential areas in the vicinity of the site. TRANSPORTATION ISSUES