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

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2/15/2002 • 8:30 am Draft foreign vessels do not fall under and are immune to U.S laws and regulations against the deposition of trace organotin products in the U.S. waters. These organic tin compounds are leaked into the surrounding em~ironment by ablative and contaminative causes designed deliberately to kill or slow marine growths on hulls. Certain pollutants such as lead and organic tin conzplea:es have long been recognized as destructive to natural reefs and entire ecosystems. The permit application continues to be silent on the impact of deepening the channel from 45 feet to SO feet even though the Bayport wharves are being designed fora 56 foot depth We believe it is better to understand the incremental change from 45 feet to SO feet today rather than hear the Port has decided to seek a permit fora 50 foot channel within the next ftve years. • A potential exists for conflicts between commercial vessels and recreational boats ira the reach of the Bayport Ship Channel between Bayport and the Houston Ship Channel due to the increase in both commercial vessels and recreational boats. The DEIS does not develop arly actions to mitigate this potential conflict except to suggest that recreational boaters will voluntarily relocate to less congested a~°eas. • The sailing distance from the Galveston sea buoy to the Bayport terminal is approximately 36 miles. Two alternative terminal locations, Pelican Island and Shoal Point have significantly less sailing distances. The DEIS indicates there would be less risk of ship collisions and groundings associated with development of the sites with shorter sailing distances. SEWAGE • Sewage from the ships and the port must be handled in a manner whereby there is no chance that it will enter Galveston Bay. A system approved by the TNRCC should be in place by the time operations begin. WATER QUALITY • The DEIS lacks discussion of current water quality for the portion of the bay that would be affected by the construction of this project and subsequent increase in shipping. It noted a few stations with data collected in 1997-1998 but the majority is from Galveston Bay Estuary Program reports dated 1992 and 1994.