05-29-2003 Bayport Expansion Review Committee Meeting

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.. e e .. Galveston Bay has survived some serious impacts. It made it through the pollution of the 1960s. Yet, it may not make it past the salinity impacts associated with a deeper channel and the continued removal of freshwater inflow from our ri vers that flow . into the bay. We are not blind. We can see these things. The question is - are we going to do anything about them? 3. Air Quality The FEIS reported the results of the Corps' analysis ofPM2.5 (fine particle) air pollution impacts from the proposed Bayport container facility. The OEIS did not evaluate PM2.5 and until May 16, there had been no official position regarding this important air pollutant. In the Executive Summary, the Corps states that in the year 20 I 0, their modeling indicates that the 24-hour national ambient air quality standard set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for PM 2.5 will be vi<?lated. PM 2.5 is particulate matter 2.5 microns in size and smaller. These are very small particles that go very deep into your lungs. The literature is full of recent articles linking PM2.5 to mortality as well as to sickness and hospital admissions. It can kill you. ,. PM 2.5 is one of the most dangerous air pollutants identified to date. The City of Houston conducted a study of air quality in Houston called the "Sonoma Report". In this report, PM 2.5 was identified as causing about $3 billion per year in negative health effects. Rather than correcting this problem, the Bayport project will worsen this problem. Why are we considering building a new port facility that will violate air pollution standards, make us sick and possibly kill us? The Houston area has been stating that it is concerned about quality of life issues. Air pollution is a critical quality of life issue. If you cannot safely breathe the air at your home, what quality do you have? Over 5000 people live within a mile of this facility. Well over 50,000 live within three miles of the Bayport facility. Ifwe do not take care of the people who live here, why should more people corne to live in our region? 4. Wetlands The proposed Bayport site is full of wetlands. According to the FEIS, there are over 146 acres of wetlands that will be filled on this site. Only 66 acres of wetlands are proposed to be constructed to mitigate for this loss. There will be a net loss of over 80 acres according to the FEIS. Dr. John Jacob, the wetland analyst hired by GBCP A, is of the opinion that the actual acreage of wetland on the site could be at least twice that found by the Corps. ... The Corps' analysis alone shows a startling impact on the aquatic environment. However, the true importance of the wetlands at the Bayport site is shown in comments from our resource agencies. For example, on April 25, 2002 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stated "The Service believes that the wetland complex involved [at the Bayport .., .)