Director's Message
As I neared Alpine, I looked at the mountains and noticed a bluish haze. I immediately thought about the proposed EPA haze pollution standard that would protect the vista, but that common sense effort has been put on hold by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. After learning about Munich, I felt a bit guilty for being so obsessed about the view, but it is important and Texans can do something about it. We need to preserve the Big Bend area so that it can continue to be a place of peace and serenity for this generation and generations to come.
Annova Makes It Official With FERC - Seeks LNG for the Valley
Annova LNG, one of three companies proposing to build liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities in the Rio Grande Valley, filed its formal application to operate a 650-acre facility with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Annova joins Texas LNG, NextDecade LNG, and the Rio Bravo pipeline in formal FERC processes in which hundreds of comments and motions to intervene have been filed in opposition. If built, Annova LNG’s facility would drastically affect the health and safety of the bays, beaches, and wetlands on which many local economies depend, including tourism and fishing communities. The proposed site is also in the middle of an important wildlife corridor that U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials say is critical to the survival of the Texas ocelot. In an attempt to mitigate concerns about the facility’s wildlife impact, Annova had announced it would move the proposed facility’s footprint by 600 ft. However, traffic, noise, industrial lighting, and expected pollution from the facility are predicted to have a significant impact not only on wildlife but the communities living near the proposed industrial zone. Our Valley organizer, Bekah Hinojosa, had something to say about it.
With the 2016 ozone season half over, the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) areas have by far the most high ozone days in the state compared to urban areas with just a few exceedance days: San Antonio, El Paso, Beaumont-Port Arthur, and East Texas. The statewide total is 86 exceedances during 27 days. The 2016 ozone season is using a new EPA standard of 70 ppb for eight hours, and frankly, I expected more exceedances than we have seen in all the large urban areas. However, each year, vehicles are cleaner and ozone levels reflect the fact that most people are driving less polluting cars and trucks. Smoking vehicles are becoming a rare sight whereas it used to be common.
It All Comes Up Sunshine in Texas’s Electrical Future
The latest projections from our electric grid operator (ERCOT) show that sunshine is in Texas’s future. According to the latest draft Long-Term System Assessment (LTSA) projections, more solar power is in our future, more than any other resource in fact. ERCOT made draft projections for a variety of different scenarios: Business as usual? More solar. High economic growth? More solar. Low natural gas prices? More… you get the picture. While the results are preliminary (it is a draft after all), they point out a trend in ERCOT’s future: solar power is getting cheaper, and solar production matches the peak power needs of ERCOT’s market. In several scenarios, solar power would become Texas’s second leading resource behind natural gas by the end of 2031, while in the current trends scenario, wind and solar would each provide about 17 percent of Texas’s needs by 2031.
Texans Speak Up for Marine Sanctuary Expansion in Gulf of Mexico
For years, members of the Sierra Club’s Lone Star Chapter have advocated for protection of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s composed of banks of underwater “flowers” -- coral reefs -- and coral “cap species,” like the queen angel fish, turtles, and even rays. “It also provides a ‘sea wonderland’ view for scuba divers to see in person the diversity of life found in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Brandt Mannchen of the Houston Group of the Lone Star Chapter. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is currently proposing an expansion to the sanctuary, which the Lone Star Chapter fully supports but which is being fought by the oil industry. NOAA is considering four expansion proposals -- as well as maintaining the status quo -- developed after listening to input from local stakeholders. The proposals would not prevent low-impact fishing and recreational diving. Instead, it will create common-sense regulations to protect this place. That’s why supporters of the expansion filled two public hearings on the measure earlier this month.
Griggs - Political Victory in West Dallas
The Dallas City Council recently rejected a cement batch plant proposal planned for West Dallas. This victory in stopping a new source of air pollution in a low-income area of the city came after the community organized and partnered with the Sierra Club and other organizations to make its presence known at city hall. Good will created from the Dallas Group’s and Lone Star Chapter’s previous political endorsement and support of the key city council member representing the neighborhoods affected helped members of that community persuade their council member and the Council to reject the special use permit. Congratulations to the West Dallas neighborhoods for their strengthened voice and power in local government.
We’re Going to Big Bend Again. You In?
Join the intrepid volunteers of the Lone Star Chapter for our third annual habitat restoration service trip to Big Bend National Park. The service trip will begin on Monday morning, October 17, and end on Friday afternoon, October 21. Since Monday will be a full work day, volunteers should arrive no later than Sunday, October 16, to set up camp. Wednesday will be a free day for volunteers to simply enjoy Big Bend (Last year, several people crossed the border at Boquillas on their free day. If you would like to do so, you will need your passport!). During the last two service trips, our volunteer crew from all parts of Texas cut brush to restore prairie land, planted trees, and returned an abandoned eroded road to habitat. This year, the plan is to remove fencing that impedes wildlife. These will be full work days and we will be performing manual labor outdoors in a remote location, so you will need to be in reasonably good physical condition. The registration fee is $55 and includes a donation to Big Bend National Park. Please contact Evelyn Merz for more information and to register for the service trip at elmerz@hal-pc.org.
Regional Roundup
- Unless you're new to Texas, chances are you've heard about the Railroad Commission, our oil and gas regulatory body that is in dire need of reform. If you're in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, come to our town hall meeting August 2 to learn more.
- Have you heard about the Pescadito toxic waste dump the residents of Laredo are fighting against? Check out their website and then take action!
- It's not too early to think about 2017. Are we there yet? No? Well, if you're a birder mark your calendars for the Texas Bluebird Society Bluebird Season Kick-off in Waco next March!
- Let's end on good news. Score one for El Paso Times reporter Marty Schladen. DPS announced in early July that it will reverse itself and once again make public the scores of aerial photos showing flood-related oil spills. Now it's time to put pressure on our state agencies to do something about it!