Premature To Remove Texas City From The Air Pollution Watch List
Estimated Distribution of
Benzene Annual Concentration, Based on Retrieved Primary Source Location and
Wind Direction Frequency
Last week, EDF, along with Air Alliance Houston (AAH), submitted comments
to the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) reflecting why we
believe the proposed removal of Texas City for the pollutants benzene and
hydrogen sulfide from the state’s Air Pollution Watch List (APWL) is
premature.
The APWL is a list of areas in Texas where concentrations of harmful
pollutants exceed the state’s own health-based screening level guidelines. While
inclusion on the list indicates that additional scrutiny is given to permits
issued to facilities in the area, some of the APWL areas have been listed for
over a decade. This is significant because exposure to these toxics may impact
human health and may lead to serious health outcomes, such as birth defects or
cancer.
EDF has been actively engaged with TCEQ to improve management of the APWL
program and to renew efforts to improve air quality in hotspot areas. TCEQ first
added Texas City to the Air Pollutant Watch List in 2001 because of elevated
concentrations of propionaldehyde. The organization added benzene in 2003
because the annual average concentration at the Ball Park Monitor exceeded the
long-term health-based Air Monitoring Comparison Value (AMCV) of 1.0 ppb.[1]
Hydrogen sulfide was then added in 2004 based on mobile and stationary
monitoring data showing exceedances of the 0.08 parts per million (ppm)
threshold.
TCEQ’s proposal claims that recent air monitoring information justifies the
removal of Texas City from the APWL. However, new analyses completed by EDF and
AAH, indicate that data from the current monitoring network are not adequate in
justifying the removal of Texas City from the APWL. Here are a few reasons
why:
Air monitoring information has not been correlated with wind direction,
meaning that the existing monitoring network does not capture the predominant
downwind concentrations of pollutants in neighborhoods closest to the largest
sources. As illustrated in the insert, the largest concentration of benzene is
expected in between the existing monitors. BP Texas City: The largest emitter in
the area is also the worst environmental performer. BP Texas City is ranked as
the largest benzene emitter in the region, not just the state. On March 23,
2005, an explosion killed 15 employees and injured 170 as a result of workers
re-starting a unit at the BP refinery that had been closed for repairs. The
problem started when workers filled a tank with 138 feet of flammable liquid,
when it should have been filled with only 6.5 feet of liquid. Upon further
investigation, it was discovered that BP had cut costs, resulting in risky
working conditions, which were likely the cause of the catastrophic event. An
investigation by the Chemical Safety Board found numerous problems, including
out-of-date equipment, corroded pipes, and faulty safety alarms. This explosion
has been characterized as one of the worst workplace incident in the U.S.
between 1989 and 2005. BP Texas City II: More recently in November 2011, there
were reports of gas leaks at the BP Texas City refinery. A concerned citizen
initially reported a sulfur dioxide leak to the National Response Center. BP
confirmed an ongoing leak of methyl mercaptan; the odor was so toxic that 30
workers from a neighboring plant downwind were taken to the hospital. Bottom
line: It is too early to remove Texas City from the APWL for benzene or hydrogen
sulfide. While we appreciate the efforts that the state has made in working to
improve air quality in the Texas City region, there is strong evidence that
residents in Texas City continue to be at higher risk for health impacts from
pollutants such as benzene.
We therefore recommend that the agency place additional monitoring
equipment in the areas expected to have the highest concentration of pollutants.
Only properly sited monitors with validated data can justify a delisting.
Without proper data collection and analysis, the TCEQ cannot ensure that it is
maintaining the Air Pollutant Watch List in a manner that protects public
health.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] The long-term AMCV for benzene has since been made less health
protective, with a revised AMCV of 1.4 ppb.
Benzene Monitoring Data Support APWL Delisting in Texas City
Monitoring shows that annual average benzene concentrations are
consistently below the TCEQ's screening level of 1.4 parts per billion (ppb). No
adverse health effects would be expected if annual average concentrations remain
below 1.4
ppb. Stationary monitoring data show that the annual average benzene
concentrations have remained below 1.4 ppb for two consecutive years.
snip...
The TCEQ will accept public comments on its proposed delistings. The
comment period begins on March 11, 2013, and will end on April 26, 2013. You may
email comments to the APWL coordinator APWL@tceq.texas.gov APWL@tceq.texas.gov;
or mail comments to:
Tara Capobianco Air Pollutant Watch List Coordinator Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality Air Permits Division MC-163 P.O. Box 13087 Austin, Texas
78711-3087
The TCEQ will hold a public meeting to answer questions and receive public
comments on its proposed delistings on Thursday, April 11, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. at
the Wings of Heritage Room in the Nessler Center, located at 2010 5th Avenue
North, Texas City.
Where is the Area of Concern Located?
* South of TX Avenue/State Hwy 348
* East of Hwy 146
* West of Galveston Bay (West Bay)
Why is this Location and Pollutant(s) on the APWL?
Propionaldehyde
During the 2000 and 2001 mobile monitoring projects, concentrations of
propionaldehyde were detected above the odor-based air monitoring comparison
value (AMCV) downwind of Dow Chemical (formerly Union Carbide). Although no
odorous levels were detected in the 2004 mobile monitoring project, odorous
levels were detected during the 2008 mobile monitoring project.
Benzene
Elevated benzene levels have been detected during mobile monitoring
projects from 2001 to 2008, downwind of various facilities throughout the Texas
City area. Some of the concentrations detected during these projects have
exceeded the short-term AMCV and several detections could contribute to elevated
long-term concentrations. In addition, long-term stationary monitoring in the
Texas City area has historically detected annual ambient concentrations of
benzene above the long-term AMCV. The 11th Street monitor, funded by Marathon,
has consistently had annual average benzene concentrations above the long-term
AMCV since monitoring began in 2004. Data from the 34th Street monitor, funded
by BP North America Products, Inc., indicated a 70% decrease in annual average
benzene concentrations from 2005 to 2008; although emission events in 2009 lead
to an elevated annual average.
Hydrogen Sulfide
A 2004 mobile monitoring trip reported hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels that
exceeded the H2S 30-minute state regulatory standard. These reported levels had
the potential to cause short-term odor-related health effects downwind of Gulf
Coast Waste Disposal Authority (GCWDA) and Valero. A subsequent mobile
monitoring project in 2008 did not detect any concentrations of H2S above the
regulatory standard. Limited stationary monitoring data indicated a decreasing
trend in H2S from 2004 until 2008. In 2009, however, there were 16 exceedances
at the Texas City Ball Park monitor. Annual evaluations may be accessed here:
see map here ;
BP et al, and the likes there from, will just love this $$$
18 September 2012
In 2010, BP-one of the largest energy companies in the world-is alleged to
have released MILLIONS of pounds of benzene into the air over a 40-day period
through an improperly-working flare at one of its Texas refineries.
snip...
Dangers of Benzene Exposure
Benzene is a carcinogenic chemical that is present in crude oil and
gasoline. It is a common chemical used in various industries, however, exposure
can have devastating health consequences for those who have been exposed.
It is known to cause multiple types of debilitating diseases, including
leukemia, plastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, multiple myeloma and
non-Hodgkins' lymphoma.
Occupational Studies in Women
1) Benzene – Breast cancer risk was higher in several large-scale studies
of women working in jobs exposed to high levels of benzene (as an organic
solvent) (Hansen, 1999; Petralia et al., 1998
Benzene – Breast cancer risk was higher in several large-scale studies of
women working in jobs exposed to high levels of benzene (as an organic solvent)
(Hansen, 1999; Petralia et al., 1998). More studies are needed on whether
benzene inhalation in other professions affects the risk of breast cancer.
Laboratory Animal Studies The National Toxicology Program has found the
following chemicals capable of inducing mammary tumors in long-term cancer
studies conducted in rats and mice (NTP, 2007). All of these chemicals can be
generated in various fire scenarios.
Benzene
1,3-Butadiene
Isoprene
Methylene chloride
1,2,3-Trichloropropane
2,4-Toluenediamine
2,4-Toluene diisocyanate
2,6-Toluene diisocyanate
Translating the Evidence about Breast Cancer Related Disparities in African
American Women: A Comprehensive Community-based Program in Galveston County
Introduction: From 2003-2007, Galveston County ranked 22nd among Texas’s
254 counties in cancer mortality with 220 cancer deaths/100,000 (SEER database).
The rate exceeds that of Texas (177/100,000) and the U.S. (160/100,000) and
fails to meet the Healthy People 2010 Objective of 160/100,000. African American
Texans annual cancer mortality is 223/100,000 compared to Non-Hispanic Whites
(179/100.00) and Hispanics (130/100,000). African American breast cancer
mortality in Galveston County is 34.8/100,000 compared to 26.3 and 21.2 for
Non-Hispanic Whites and Hispanics. The Texas Cancer Plan reports that poverty
drives disparities through lack of resources, information and knowledge;
substandard living; risk promoting lifestyles; and diminished access to
services. The evidence based indicates that contributors to disparities include
behavioral factors (increased time to complete diagnostic workups from abnormal
mammograms, more missed mammogram appointments, and unhealthy diets);
environmental factors (lower socioeconomic status, higher levels of inadequate
communication of abnormal mammography screening results), and genetic factors
(more aggressive tumors).
2011 Texas Selected Cancer Facts Galveston County
TSS
UPDATE...
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2013 10:58 AM
To: APWL@tceq.texas.gov Subject: TCEQ Proposes Removal of Two Pollutants
from the Texas City APWL Area--Benzene and Hydrogen Sulfide
Greetings TCEQ, Tara Capobianco, et al,
The TCEQ will accept public comments on its proposed delistings. The
comment period begins on March 11, 2013, and will end on April 26, 2013. You may
email comments to the APWL coordinator APWL@tceq.texas.gov; or mail comments to:
Tara Capobianco
Air Pollutant Watch List Coordinator
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Air Permits Division
MC-163 P.O. Box 13087
Austin, Texas 78711-3087
comments are as follows ;
I kindly would like to make the following comments please on the proposal
by TCEQ to further enhance cancer risk in the state of Texas.
I believe that if the state of Texas and the TCEQ gets this proposal
through, it will go to prove that neither one care about public health, and it’s
all about the almighty dollar.
since the BP deliberate upset of benzene and who knows what else for over
40 days (because after the initial upset that first day, the rest of the 39+
were deliberate), since then my wife has developed breast cancer. how many more
in this area?
IF this proposal to remove Benzene, Hydrogen Sulfide, or any other
pollutant into the air in the Galveston Bay area’s of Texas City, Bayport, and
or any of the Houston ship channel areas, would be detrimental to this area.
there is too much pollution already.
This proposals reeks of industry greed and if the oversight there from i.e.
the TCEQ does not stop this from happening, then they too should hang up their
jock straps as being any type of Environmental steward, and start paying their
dues directly to the chemical industry they are so in bed with.
I sincerely hope and pray that the TCEQ and this proposal is stopped dead
in it’s tracks, before too many more humans are. ...
Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
P.O. Box 42 Bacliff, Texas 77518 flounder9@verizon.net
snip...
Monday, March 25, 2013
TCEQ Proposes Removal of Two Pollutants from the Texas City APWL
Area--Benzene and Hydrogen Sulfide
Report challenges state pollutant de-listing effort in Texas City
By Harvey Rice May 14, 2013
GALVESTON - Emissions of the pollutant benzene increased over the last
three years and plumes are streaming over populated areas, according to a new
report challenging an effort by state regulators to remove benzene and hydrogen
sulfide from a pollutant watch list for Texas City.
The report by Air Alliance Houston and the Environmental Defense Fund
identifies for the first time the source of the pollutant benzene and challenges
the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's assertion that benzene pollution
is decreasing. The report also says that insufficient evidence exists to remove
hydrogen sulfide from the agency's watch list.
Agency air monitors are poorly placed and failing to detect a major plume
of benzene that is flowing from the Marathon refinery, purchased from BP last
year, over populated areas north of the plant, the report said.
An agency spokeswoman said the report was received Friday, and the agency's
response will be published on its website when it takes final action on the
de-listing proposal.
"The basic premise of what we are saying is that the monitoring techniques
that they are using are not adequate or appropriate," said Adrian Shelley, Air
Alliance Houston executive director.
Removing the pollutants from the watch list would mean the agency would pay
less attention to benzene and hydrogen sulfide levels in Texas City. The agency
says that monitoring stations recorded significant emission drops for the two
pollutants in 2009 and 2010.
28,000 lawsuits
The agency's own data, however, show that the pollutants increased over the
last three years, although they have decreased in comparison to the levels
detected in 2000, said Elena Craft, health scientist for the Environmental
Defense Fund's office in Austin.
Assisted by Ram Hashomany, an Airmeasure Solutions consultant, groups
analyzed the agency data to determine the primary source of benzene pollution.
Hashomany, who could not be reached for comment, is assisting attorney Tony
Buzbee in 28,000 lawsuits against BP for alleged health damage from a massive
2010 pollutant release from its former Texas City refinery, now owned by
Marathon. "We are talking about thousands and thousands of data points and an
extraordinarily clear picture emerges," Shelley said.
The data show that monitors are in the wrong place to detect benzene
emissions from the Marathon refinery, he said. "It shows pretty clearly that the
largest plume is going between the two monitors, and there are houses and
businesses there," Shelley said.
In an email answer to questions submitted by the Houston Chronicle last
month, the agency said, "These monitors are adequately sited to detect
contributions from these sources under typical meteorological conditions."
Monitor placement
Shelley said that one of the monitors was placed at the edge of a wooded
area where it is shielded from wind-borne pollutants. "Time and again they put
them in an area that's easy to locate a monitor ... not where it necessarily
captures the most emissions," Craft said.
The report also criticized the agency for combining the data from two types
of monitors. "It's not scientifically accurate," Craft said. "If we want to have
any assurance that these residents are not at increased risk we need to look in
the areas that have the highest concentrations."
The agency is seeking to de-list benzene even though more than 538,000
pounds of pollutants poured out of the then-BP plant in 2010 after a
malfunction. The release over 40 days included 17,371 pounds of benzene. The
event resulted in 48,000 legal claims, including those handled by Buzbee, for
damaged health from area residents.
Commentary
EPA FACES LAWSUIT FOR CHRONIC UNDERCOUNTING OF TOXIC EMISSIONS
By Admin – May 8th, 2013 Community Groups File Suit Due to EPA’s Failure
to Meet Clean Air Act Deadlines to Revise Rules to Require More Accurate
Reporting of Pollution
HOUSTON, TX & WASHINGTON, D.C.///May 2, 2013///
The text of the lawsuit filing is available online at http://www.environmentalintegrity.org/news_reports/05_02_2013.php.
The federal Clean Air Act requires EPA to review and revise the formulas
used to estimate dangerous volatile organic compounds at least once every three
years. But EPA has failed to do so even after receiving a petition from the City
of Houston in 2008 asking EPA to close loopholes that allow hundreds of
thousands of tons of pollution to escape detection and reporting each year. The
lawsuit is a follow-up action to the “notice of intent” letter filed by the
groups in July 2012.
“Emissions that aren’t counted are ‘off the books’ as far as federal and
state agencies are concerned,” said Whitney Ferrell, attorney for the
Environmental Integrity Project, which is representing the local groups in
court. “And that leaves communities downwind of oil, chemical and gas plants
exposed to higher levels of butadiene, benzene, and other toxic pollutants that
increase the risk of cancer and other diseases. Getting these emissions back on
the radar can also help industry identify cost effective ways to recover and
reuse gases that are now leaking into the air as pollution.”
Adrian Shelley, executive director, Air Alliance Houston said: "We must
know what is in our air if we are going to clean it up and protect public
health. We have filed this complaint as a last resort, and only because EPA has
ignored repeated requests to address the problem. Seven years ago, the Agency’s
own Inspector General called for overhaul of emission factors that EPA itself
rated as ‘poor.’ Houston Mayor Bill White formally petitioned EPA nearly five
years ago, asking the Agency to modernize the calculations that we know
drastically undercount these toxic emissions. States, cities and neighborhoods
trust EPA to tell the truth about the pollution from petrochemical plants; the
Agency will lose that trust if it is unwilling to keep up with the science and
get the data right.”
The lawsuit seeks EPA review and revision of the calculations used to
measure emissions of volatile compounds from tanks, flares, and wastewater
treatment systems, taking into account numerous studies over the last decade
that document huge volumes of uncounted air pollution from these sources.
Relatively simple actions could make a big difference – like requiring that
gases sent to flares actually be hot enough to destroy the pollutants during the
combustion process. A summary of several of these studies is available online at
http://www.environmentalintegrity.org/news_reports/05_02_2013.php.
Anna Hrybyk, program manager, Louisiana Bucket Brigade said: "According to
industry’s own reports, refinery accidents average 5 per week in Louisiana.
Fines and enforcement actions strong enough to clean up and prevent these
accidents are rare because the outdated emissions factors so severely
underestimate actual pollution. Over 200,000 people living within two miles of a
refinery in Louisiana bear the brunt of the toxic environment created by
inaccurate pollution reporting and lax enforcement."
Juan Parras, executive director, Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy
Services said: “We live near hundreds of industrial facilities that release
toxic and smog-causing pollutants into the air. Undercounting these volatile
compounds is deadly serious for fenceline communities living in Houston’s East
End to Galveston Bay that suffer from the cumulative impacts of refineries and
chemical plants. EPA needs to protect public health and the environment, and
there are no excuses to further delay long overdue action to revise inaccurate
emission factors consistent with scientific studies.”
Hilton Kelley, executive director, Community In-Power and Development, said
“For too long, the communities in Port Arthur, TX have been subjected to
dangerous chemicals emitted from refineries, chemical plants, and incinerator
facilities. Many of our kids suffer from asthma, bronchitis, and other air
related chemical exposure illnesses. EPA should step up it's efforts to protect
human health from big polluters—we depend on them for our safety.”
The lawsuit comes on the heels of EPA’s recent proposal to backpedal on a
rule finalized in 2012 to control emissions of volatile compounds from oil and
gas storage tanks. The original rule requires companies to install controls that
will reduce toxic emissions by 95 percent from new or modified storage tanks by
October 15, 2013. In response to an industry petition, EPA is now proposing to:
(1) wholly exempt tanks constructed or modified in the last two years from the
requirement to install controls and (2) push back compliance deadlines for all
new tanks to April 15, 2014. Facilities are authorized to remove pollution
controls when emissions fall below four tons per year, but the rule would allow
use of outdated and inaccurate emission factors to support this claim. These
changes, along with EPA’s identification of thousands of more tanks emitting
high levels of volatile compounds, would allow the release of millions of tons
of additional toxics, greenhouse gases, and other pollutants from storage
tanks.
The text of EPA’s proposal is available online at http://www.epa.gov/airquality/oilandgas/actions.html.
Refineries and chemical plants emit many hazardous pollutants, including
volatile compounds like benzene, butadiene, naphthalene, acrolein, and ethylene
dibromide; polycyclic organic matter; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; mercury;
cadmium; lead; and arsenic, among others. There is substantial scientific data
demonstrating that refineries can measure their pollution with much greater
accuracy than many facilities currently do. In fact, several companies have
agreed to do so as a result of recent enforcement actions. See http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/bp-whiting.html
and http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/marathonrefining.html.
ABOUT THE GROUPS
The Environmental Integrity Project (http://www.environmentalintegrity.org)
is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization established in March of 2002 by former
EPA enforcement attorneys to advocate for effective enforcement of environmental
laws. EIP has three goals: 1) to provide objective analyses of how the failure
to enforce or implement environmental laws increases pollution and affects
public health; 2) to hold federal and state agencies, as well as individual
corporations, accountable for failing to enforce or comply with environmental
laws; and 3) to help local communities obtain the protection of environmental
laws.
Air Alliance Houston (http://www.airalliancehouston.org)
wants clean air so our economy, quality of life, and children can thrive. Our
mission is to reduce air pollution in the Houston region to protect public
health and environmental integrity through research, education, and advocacy. We
are the Houston region’s leading environmental health and air quality
nonprofit.
Community In-Power and Development Associates (http://www.mycida.org) is a non-profit
organization that advocates for its members environmental justice, social, and
economic rights. CIDA works to help protect underserved communities from big
polluters like refineries and chemical plants by monitoring toxic emissions,
revitalize communities, and educate citizens on the importance of voting and
taking part in decisions that impact their communities.
The Louisiana Bucket Brigade (http://www.labucketbrigade.org) is a
501(c)(3) environmental health and justice organization working with communities
that neighbor the state's oil refineries and chemical plants. Our mission is to
support communities' use of grassroots action to create informed, sustainable
neighborhoods free from industrial pollution.
Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (http://www.tejasbarrios.org) is
dedicated to providing community members with the tools necessary to create
sustainable, environmentally healthy communities by educating individuals on
health concerns and implications arising from environmental pollution,
empowering individuals with an understanding of applicable environmental laws
and regulations and promoting their enforcement, and offering community building
skills and resources for effective community action and greater public
participation.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Leslie Maloy, for Environmental Integrity Project, at (703)
276-3256 or lmaloy@hastingsgroup.com; Adrian Shelley, for Air Alliance Houston,
at (713) 528-3779 or adrian@airalliancehouston.org; Anna Hrybyk, for Louisiana
Bucket Brigade, at (504) 312-1737 or anna@labucketbrigade.org; Hilton Kelley,
for Community In-Power and Development Association, at (409) 498-1088 or
hiltonkelley5011@gmail.com; and Juan Parras, for Texas Environmental Justice
Advocacy Services, at (281) 513-7799 or parras.juan@gmail.com
Monday, March 25, 2013
TCEQ Proposes Removal of Two Pollutants from the Texas City APWL
Area--Benzene and Hydrogen Sulfide
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Radioactive Senate waste bill 791 Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo and Governor
Rick Perry, Totalitarian rule or Authoritarian regime ?
TCEQ don’t eat catfish and speckle trout from Galveston Bay
flounder float white side up in Galveston Bay
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
GULF OF MEXICO 2013 DON'T EAT THE FISH MERCURY WARNING
TSS
