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A lot of rapid industrialization is happening around us here in the Coastal Bend, and it's hard for any one person to keep up with all of it. We are asking the communities to check back often for our calls-to-action to help protect the land, air and water we love so much! Email any links we should consider adding to this page. |
1.Stop Enbridge Ingleside Blue Hydrogen / Ammonia Plant
Check back often for the upcoming Public Hearing Dates for Enbridge's 2 pending permit applications!A Public Hearing will be scheduled by TCEQ regarding Enbridge's TCEQ Water Rights Permit #13775. The TCEQ received 94 citizens comments! Thank you! Enbridge water rights application 13775 is for 500 acre feet or 446,371 gallons of water a day from Corpus Christi Bay states use is for fire pump testing but we believe it's actually a water grab for Blue Hydrogen/Ammonia.
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Anyday a Public Hearing will be scheduled regarding Enbridge's renewal for their Federal Operating Permit #3906.
We are asking that you ATTEND this hearing to comment or support commenters and show we citizens are outraged! 109 concerned citizens commented on this application to get this public hearing so now let's flood the room! We will ask the EPA to object this permit and TCEQ's rubber stamping of excessive emissions and lack of enforcement. One concern to comment on at hearing is that TCEQ violated their duty by dividing Enbridge into two sites allow them to emit twice as much HAZARDOUS POLLUTANTS. Enbridge is one company! Available documents for this Enbridge Permit request:
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2. Stop Ingleside Ammonia Plant
Ammonia to be used as a Hydrogen carrier and the process of creating Hydrogen is anything but green!
IOBCWA is currently monitoring permit requests with state and federal agencies responsible for granting these Ammonia plant permits to these polluting industries. We will provide call-to-actions here on help needed as they become known.
San Patricio Economic Development Corporation has presented to several local city councils new Ammonia project developments with disguised names to close to our neighborhoods for comfort!
San Patricio Economic Development Corporation has presented to several local city councils new Ammonia project developments with disguised names to close to our neighborhoods for comfort!
Project Green
- 500 acres, 8 modules(1 1/2 million tons of ammonia per module), $2B+ capital investment, 150 jobs, and advised the company has been on multiple site visits.
- Large-scale green hydrogen/ammonia plant, 500-700 acres, 2 million tons per year for phase 1, 4M GPD water, will use cooling tower for process water, 2000 construction workers, 250 FTE, 24/hour per day operation, $3B capital investment, 4 large trains over multi-year ramp up: start with 1 train and add another every 2 years.
- Green ammonia facility, 100 acres, 30-50 jobs, $1.5B capital investment, 1.2G power, company site visited was planned for March 2, 2023
The Very Scary links to documented Ammonia Accidents and Explosions
- Accidents have occurred such as explosion in 2020 at a hydrogen fuel production plant of OneH 2 ,Inc. in Long View, NC, which blew 10 miles away and damaged 60 homes and the explosion in a hydrogen gas research facility at Gangwon Technopark, South Korea (two deaths)
- Accidents from leaking ammonia are often deadly, such as the 2022 leak in a Massachusetts food plant.
- In 2009, 4 workers were fatally injured and dozen were injured when an explosion occurred at the ConAgra Food facility in Garner, North Carolina.
- In 1992, the worst industrial ammonia accident occurred in Senegal, South Africa when a tanks
exploded forming a dense vapor cloud that spread over a significant distance ultimately killing
129 and 1,150 injuries. - Who can forget the explosions in West Texas at the West Fertilizer Plant is 2013 that blew out windows up to 7 miles away. This accident killed 15 people and injured up to 200.
- The devastating blast from Ammonia Nitrate stored on a tanker Port of Beirut Lebanon in 2020 was the most devastating blasts in recent history. The supersonic pressure killed 220 people and injured more than 6,500. The blast leveled the surrounding community and impacted for miles.
Let's Talk Hydrogen/Ammonia
The process of creating hydrogen is anything but green. It requires a source of hydrogen gas(H 2 ), which is stripped away from natural gas or coal in a reaction using pressurized, superheated steam. Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is left behind, accounting for about half the emissions from the overall process. The second feedstock, N 2 , separated from air. Generating the pressure needed to meld hydrogen and nitrogen in the reactors consumes more fossil fuels, which means more CO 2.
Hydrogen is highly reactive and explosive. There is a high risk of fire and explosions along with the risk of a high pressure release without ignition. It is the smallest atom on the periodic table, very light and high probability of leaking. It is odorless and colorless and tasteless and can be difficult to know when there is a leak. There is no known odorant that can be added the would diffuse at the same rate.
Ammonia has been attracting attention for its use as a hydrogen carrier. Ammonia is energy dense enabling efficient storage and transportation than liquid hydrogen. Ammonia is highly toxic, even in very low amounts. Ammonia production at a facility on the Live
Oak Peninsula places it down wind of residential neighborhoods and schools. Ammonia facilities are constant source of noxious odors. Ammonia is a nitrogen bearing fuel and is likely to generate large amounts of nitrogen oxide(NOx) in its combustion as a fuel. While ammonia is less flammable than hydrogen, it nonetheless carries a risk of explosion and fire.
Hydrogen is highly reactive and explosive. There is a high risk of fire and explosions along with the risk of a high pressure release without ignition. It is the smallest atom on the periodic table, very light and high probability of leaking. It is odorless and colorless and tasteless and can be difficult to know when there is a leak. There is no known odorant that can be added the would diffuse at the same rate.
Ammonia has been attracting attention for its use as a hydrogen carrier. Ammonia is energy dense enabling efficient storage and transportation than liquid hydrogen. Ammonia is highly toxic, even in very low amounts. Ammonia production at a facility on the Live
Oak Peninsula places it down wind of residential neighborhoods and schools. Ammonia facilities are constant source of noxious odors. Ammonia is a nitrogen bearing fuel and is likely to generate large amounts of nitrogen oxide(NOx) in its combustion as a fuel. While ammonia is less flammable than hydrogen, it nonetheless carries a risk of explosion and fire.
3. Join an IOBCWA Community Action Team!
Currently organizing groups in Ingleside on the Bay, Aransas Pass, and Ingleside
We are excited to announce that we will be expanding our outreach to neighboring cities to raise awareness and provide education regarding potential impacts to coastline resources, water and air quality due to increased ship traffic and rapid industrialization happening and planned for San Patricio County. Our goal is to increase community awareness and create additional community response and action from surrounding communities to the state and federal regulators reviewing and approving the increased applications from industrialization in San Patricio County. We realize we can not do this alone and need additional awareness and activism.
Please email iobcwa@gmail.com today to get involved!
Please email iobcwa@gmail.com today to get involved!
Status of Prior Calls to Action
1. As of 9/11/23 FERC has requested an Engineering Information Request to Cheniere regarding questions they have on application. Cheniere has 30 day to respond. Cheniere's permit application CP23-129 for its Stage IV expansion of trains 8 & 9 will more than double the number of ships passing through the La Quinta Channel. Thank you for your comments. FERC (Federal Energy Regulator Commission) has requested additional information from Cheniere. If this permit is granted IOBCWA has preserved FERC Motion to Intervene individually and with Sierra Club. Status.
2. IOBCWA and member Chon Serna are engaged in a TCEQ Contested Case Hearing opposing the Port of Corpus Christi's application for water rights for a desalination plant on the La Quinta Channel.
3. Comments are now closed regarding the Railroad Commission (RRC) to regulate Carbon Dioxide storage underground! Thank you to everyone who commented! Check back for outcome end of September.
RRC has an inherent conflict of interest because they receive campaign donations by the industries they regulate.
The number of uncapped wells in Texas is growing everyday. RRC cannot keep up with the current job they have.
Carbon Dioxide escaping a well poses serious danger to human health and the environment.
RRC has a HORRIBLE TRACK RECORD of enforcing regulations and will fail to protect residents who reside next to potential carbon dioxide storage.
Copy of original RRC Chapter 5 rules for CO2 9/19/22
Proposed rulemaking amendment to RRC Chapter 5 for CO2
Notice of Public Comment Hearing from RRC on proposed amendments
RRC has an inherent conflict of interest because they receive campaign donations by the industries they regulate.
The number of uncapped wells in Texas is growing everyday. RRC cannot keep up with the current job they have.
Carbon Dioxide escaping a well poses serious danger to human health and the environment.
RRC has a HORRIBLE TRACK RECORD of enforcing regulations and will fail to protect residents who reside next to potential carbon dioxide storage.
Copy of original RRC Chapter 5 rules for CO2 9/19/22
Proposed rulemaking amendment to RRC Chapter 5 for CO2
Notice of Public Comment Hearing from RRC on proposed amendments
Past Industry Public Notices |
Climate-Related Notices |
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This link provides the history of industrial activity in the Coastal Bend near Ingleside on the Bay.
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Industry-Related Notices
Port of Corpus Christi
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
United States Army Corps of Engineers
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
United States Army Corps of Engineers