No More Enbridge Expansion!

Located adjacent to Ingleside on the Bay (IOB), Enbridge Ingleside Energy Center purchased Moda Midstream in 2021 and quickly became the leading U.S. oil export terminal in the US. This Canadian owned company had a gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 of 4.10 billion. A 14.42% increase year over year. Their gross profit for the 12 months ending June 30, 2023 was 16.55 billion a 10% increase. How much money does a company really need?  NOW Enbridge has partnered with Norwegian company Yara proposing to build a very large blue hydrogen and ammonia facility!
On March 6, 2024, Enbridge announced its most current acquisition of two marine docks and land from Flint Hills Resources in Ingleside for $200 million. Pictured below with link to story by OK Energy Today. 

STOP Enbridge Expansion: Blue Ammonia Plant, Solar Farm and additional Pier

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Southern tip of Live Oak Peninsula occupied by the City of Ingleside on the Bay (left) and three prolific oil export terminals (right).

IOBCWA Legal Action

October 19, 2021: Scheduling order issued, delaying construction at Enbridge.
​August 24, 2021: Plaintiffs issue joint Press Release, including link to Preliminary Injunction to stop construction at MODA facility.
​August 3, 2021: Plaintiffs issue joint Press Release, including link to Complaint filed against U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
May 17, 2021: Sierra Club joins IOBCWA's Motion to Overturn TCEQ 401 Certification
May 14, 2021: IOBCWA files Motion to Overturn TCEQ Executive Director's 401 Certification
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This shows the McGloin's Bluff Karankawan archeological site 41SP11, in relationship to the city of Ingleside on the Bay (population about 700) and Moda.
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This shows the plans for Moda's new pier to accommodate even more large ships to export oil overseas. The permit was approved by USACE on 4/29/21.

Media Coverage

05/2/24:The Cool Down: DOJ side with Native American tribe against major oil company: 'Lacks any legal right to remain'
04/10/24: New York Times: An Oil Company Is Trespassing on Tribal Land in Wisconsin, Justice Dept. Says. 
01/19/24: News 3: Permit for proposed Enbridge Ingleside plant denied in Tuesday's special city council meeting. 
01/19/24: Caller Times: Ingleside City Council denies Enbridge ammonia production facility permit during lengthy meeting. 
01/18/24: Beyond Petrochemicals Press Release: Ingleside, Texas Denies Permit for Proposed Ammonia Plant. 
01/18/24: Bloomberg News: Norway Court Loses Court Battle With Climate Groups On Oil Fields
01/16/24: City of Ingleside special meeting for Objectionable Use permit for Enbridge/Yara. DENIED!
01/11/24: Public Meeting to comment to the TCEQ on concerns regarding Enbridge Federal Operating Permit 3906 at 7pm Portland Community      Center
12/27/23: Ingleside Index: Ingleside Public Hearing Next Month Addresses Major Environmental Concern.
                IOBCWA President, Patrick Nye quoted
12/27/23: Inside Climate News: 'Major' Problem in Texas: How Big Polluters Evade Federal Law and Get Away It
                Industrial developers describe facilities as "minor' polluters to avoid federal permitting requirements, and environmental lawyers say                        the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality lets it happen.
​12/11/23: Public Comments due to TCEQ for Enbridge/Yara New Source Review Air permit 174275 for their Blue Ammonia Plant. 
10/10/23: Enbridge and Yara Open House regarding their joint venture proposal for a blue hydrogen and ammonia facility.
10/18/23 Ingleside Index: Ingleside Ammonia Plant Proposal Set for a David v. Goliath Challenge
10/4/23: Ingleside index: IOBCWA's Billboard - Stop Ingleside Ammonia Plants made the news!
​7/29/23: Comments due to TCEQ HERE on Enbridge Federal Operating Permit 3906 application.
4/12/23: Ingleside Index reports that Enbridge has been ordered by City of Ingleside to stop live oak tree cutting (Support local news!)
​3/31/23: Yara and Enbridge to build low-carbon blue ammonia project at Enbridge Ingleside Energy Center
3/31/23 - Offshore Energy: Norwegian fertilizer company joins Enbridge to use autothermal reforming with carbon capture for blue ammonia plant
2/28/23 - Enbridge requests TCEQ Water Rights Permit for 500 MGD for "fire water"
10/27/22 - Ingleside ISD rejects Enbridge's request for a Reinvestment Zone to construct solar farm to power blue ammonia plant. 
10/10/22 7pm - Ingleside ISD considers an Enbridge Reinvestment Zone to give Enbridge a Chapter 313 tax abatement, as amended, to create ONE job. 
9/6/22 - Enbridge gives presentation to Ingleside on the Bay City Council about its expansion plans.
6/15/22 - Houston Business Journal: Enbridge considers $256M solar energy project at Ingleside export terminal (PDF version)
5/25/22 - RBN Energy Blogcast: That's Where I Belong - Location is Key for the Latest Blue Hydrogen/Ammonia Project
5/7/22 - Nelson Star: Enbridge reports $1.93B first-quarter profit as energy demand and prices grow
5/6/22 - KIII-TV3: $3 billion Ingleside facility will strip hydrogen from natural gas, return CO2 to earth
5/6/22 - Enbridge Press Release: Enbridge and Humble Midstream to Develop Low-carbon Hydrogen and Ammonia Production and Export Facilities
10/13/21 - Caller-Times: Enbridge closes deal on Moda Midstream Operating purchase in Ingleside 
9/7/21 - Enbridge Press Release: Enbridge Advances U.S. Gulf Coast Strategy with Acquisition of North America's Premier Crude Export Facility​
Enbridge's Carbon Capture & Storage "Factsheet"
1/4/21 Nueces County Voter (Instagram): IOBCWA Executive Director discusses MODA's failure to follow Texas Coastal Management Plan.
1/6/21 KRIS-TV 6: IOB citizens report unusual odors to TCEQ, as shared in this story on KRIS-TV 6, featuring IOBCWA President Patrick Nye.
1/16/21 KRIS-TV 6: Indigenous People of the Coastal Bend host prayer service to protest MODA's planned destruction of historic Karankawan site.
2/1/21 KRIS-TV 6: IOBCWA President discusses concerns about impacts to seagrasses from MODA's expansion on KRIS-TV 6 segment. 
​3/15/21 KRIS-TV 6: The oil tanker, Riverside, rams into MODA's pier as it was leaving the dock fully loaded. 
4/2/21 Corpus Christi Caller Times: South Texas' Indigenous tribes seek to block Moda Midstream's terminal expansion.
5/4/21 Spectrum News 1: Artifacts recovered over last 50 years from Karankawa archealogical site at McGloin's Bluff site showcased. 
5/7/21 Spectrum News 1: Seagrass is dying in Corpus Christi Bay near Ingleside on the Bay. 
6/30/21 Spectrum News 1: Fight over Moda's expansion that threatens Karankawan archaelogical site and seagrasses continues. 
8/3/21 Multiple Outlets: Lawsuit filed by Indigenous Peoples of the Coastal Bend, Karankawa Kadla Tribe, and IOBCWA:  8/24/21: KRIS-TV 6: Injunction filed in federal court to prevent the expansion of Moda Midstream
9/7/21: Caller-Times: Enbridge buys MODA for $3 billion; see Enbridge Investor Prospectus for plans
10/4/21: Texas Tribune: The Karankawa were said to be extinct. Now they're reviving their culture - and fighting to protect their ancestors' land
10/28/21: Caller-Times: Enbridge expansion partially on hold pending federal case
11/10/21: Ingleside Index: "David meets Goliath in IOB dispute"​
11/29/21: Spectrum 1 News: "Stop the dredging!". 
12/9-12/30/21: KEDT-FM 90.3: In Transparency We Trust (7-part series)
3/8/20 Karakawas Blog: Call to action issued to Karankawa and allies re: MODA's planned disturbance of McGloin Bluff Archeological Site (41SP11)

SUBMIT COMMENTS: Awaiting Notice of Public Meeting on Enbridge Air Quality Permit #122362

Review Documents

APPROVED by USACE (lawsuit underway): Enbridge Expansion Project (USACE Permit SWG-1995-02221)

  1. In February 2020, MODA filed a permit request with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to expand their west basin toward IOB to include more larger ships. Here are links to MODA's permit application, TCEQ Tier II dredging permit application, and GLO Coastal Management Consistency checklist. 
  2. Several individuals and entities submitted public comments on the USACE permit, including IOBCWA, Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWS), U.S. Fish & Wildlife, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Texas Center for Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
  3. ​In September 2020, USACE shared MODA's 95-page response to comments, which also included an Alternatives Analysis (starts p. 39) and a 12-step Mitigation Plan (starts p. 55) of what MODA plans to do in exchange for destroying the seagrass and wetlands next to IOB (including plans to start a new seagrass bed protected by a 2000' breakwater in Port-owned submerged property at Sunset Lake near Portland). 
  4. In response to concerns from IOBCWA, State Senator Judith Zaffirini and Rep. J. M. Lozano requested that TCEQ hold a public hearing on the Tier II dredging permit aspect of the project, including its consistency (or lack thereof) with the Texas Coastal Management Plan.
  5. The online hearing was held on Dec. 1, 2020 at 7pm, with about 60 people in attendance and 20 people speaking in opposition to MODA. 
  6. On Jan. 27, 2021, MODA submits request to TCEQ to amend Air Quality Permit 122362. Here is a link to the permit application.
  7. On April 13, 2021, USACE issues its Statement of Findings and the Construction Permit. On April 22, 2021 TCEQ grants 401 certification for dredging. On April 29, 2021, USACE issues the construction permit. 
  8. On May 14, IOBCWA files a Motion To Overturn TCEQ's 401 certification, and is joined by the Sierra Club in this action.
  9. On June 11, 2021, in response to public comments from IOBCWA and others, MODA submits an application for "New Source Review" for Air Quality Permit 122362 (resetting the emissions baseline to zero), submits to Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) review (PSDTX1430M2), and agrees to obtain a new Greehouse Gas (GHG) permit for the site (GHGPSDTX209).
  10. On June 16, 2021, MODA posts a revised TCEQ Public Notice to modify its air pollution limits.
  11. On June 17, 2021, Indigenous People of the Coastal Bend and IOBCWA host a "Stop MODA Now!" Facebook Live Event to elevate awareness. 
  12. On August 3, 2021, along with the Indigenous Peoples of the Coastal Bend and the Karankawa Kadla Tribe of the Texas Gulf Coast, IOBCWA sues the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its approval of MODA's expansion permit.
  13. On August 24, 2021, a preliminary injunction is filed by the litigants to stop construction. 
  14. All activity on TCEQ notices (including comments from public hearings - including audio) can be found by doing the following:
    1. Go to the TCEQ home page at www.tceq.texas.gov
    2. Click "View Pending Matters and File Documents"
    3. Click "Track the Status" to get to the TCEQ Commissioners' Integrated Database (CID) 
    4. For TCEQ ID Number, enter "20201351MIS" (401 "dredging" certification for USACE) or "122362" (air pollution)
    5. Check the boxes for "Include Filings on this Item" and "Include all correspondence from the public on this item"
    6. Click the Search button just below the checked items and examine the returned data.

Concerns about Enbridge Permit #SWG-1995-02221 to construct new Pier closer to IOB

Problem #1: Loss of Habitat, Shoreline Protection, Safety, and Salinity:
It will be quite disruptive to the neighboring community of Ingleside on the Bay when MODA starts digging and dredging to construct this new dock. And then they will have to keep it dredged. They will also be permanently removing what has been fertile seagrasses for flounder and wetlands for seabirds on the Central Migratory Flyway, while leaving the Brass Turtle end of IOB exposed to even more coastal flooding, storm surge, erosion, and relative sea level rise impacts. And let's not forget about the increased possibility of ship collisions, oil spills, and increased fumes and air pollution from generators used while even more ships dock at MODA to load up with oil. 
Problem #2: Insufficient Mitigation: To make up for the destruction, MODA is offering to put 70 acres of live oak forest in a permanent easement along the fence line with IOB (see figure below on left). The problem is, this will not make up for the loss of coastal habitat for fish and sea birds. They are also proposing to construct a 2000' breakwater and plant 20 acres of new seagrass - at Port-owned property at Sunset Lake up by Portland (see figure below on right)! How exactly does that compensate IOB for our community's fish and wildlife habitat loss and increased air, noise, and light pollution?
Problem #3: Potential Destruction of Karankawan Site: McGloin's Bluff is a known heritage site of the Karankawa Tribe, who were the first peoples in the region. The area proposed for the additional MODA dock includes further destruction of a known Karankawan archeological site that was eligible for placement on the National Register of Historical Places as described in pp. 8-15 of Current Archeology of Texas. Yet the Indigenous People of the Coastal Bend have not been consulted regarding industrial development taking place here and all around the Coastal Bend.  
​Solution: Community participation is key! Our legislators are listening; the press is listening; now we need to get TCEQ to listen! Please join us!

 MODA's Expansion Request - Unavoidable Impacts???

Since buying the former Ingleside Navy Base from Occidental in 2018, MODA has been constructing oil storage tanks to store Permian Basin oil for exporting to foreign countries. As a result, the old Navy pier has seen nearly constant use by every-larger ships, such as VLCCs (very large crude carriers) and Suezmaxes. Most ships run off generators while loading their cargo, and IOBCWA has recorded significantly higher air pollutants near the Brass Turtle than in other parts of IOB. We have also observed plumes from dredging and ship traffic that are causing silting of seagrasses in the submerged lands off Bayshore Drive. Now, as shown in the figures below, MODA wants to build another dock - even closer to the Brass Turtle - nearly doubling the number of ships! We are concerned that the loss of about 10 acres of seagrass and wetlands adjacent to IOB will impact area fish and wildlife and that increased traffic at the convergence of two ship channels will jeopardize boater safety and increase air, noise, and light pollution. We also question the need for the project, since oil prices have taken a nose dive - even going negative for awhile during this pandemic. IOBCWA's stance is that MODA should drop this project altogether. MODA says these impacts are unavoidable and that “The consequences of not building the project would result in potential loss of economic growth within the surrounding area and would not meet the needs of Moda's existing and committed future client base”. Is it the job of public agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to make sure a private industry can meet the needs of its private customers - many (or even most) of which are in foreign countries? How exactly does this PRIVATE project serve the PUBLIC interest?
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Proposed West Basin Expansion Project closer to Brass Turtle - including seagrasses and wetlands to be destroyed

Recording of TCEQ Public Hearing Held on 12/1/20 at 7pm

About 60 people attended the nearly 3-hour hearing, with about 20 speaking in opposition to MODA's planned expansion. We've broken down the meeting into 3 separate recordings:
  1. TCEQ Overview and Informal Q&A
  2. Formal Public Comments - Part I
  3. Formal Public Comments - Part II

The full 3-hour recording can be accessed here: https://tinyurl.com/MODApublichearing

IOBCWA PRIVACY POLICY AND TERMS OF USE
​990 available on request

IOBCWA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its program or activities.
For questions or comments please contact: Cyndi Valdes, IOBCWA Executive Director and Civil Rights Coordinator
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