QUICK GUIDE | Submitting a Public Comment to the TCEQ
VOESTALPINE WANTS TO INCREASE EMISSIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN’T CONTROL THEM.
PERMIT NO. 108113 – PUBLIC COMMENT DEADLINE IS JULY 29TH!
On June 15, we alerted everyone to Voestalpine seeking a modification of its Air Permit. It is now available for Public Viewing at the Bell-Whittington Library in Portland.
In their application, they state 1) initial emission rates in the original Permit were not properly calculated and now exceed the Permit requirements, and 2) controls put in place to reduce those emissions aren’t working. So, they are requesting the allowable emissions be increased.
For example, on emissions of Carbon Monoxide, they say “During initial commissioning…CO emissions exceeded the allowable rates in the Permit. Process modifications were made…the process changes did not lead to sufficient reduction in CO emissions, and thus Voestalpine is requesting increased allowable CO emissions…”
What are those increases? 2,929.37 tons per year for carbon monoxide. Increases in VOCs, Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), Lead, and Ammonia approximate 160 tons per year. There is an increase in Green House Gases of 4,415 tons per year. They also want to increase flaring and reduce leak detection requirements.
Remember the metallic dust falling throughout neighborhoods? Their violations are still part of an ongoing Enforcement Action and new complaints were filed a couple of weeks ago (June 2019).
We encourage you to submit comments on the application. Rather than seeking permission to increase air contaminants, they need to control them. If their initial calculations were off, why should we think these estimates are good ones? Why grant them an amendment when their dust continues to cover the neighborhoods?
Simply put in Voestalpine’s Permit Number 108113. Comments are due by July 29, 2019. In your comments, ask for a Public Meeting in Portland. We need Voestalpine and TCEQ to better explain what is going on. AND, ask Senator Zaffirini and Rep. Lozano to demand a Public Meeting where residents can voice their opposition to what has turned out to be a very nasty plant.
Your comments CAN and WILL make a difference.
Submitting a Public Comment to the TCEQ is very easy and should take no longer than 5-10 minutes of your time.
- The permit application that you can submit comment is the following:
1. Voestalpine’s Permit – Permit Number 108113 - Public Comment is NOT limited to 1 per household. Each member of your family can submit a comment.
- Specifically ask for a Public Meeting on the terminal to take place in Portland, Texas.
- MOST IMPORTANT, IF YOU OPPOSE THESE CHANGES AND WANT TCEQ TO DENY THE PERMIT, SAY SO ON THE COMMENT.
Step 1: Visit https://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/.
Enter the Permit Number: 108113 and click “Next”.
Step 2: Fill out the form with your personal information and Public Comments.
The box labeled Comments is where you should input your concerns and request for a Public Meeting in Portland, TX. When finished click “Submit to TCEQ”.
All finished!
You can also submit public comment via mail, hand-delivery, or fax. The following has been copied from the TCEQ website.
“Please include a TCEQ permit you mail, hand-deliver, or fax comments on a pending permit application. Submit your comments using one of the options below:
Mail to:
Office of the Chief Clerk, MC 105
TCEQ
PO Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087
Courier or hand-deliver to:
Office of the Chief Clerk
TCEQ
12100 Park 35 Circle, Bldg F
Austin, TX 78753
Fax to:
512-239-3311*
*Note: If you fax your filing, you must mail or hand-deliver the original document and the appropriate number of copies to the Office of the Chief Clerk within three business days.”