The following emissions are authorized by the draft permit:
- Total Particulate Matter (PM) – 185.82 TONS per year
- Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) – 176.35 TONS per year
- Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) – 167.51 TONS per year
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) – 976.33 TONS per year
- Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX) – 525.03 TONS per year
- Carbon Monoxide (CO) – 1,444.60 TONS per year
- Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) – 0.03 TONS per year
- Sulfuric Acid Mist (H2SO4) – 1.15 TONS per year
- Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) – 38.49 TONS per year
- Greenhouse Gases (GHG, as CO2e) – 2,933,595 TONS per year
In the draft permit summary, TCEQ explains the results of all the projections and modeling they conducted to assess the plant’s impacts. In one such study, they measure the expected worst case emissions of dangerous cancer causing pollutants against the state’s health effects screening levels. Some examples include:
- TCEQ predicts 876 micrograms per cubic meter of benzene as the worst 1-hour concentration we can expect; the state standard is 170
- TCEQ predicts 522 mg/m3 of butadiene; the state standard is 510
- TCEQ predicts 31.4 mg/m3 of formaldehyde; the state standard is 15
- And, ethylene, hexane, and alkenes are all thousands of units over the state standards.
Notably, the Draft Permit does not appear to include or take into consideration the transportation (mobile air toxins), storage, loading, and unloading emissions, and secondary emissions. It is treating the terminal on La Quinta Channel separately.
just sayin’
REMINDER: TCEQ Public Meeting about EXXON/SABIC Air Permit is Tuesday 5/22!
Click below for details.