Open Letter to All Public Officials
Representing the Rio Grande Valley
Subject: Oppose Liquefied Natural Gas
(LNG) Terminals in the RGV
In the past few months, three Liquefied Natural Gas
(LNG) companies have presented their plans to build export terminals at the
Port of Brownsville bordering Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge and the Bahia
Grande. They have offered jobs and economic benefits in exchange for
destroying our priceless natural resources that sustain jobs, wildlife
habitats and corridors for endangered animal species, ecotourism, commercial
and recreational fishing, safe communities and the very air we breathe.
I have been in an occupation that promotes jobs,
careers and opportunities for students, but I draw the line on
welcoming companies that have shown a total disregard and disrespect for the
people of The Rio Grande Valley. It is difficult to understand why these
companies would even consider decimating environmentally sensitive areas that
have placed us on the map as a vacation, sporting, bird watching, wildlife
conservation, real estate and retirement destination. Our assets bring in
millions of dollars. These companies are promising economic benefits; yet,
Annova and perhaps others, are requesting a 10-year tax exemption, as if they
need an incentive to build their destructive terminals on the last coastal
paradise available to them on the Texas coast. What happens if the companies
fail? Who will be stuck with the economic burden to clean up the mess they
created? The damage will be irreparable, and we will be stuck with a useless
eyesore. Our tax rates are constantly increasing at all levels of government,
but this billion dollar company wants to be exempt from paying taxes that we
desperately need for services, schools, salaries, infrastructure and community
development.
These companies brag about their safety record, but
they cannot guarantee the safety of the citizens of Port Isabel, South
Padre Island, Brownsville, Laguna Vista and all surrounding communities. Layers
of security measures cannot prevent all possibility of catastrophic accidents
that may lead to evacuations, explosions and destruction of lives and property.
Every day, we are bombarded with news about disasters such as uncontrollable
wildfires, floods, droughts, oil and chemical spills, deadly gas pipeline
explosions, toxic spills into water ways, and other devastating events. I don’t
want us to be a disaster statistic. Look up LNG accidents in the US, and read
the Reuters article on “Blast at U. S. LNG site casts spotlight on natural gas
safety,” which describes an unexplained blast April 2014 at an LNG facility in
Washington State. Workers were injured, the fear of a second more devastating
explosion was averted, people were evacuated within a two-mile radius and some
people were sickened by fumes. The article also cites a blast in 2004 at an
Algerian LNG facility that killed 27 workers and injured 74. Are the risks
worth it for the people of the Rio Grande Valley? Are the risks to our health,
safety, quality of life, existing jobs and natural resources worth it?
Some public entities have announced support for LNG
export terminals without having considered input from those of
us who oppose these terminals, not because we want to restrict economic
development, but because we care about the RGV and the safety of our
communities, environment and natural resources that belong to future
generations. We are constituents and voters who are asking that you please
consider all facets of LNG terminals that will have serious ramifications for
the Rio Grande Valley. God has blessed us with valuable resources, and we have
an obligation to be the stewards of those resources. Please join us in
protecting our HOME and opposing LNG export terminals in the Rio Grande Valley.
Thank you to the Laguna Madre Water District Board of Directors, the Port
Isabel City Commission,and the South Padre Island Business Owners Association
who passed resolutions opposing LNG terminals at the port. Your leadership and commitment
to acting in the best interest of your community and the RGV are greatly
appreciated.
Respectfully,
Alma
G. Leal
Rancho
Viejo, TX
Note:
For more information, go to Facebook at SAVE RGV from LNG
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is accepting
public comments
through September 4 regarding 3 LNG terminals to be
located on the Brownsville Ship Channel. To oppose LNG terminals, visit
http://www/ferc.gov under “Documents and Filings” heading, look for FERC
Online and Go to eComment and follow directions. Include FERC Docket numbers:
Annova LNG (PF 15-15), Texas LNG (PF 15-14), Rio Grande LNG (PF 15-20).
Excellent and spot on!
ReplyDeleteI first met Dr. Leal when I enrolled for college after I arrived in Brownsville in May 1988. She was a guidance counselor at the time who helped me make the "right" choice for me. She moved up from there and I hadn't seen again until recently. I had not forgotten her name and she told me to jut call her Alma. So far her letter has been viewed 240 times on this blog and shared 25 times on the Facebook page with numerous tags to them. I think those numbers are good and am glad to the communities from the lower Rio Grande Valley using the media to unite like this.
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