For Immediate Release (Wednesday, April 26, 2000):
Republican Women from Houston Area Call on Bush to Stop
New Air Pollution Permits in Smoggiest City in the U.S.
Clear Lake Area Residents Protesting Proposed Acrylic Acid Plant
(Austin)--A group of Republican women from the Houston area held a press conference at the Texas State Capitol today to denounce plans by the state environmental agency to issue new air pollution permits to giant polluter Elf Atochem. They also criticized the environmental records of Governor George W. Bush and his appointees to the governing body of the state agency, saying that air quality in the Houston area is deteriorating because of their actions and policies.
The women, representing a local group called Clean Air Clear Lake, traveled to Austin to protest the permitting of an acrylic acid plant less than a half mile from their homes. This new plant will emit approximately 50 toxic chemicals and add enough ozone-forming pollution to the already dirty skies of Houston to equal more than 9,000 cars. The new plant is owned by American Acryl, a joint venture of French-owned Elf Atochem and Nippon Shokubai of Japan.
The homes within three miles of the new plant contain approximately 20,000 residents and children. The three commissioners who head the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) are scheduled to vote on the air pollution permits for American Acryl on May 3.
Arlene Polewarzyck, who lives in the Bayport community less than a quarter mile form the proposed plant said, "As a Republican, I am deeply disappointed with Governor Bush's environmental policies in Texas. Clean air in Clear Lake is a fading memory."
In fact, the Houston area has already violated the federal air pollution levels for ozone at least three times this month: April 14, 17, & 24.
On April 17, Houston recorded the highest one-hour ozone level in the nation so far this year with 192 parts per billion of ozone. The April 17 ozone level also tops all national readings for 1999, except for another reading from the Houston area. Despite the worsening air, Gov. Bush's appointees at TNRCC continue to permit almost every industry that comes before the agency.
"Bush's Commissioners have never met a permit they did not like," explained Tamara Maschino, of Bayport. "I have a message for George Bush: Come home to Texas and clean it up. We demand that the Governor declare a moratorium on all new air pollution sources in the Houston area."
Lucille Griffith, also from Bayport, said, "I am a Republican who is appalled by Governor George Bush's environmental record. It is inconceivable to me that he is allowing more air permits to be issued when the Clear Lake /Houston area cannot comply with the Clean Air Act now. George W. Bush must take responsibility for the majority of the current pollution problems in Houston and Clear Lake."
Governor Bush's TNRCC Commissioners have instituted policies at the state's environmental agency that limit public participation in permit proceedings for air polluters. Restrictions on public participation in the case of the American Acryl permits have hampered the ability of citizens to raise critical issues about those permits. While TNRCC Executive Director Jeff Saitas has been in Washington, DC lobbying to weaken the federal Clean Air Act, TNRCC has helped American Acryl circumvent the act, allowed pollution credit trading for the company's benefit, failed to even consider the cumulative impacts of all air emissions in the area of the new plant, allowed a permit to be issued that contains "secret" chemicals, and ignored the company's compliance history.
Tamara Maschino said: "We are outraged that the Clear Lake/ NASA area--referred to as a Texas Jewel-- is being forced to accept this hazardous chemical polluter. The Clear Lake/NASA Area is a high tech community by the bay with outdoor and recreational boating as a draw to companies looking to relocate here. Because of Governor Bush's environmental policies our air has worsened to a point where we are off the top recruiter's list as a great place to live. Our economy will be affected even more if this plant is allowed to be built."
Maschino noted that one day she had sent a packet of materials about the plant to the
Governor's office in Austin via overnight delivery. "The next day," Maschino
continued, "I got a call from the Bush campaign office, not from the Governor's
office, asking what I was concerned about. What I'm concerned about is the failure of
Governor Bush and his appointees to protect the health and well-being of the citizens of
our area from the effects of air pollution. I don't want to see this problem worsen with a
major new polluter permitted in our community. The decision on the American Acryl plant
next week will be an important environmental test for TNRCC and the Bush
administration."
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For More Information:
Tamara Maschino, Clean Air Clear Lake, 281-291-0068, 281-770-6615 (cell)
Erin Rogers, 512-454-8806
Neil Carman, Sierra Club, 512-472-1767
(for technical questions about air pollution and American Acryl )
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Information Note: The Sierra Club is assisting Clean Air Clear Lake, at the request of members of that group, in publicizing the American Acryl permit applications before TNRCC and the air pollution concerns raised by the proposed permits.