UPDATE: Happening now in Houston, until 8pm CT. Go on Facebook to TEJAS’s page to watch.
https://www.facebook.com/TejasBarrios/videos/
Date: Thursday, 11/17/2016
Location: Hartman Community Center, 9311 East Ave. P. Houston, TX 77012
Time: 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
Join HPCC public health advocates at an EPA hearing about toxic air pollution from petroleum refineries!
(En español, mira aquí: http://airalliancehouston.org/wp-content/uploads/Spanish-EPA-Hearing-Flier.pdf)
The Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public hearing on the reconsideration of the Refinery Sector Rule for which EPA did not provide adequate opportunity for notice and comment. This rulemaking is the result of a lawsuit filed by Air Alliance Houston, Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, Community In-Power and Development Association, and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, who are collectively represented by Earthjustice.
This is is our only chance to tell EPA we are concerned about pollution from oil refineries and its impact on our health. This is the only public hearing EPA will hold anywhere in the country, and public comment will be taken for six hours, from 2-8 pm. We’d like EPA to hear from us and our allies in refinery communities throughout the entire hearing, so please sign up to speak today.
Join us in telling EPA:
- Our health suffers from pollution from oil refineries.
- Our children are particularly at risk from the health effects of air pollution.
- Air pollution affects our lives where we live, work, and play.
Together we can demand a stronger rule to protect communities from air pollution. The refining industry must cut pollution by:
- Reducing emissions from flares and pressure relief devices.
- Eliminate pollution exemptions for malfunction and force majeure events.
- Require fenceline monitoring at all times.
Air Alliance Houston will have fact sheets and talking points available at the hearing.
If you would like to present oral testimony at the hearing, please complete this form or notify Ms. Virginia Hunt no later than November 15, 2016, by email: hunt.virginia@epa.gov (preferred); or by telephone: (919) 541-0832.
Space will also be available that day if time slots are not all filled, on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Basic background on key issues from EPA:
https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/petroleum-refinery-sector-reconsideration-october-2016
Sign the Earthjustice petition: http://earthjustice.org/news/press/2016/community-and-environmental-groups-sue-the-epa-and-call-on-the-agency-to-remove-free-pass-to-pollute-from
Carson, California was recently on the path to becoming home to a pet-coke power plant, situated conveniently next door to the BP Carson refinery. The project, though touted as the “cleanest and greenest of energy plants possible,” would really have been an environmental and possibly a public safety nightmare. Luckily the project was scrapped, largely due to the activities of the Wilmington Coalition for a Safe Environment and other grassroots organizers.
