Truthout originally published this story on July 11, 2024. It has been republished here with their permission.
The Gulf Coast has already witnessed the aftermath of a severe storm this hurricane season. Hurricane Beryl struck Texas as a Category 1 storm on Tuesday, causing power outages in several refineries and petrochemical plants. As a result, these plants had to resort to flaring to burn off excess gases, which can emit hazardous pollutants such as benzene and other cancer-causing agents into the atmosphere.
In 2022, Freeport LNG, an LNG export terminal located in Southeast Texas, experienced a significant explosion. Recently, the terminal reported to state regulators that they were experiencing flaring due to power outages caused by Beryl. Similarly, the Formosa Plastics Corporation also reported flaring during the same time. This corporation is infamous for its involvement in a $50 million settlement in 2019 after it discharged millions of plastic pellets into Texas waterways. Marathon Petroleum also reported flaring at its refinery in Texas City but did not disclose the volume or duration of the flaring.
In the heavily industrialized region, toxic flaring at fossil fuel plants is a common occurrence even during clear weather. However, the situation worsens during power outages and floods caused by increasingly severe storms, resulting in the release of dangerously high levels of pollution into residential areas and wetlands.
Analyzing reports submitted to state regulators on flaring incidents in Texas, Shaq Cossé, a program manager at the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, an environmental justice group, found noteworthy information.
According to Cossé, the recent flaring events in Texas should be a cautionary tale for federal regulators who are contemplating the expansion of LNG export terminals in Louisiana. In Cameron Parish, an already established terminal is causing disruptions to local fisheries and sparking protests among residents. Furthermore, Venture Global, the same company that owns the Cameron Parish terminal, is constructing a separate terminal in Plaquemines Parish, which is a low-lying coastal area that is frequently affected by storms and hurricanes.
Cossé stated in a press release that although there are massive flood walls, there is still a risk of facilities being cut off by the surrounding open water. The federal and state agencies did not take into account the potential effects of future sea level rise, land subsidence, and the more intense and frequent hurricanes caused by climate change when allowing these facilities to be built.
This week, medical experts added their voices to the call for the Biden administration to turn down proposals for additional fossil fuel infrastructure in the hurricane-prone areas. A coalition of 23 climate groups, comprising 67,000 healthcare workers including doctors, nurses, and other professionals, penned an open letter to President Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Tuesday. The letter urged the Energy Department to prioritize public health in their assessment of proposals to construct more LNG export terminals.
Mark Vossler, the president-elect of Physicians for Social Responsibility, emphasized in a press call that the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is inflicting harm on humans. He stated that it is necessary to reduce its usage and requested the Department of Energy to take into account the impacts on human health throughout the entire product life cycle while evaluating new facilities. Vossler’s stance suggests that the negative impact of LNG on human health cannot be ignored, and action needs to be taken to minimize its use.
The fracking fields in the US produce an abundant supply of gas, which is transported to export terminals like Freeport LNG located along the coast of Texas and Louisiana. The gas is then converted into liquid form at extremely low temperatures before being shipped overseas on massive barges. Despite the Gulf Coast being hit by severe storms in recent years, the industry is determined to construct additional LNG terminals to cater to the increasing global demand for natural gas, particularly in Asia.
Venture Global has obtained a crucial permit for CP2, an LNG terminal that has been the subject of controversy. The terminal will be built adjacent to the company’s existing terminal in Cameron Parish, which has already been cited for more than 100 air permit violations in just two years of operation. Meanwhile, in Plaquemines Parish, Venture Global is constructing a 26-foot sea wall to protect the LNG terminal currently being built from strong storm surges.
Cossé stated that Hurricane Ida, which struck in 2021, brought severe flooding to the Plaquemines LNG plant and its surrounding areas. The hurricane also caused major disruptions to the country’s oil refining and gas production, affecting over 94% of those industries. Additionally, the Phillips 66 refinery in Plaquemines Parish suffered irreversible damage.
Venture Global is currently waiting for the Energy Department to grant permission for international gas exports before commencing work on CP2. The Biden administration had announced a temporary halt on gas export permits earlier this year while regulators review the process of determining the public interest in new exports. Despite a federal judge in Louisiana staying the “pause” on export approvals, environmentalists suggest that the Biden administration has ample time to update its public interest criteria and make a final decision regarding the future of any new terminals on the Gulf Coast.
The medical experts have written a letter to Biden and Granholm, stating that regulators must evaluate the public interest of fossil gas by considering its entire life cycle. They emphasized that fossil gas releases methane, which contributes to climate change, throughout its journey.
According to a letter, methane gas that is extracted domestically and transformed into LNG for export is harmful to public health throughout its entire life cycle. This includes the stages of drilling, fracking, processing, transportation, refining, liquefaction, combustion, and other end-uses like the production of plastics and petrochemicals. The letter further states that such negative impacts are unfairly borne by lower-income individuals and communities of color.
Environmental justice activist and founder of Vessel Project of Louisiana, Roishetta Ozane, has firsthand knowledge of the devastating effects of fossil fuel pollution on communities. Ozane resides in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on the border with Texas, where she and her children have to endure the foul smell of chlorine or rotten eggs due to the presence of numerous petrochemical facilities. Just last week, an explosion at one of the facilities compelled residents to take shelter days before Beryl hit the region and caused widespread flooding.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Ozane expressed that marginalized communities such as Black communities, low-income communities, and Indigenous communities have been considered as sacrifices for the benefit of oil and gas companies and their profits for a significant amount of time. She emphasized that this needs to come to an end.
According to Ozane, relying solely on state regulators to protect communities from industrial pollution is not a viable option, especially during times when the Gulf Coast is not under threat from a storm. Ozane cited examples such as the CO2 pipeline explosion in Satartia, Mississippi, which took place last year and resulted in the release of poisonous gas that affected the town’s residents. Ozane also mentioned the 2022 Freeport LNG explosion as another incident that highlights the risks associated with industrial operations.
According to Ozane, the incidents that make it to the news are just a fraction of what actually occurs. He stated, “A lot of times, the things that happened don’t make the national news.”
Ozane suggested that instead of allowing the construction of new pipelines and export terminals, the government should mandate the oil and gas industry to focus on repairing and improving its current infrastructure.
Ozane emphasized the urgency of the Biden administration’s action on the public interest determination for LNG exports. As a concerned mother in her community, she is advocating for the protection of her children’s future. She believes that there is no need for further explanation, and the administration should act promptly on the matter.