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TCEQ to hold public meeting for Gulf Coast Growth Venture’s air permit

Posted at 9:18 PM, May 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-23 09:59:09-04

It’s your chance to hear more or voice your concerns about Gulf Coast Growth Ventures, the Exxon/Sabic plastics plant. 

The Texas Commission has scheduled the public meeting on Environmental Quality and will discuss GCGV air permit facility operations and a rail yard on the property where GCGV will be located.

Jared Young, Public and Government Affairs Manager with GCGV, explains how the rail yard will be used, to ship the polyethylene pellets. It’s that process of shipping out those plastic pellets that has the grassroots group, Portland Citizens United, worried. 

Errol Summerlin with PCU said, "There is not enough assurance that these pellets are not going to be released and dispersed into the streams, mudflats, and estuaries of the bays."

But Young assures PCU and the community their plant will be safe. "We will operate this facility in a way that protects both human and environmental health and safety. We wouldn’t build it otherwise if we didn’t think we could do it."

Tuesday’s meeting will pave the way for GCGV to begin construction, which the plant hopes to begin next year. Meanwhile Portland Citizens United will take the opportunity to address TCEQ about their environmental concerns… 

Summerlin said, "There’s going to be a formal comment period, and it’s that formal comment period that is the most important part of the meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) because every comment you make must be responded to by the TCEQ in writing."

The meeting will be held in Portland, Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at Gregory-Portland High School, located at 4601 Wildcat Drive, Portland, TX 78374. It’s free and open to the public.