CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — KRIS 6 recently reported on the new crude oil storage tanks being built off of Callicoate Road in the Calallen/Annaville area. EPIC Midstream owns the 500 acres these tanks are built on, part of the crude oil pipeline being built from the New Mexico/Texas border to Corpus Christi.
In just a few months, these crude tanks have popped up right across the street from a neighborhood. and many residents are not happy about it.
EPIC, Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales and Nueces County Commissioner Carolyn Vaughn attended a town-hall meeting to address issues the community was having as a result of the construction, such as dust, excess trash and safety on the main road.
EPIC immediately made some changes that following week. There are now patrol officers working Monday through Friday beginning at 6 a.m. EPIC says they have added extra water tanks to decrease the amount of dust, and they have cut back on the late-night construction, as well as constantly checking for trash.
But one homeowner, Gabe, said the issues are much bigger than that. Gabe’s family has lived in the area for decades, and says his biggest concerns are health and property value. He says it just takes one human error for something to go wrong with the tanks. He also feels that a buyout is plausible, given the fact that no one was aware the tanks would be built and now worried it has lowered many homes' market values.
EPIC Pipeline Communications Director Bruce Kates said there may have been a disconnect with the proposed construction of the tanks. He says EPIC will not push anyone out.
“A lot of them will want to stay there and some of them are contemplating leaving," Kates said. "And if, and when, the time comes, we'll be ready to sit down with them and talk about what we can do to help them out.”
As for Gabe, he agrees with other residents in the area who are eager for the next town-hall meeting. That meeting is set for Sept. 19.
EPIC also has a hotline for concerned residents, you can call:361-371-8600
