Petrochemical

In an OP-ED in the New York Times, the director of the Rockefeller Family Fund states that EXXON systematically lied to the public and to its stockholders about the risks of climate change and EXXON's major contributions to the catastrophic damage climate change will inflict on humanity and on biodiversity.

To read the complete article, see:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/21/opinion/exxon-climate-change.html

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Banks Worth $47 Trillion Adopt New U.N.-Backed Climate Principles

Mon, 2019-09-23 17:56 — Kathy Gilbeaux

Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest near Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil, September 17, 2019. REUTERS/Bruno Kelly

CLICK HERE - UN - Principles for Responsible Banking

reuters.com - by Matthew Green - September 22, 2019

Banks with more than $47 trillion in assets, or a third of the global industry, adopted new U.N.-backed “responsible banking” principles to fight climate change on Sunday that would shift their loan books away from fossil fuels.

Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE), Citigroup (C.N) and Barclays (BARC.L) were among 130 banks to join the new framework on the eve of a United Nations summit in New York aimed at pushing companies and governments to act quickly to avert catastrophic global warming.

“These principles mean banks have to consider the impact of their loans on society – not just on their portfolio,” Simone Dettling, banking team lead for the Geneva-based United Nations Environment Finance Initiative, told Reuters.

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Fracking Causing Rise in Methane Emissions, Study Finds

Fri, 2019-08-16 09:37 — Kathy Gilbeaux

The boom in fracking for shale gas has dramatically increased global methane emissions. Photograph: Andrew Burton/Getty Images

CLICK HERE - STUDY - Ideas and perspectives: is shale gas a major driver of recent increase in global atmospheric methane?

Researchers say boom in shale oil and gas major contributor to climate emergency

theguardian.com - by Jillian Ambrose - August 14, 2019

The boom in the US shale gas and oil may have ignited a significant global spike in methane emissions blamed for accelerating the pace of the climate crisis, according to research . . .

. . . Researchers had previously assumed the “non-traditional” methane was from biological sources such as cows and wetlands, but the latest research suggests unconventional oil and gas from fracking may be playing a significant part.

The theory would support a correlation in the rise of methane in the atmosphere and the boom in fracking across the US over the last decade . . .

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Motiva Confirms Release of 'Petroleum Coke Dust' from Port Arthur Refinery, Sets Up Claims Line

Mon, 2019-07-01 21:28 — Kathy Gilbeaux

Photo by: Felicia Alexander-Branch

Port Arthur residents can call 1-800-451-7746 if they were affected by Friday's dust release.

12newsnow.com - by Raegan Gibson - July 1, 2019

PORT ARTHUR, Texas — Motiva confirmed to 12News a 'petroleum coke dust' release happened on Friday.

The written statement said the Port Arthur refinery had 'an event' that resulted in the release of the dust.

A claims line has been set up as a 'cautionary measure' for anyone who was affected by the release.

(CLICK HERE - READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

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Environmental Groups Hold Joint Press Conference and Explain Why They're Suing Valero

Wed, 2019-05-15 22:00 — Kathy Gilbeaux

kfdm.com - by Quentin Hope - May 22, 2019

PORT ARTHUR — Three groups have announce an intent to sue Valero, which is one of the largest refinery companies in the world.

The Port Arthur Community Action Network, Environment Texas and the Sierra Club all claim that Valero is in violation of the Clean Air Act.

According to Valero's own reports, the company has more than 600 violations over the past five years.

View the video news report within the link below . . .

https://kfdm.com/news/local/environmental-groups-hold-joint-press-conference-and-explain-why-theyre-suing-valero

Also see related articles within the links below . . .

CLICK HERE - Group threatens to sue Valero

CLICK HERE - Texas environmentalists plan lawsuit against Valero for pollution

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Emissions Concerns Arise Over Port Arthur Plant

Wed, 2019-04-10 21:07 — Kathy Gilbeaux

Oxbow Calcining, LLC, plant in Port Arthur operates recently. Photo taken Friday, February1, 2019 Photo by Kim Brent/The Enterprise

beaumontenterprise.com - by Kaitlin Bain - April 8, 2019

. . . Oxbow's Port Arthur calcining plant, on a 112-acre waterfront site near the Sabine Neches Ship Channel, uses petroleum coke, a byproduct from the oil refining process, to create calcined coke, which is then sold to make aluminum, titanium dioxide and other industrial products.

Sulfur dioxide and heat are two byproducts of this process.

Oxbow released more than 11,000 tons of sulfur dioxide into the air in 2016, according to calculations by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, making it one of the top 10 emitters of the invisible chemical in the state.

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Residents Near Fire Raging at Texas Chemical Plant Raise Health Concerns

Wed, 2019-03-20 06:36 — Kathy Gilbeaux

Fire in Texas raging at chemical plant, nearby residents concerned for health - CBS News

cbsnews.com - by Janet Shamlian - March 19, 2019

A chemical plant near Houston has been burning since Sunday morning . . .

. . . The plant owner, Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC), said while the fire looks ominous, no one is in danger. ITC spokesman David Wascome said they continue to monitor air quality . . .

. . . Jorge Guerra, who lives three miles away, doesn't believe it.

(CLICK HERE - READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

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‘Unacceptable’: Lawmakers Question Decision Not To Monitor Harvey Pollution With NASA Jet

Fri, 2019-03-08 22:10 — Kathy Gilbeaux

After Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast in August 2017, the storm stalled over Houston and dumped as much as 60 inches of rain on some parts of the region. Katie Hayes Luke for NPR

Lawmakers called the decision “deeply troubling.”

houstonpublicmedia.org - by Davis Land - March 7, 2019

Lawmakers on the U.S. House science committee have questions for federal and Texas officials about a decision not to fly a NASA jet that would have provided more comprehensive data on air pollution after Hurricane Harvey.

Committee members Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) have requested documents relating to the decision from the Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and NASA.

The request comes after an L.A. Times article revealed NASA officials offered up a high-tech air-sampling jet to help with pollution monitoring after Hurricane Harvey. The EPA and TCEQ reportedly pushed back on the offer, saying data from the state-of-the-art airplane would not be helpful. Their response informed NASA officials’ decision not to fly.

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