Mission

Protecting our environment for our quality of life and that of future generations.

Vision

Prevent harm to our environment and preserve our natural resources.

Values

  • Education/Awareness – We are comprised of and work with local organizations that keep the community updated on environmental issues.
  • Information Transparency – Our alliance seeks to find every thread of data and events available regarding industry buildout. By sharing details with as many people as possible, we can build people power and stay one step ahead.
  • Monitoring – Beyond monitoring industry activity, we are working to increase air quality monitoring around the region.
  • Mobilizing – We believe in the power of an organized community. The more people acting intentionally on these issues, the better.
  • Activism – Instead of just talking about environmental problems, we are constantly acting and looking for new ways to make a visible and positive difference.

    The Threat to the Coastal Bend of Texas

           The Coastal Bend of Texas is one of the premier places to live and recreate in Texas. This region has dozens of miles of beaches, pristine waters teeming with aquatic life, and areas designated by the EPA as essential fish habitats. Also home to more than 400 resident and migratory bird populations, including threatened and endangered species like the Whooping Crane, the Coastal Bend attracts new residents and visitors from all around the world.

    History of the Region

           In 1922, a deep water port was authorized in Corpus Christi Bay and the Port of Corpus Christi Authority was created. Industry was then attracted to the area and industrial expansion followed, primarily along the inner harbor of the ship channel. While the Port’s growth had beneficial economic impacts, decades of acquiescence in this expansion by local leaders had devastating effects on the north and westside neighborhoods of Corpus Christi.

           For a number of years, local organizations have been fighting for clean air and water in Corpus Christi and were successful in stopping the construction of a petroleum coke power plant, which would have been the worst air polluter to locate in the community. However, industrial expansion continued beyond the inner harbor, locating along the northern shores of Corpus Christi Bay in San Patricio County.

    Current Pollution Problems

           The area now faces an even greater challenge as the Coastal Bend has been targeted as fertile ground for an industrial build-out that will impact the entire region. The Port of Corpus Christi Authority, Regional Economic Development Corporations (EDCs), and industry are planning an expansion that includes petrochemical plants that will manufacture plastics and drain our water supply. Each of these facilities will require as much as 20 million gallons of water per day to operate. To satisfy industry’s thirst for this quantity of freshwater, seawater desalination facilities are being proposed on our closed bay system, creating brine plumes that will choke seagrasses and create dead zones for aquatic life.

           Annually, new industries will each emit thousands of tons of volatile organic compounds, small particulate matter, nitrous oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfuric acid mist, benzene and other toxic, cancer causing compounds, adversely affecting the health of residents, particularly the elderly and children.

           Each will release millions of tons of greenhouse gases every year, and discharge millions of gallons of contaminated industrial wastewater into our waterways. Exxon Mobil and Saudi Arabia Basic Industries have already begun the permitting process to build the world’s largest ethane cracker facility. It will produce polyethylene pellets and plastic microfibers to be exported around the world while first spilling into our wetlands, estuaries and bays. More are coming.

           The Port and Economic Development Corporations are driving this development at the same time they are encouraging, promoting, and investing in the expansion of pipelines and accommodating the largest crude oil bearing ships by dredging massive deep channels in the bay.

           This rapid, unfettered, and reckless activity will have an unprecedented impact on the delicate ecosystems in the Coastal Bend area of Texas. The state environmental agency ignores the combined effects of these industry efforts on the quality of the air we breathe, and the waters in our mudflats, wetlands, estuaries and bays. The manufacture and proliferation of plastic pellets will have detrimental effects on our birds and aquatic life. We must hold these polluters accountable and not let more into our community.