The Port Aransas community is standing up for the environment & our bay systems.
Author: PORT ARANSAS CONSERVANCY
The Port of Corpus Christi is already in the midst of work to deepen and widen the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, a massive $327 million undertaking being done in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The project would deepen the current channel from the inner basin to Ingleside to 54 feet and possibly 75 feet. Harbor Island would become a staging area for two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), each of which is 100 feet longer than the carrier Lexington. Plus Harbor Island would host a 20 million barrel tank farm directly in the path of hurricane storm surges. What could possibly go wrong?
What's Wrong With This Picture?
The Port of Corpus Christi (POCC) has grand plans for 250 acres of land on Harbor Island. POCC CEO Sean Strawbridge said the port is looking at the possibility of developing a facility directly across from Roberts Point Park capable of fully loading two very large crude carriers (VLCC) simultaneously, each of which are 100' longer than the carrier Lexington. The impact on Port Aransas' tourism and fishing industries--not to mention property values and quality of life--would be dramatic. These issues are not top of mind for POCC but they certainly are for us.
Reasons To Oppose Harbor Island Tanker Terminal :
- Impacts of dredged material placement
- Locating large oil storage tanks in a storm surge prone area
- Increased erosion damages caused by larger tanker wakes
- Interruption of ferry service by the proximity of a tanker turning basin
- Greater risk of a large spill / toxic pollution
- Increased storm surge levels and intensity from a deeper channel
- Seagrass damages caused by sediment suspension/light attenuation
- Negative impacts upon the tourism economic sector
- Spill risks from pipelines in bay waters
- Increased chronic health issues related to oil and gas industry facilities
- Issues related to the creation of a security zone near the ferry landing/exclusion of recreational boating
- Negative impacts upon Port Aransas property values
- Negative impacts upon the migration of larval fish and crustaceans
Read more about the project here
View the PORT ARANSAS CONSERVANCY WEBSITE
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