PARK SERVICE ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR FIVE NEW WELLS ON PADRE ISLAND
by Sarah Morgan

Last week the National Park Service announced findings of an environmental assessment that would allow BNP Petroleum to drill five new natural gas wells on Padre Island National Seashore.

According to the Corpus Christi Caller Times, BNP currently operates one well with a 130-foot tower on 2.28 acres of national seashore land. The additional wells and towers will add another 1.24 acres to the drilling area, and up to 100 heavy trucks a week will be permitted to drive equipment along the beach to the well site during the drilling phase, according to a Sierra Club press release. The National Park Service said the proposed drilling plan will take at least eight months to complete.

The Sierra Club has expressed several environmental concerns regarding drilling on the seashore, including the increase in noise and air pollution from the trucks and potential harm to endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles, which nest in the area. Help Endangered Animals – Ridley Turtles, an organization heavily involved in the preservation of the turtles, has also voiced opposition to the drilling. The organization was influential in re-establishing a nesting population on the Texas coastline, where, the organization reports, millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent to save the species.

The Sierra Club also contends that the amount of gas available is too small to warrant the environmental impact of the drilling.

The US Geological Survey estimates that the seashore holds about 60 million to 80 million cubic feet of natural gas, an amount roughly equal to the amount of natural gas the United States consumes in one day.

Other estimates claim that there is more gas available, but, according to the Sierra Club press release, "even the most outrageous estimates of what lies beneath the national seashore will provide America with less than half a year of natural gas."

The club’s release also notes that the United States holds only 3 percent of the world’s petroleum reserves, but consumes 25 percent of the world’s petroleum, evidence, they say, that a more sustainable energy plan is needed.

The Sierra Club is proposing that the federal government buy the oil and gas rights under Padre Island National Seashore in order to "fully realize the original intent of the park." A federal buyout of the oil and gas rights would protect the park from future oil and gas development.

Arlene Wimer, environmental protection specialist at the seashore, told the Corpus Christi Caller Times that the additional wells would have no significant long-term impact on the environment. She said there has been no significant environmental impact from the drilling BNP has already done this year.

The public comment period is open until Dec 22. To comment, write to Padre Island National Seashore, Attn: Superintendent/O&G EA, PO Box 181300, Corpus Christi, Texas 78480, or, e-mail PAIS_public_comments@nps.gov.

TCEQ ENFORCEMENT REVIEW RECOMMENDS CUTTING FINES, SHIFTING RESOURCES
by Sarah Morgan

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s review of its enforcement program and practices is drawing to a close, and several changes have been proposed, according to the Texas Public Interest Research Group.

The commission has proposed a change in their polluter penalty policy, recommending that resources be shifted to identifying serious violations and enhancing deterrence. The staff has proposed devoting field resources each year to investigating an industry sector with high levels of unauthorized emissions.

However, according to TXPIRG’s Luke Metzger, the review fails to recommend any significant increase in resources devoted to enforcement. Metzger cited a state auditor’s report that reviews 80 enforcement cases from 2001 to 2003 in which polluters are estimated to have derived a total "economic benefit" from noncompliance of $8.6 million, but paid penalties of only $1.7 million.

Metzger attributes some of the enforcement problems to a current TCEQ policy that allows a polluter to avoid a penalty if the profit is less than $15,000. The enforcement review recommended that this policy be eliminated, but there is still a possibility that an alternative policy could be adopted that would allow a violator to escape a penalty where it was not clear that the violation was deliberate.

Another problem, according to Metzger, is that the penalties assessed only require that polluters forfeit profits made through violations, effectually returning the polluter to the same financial position it would be in had it not broken the law. From an environmental point of view, an ideal rule would require both forfeiture of profits and payment of a penalty.

Other concerns with the commission’s recommendations include the dollar amount of the fines assessed for violations, which could be lowered 60 to 70 percent. Further, the report recommends a 15 percent penalty reduction for small businesses and small local governments.

CLICK FOR A CAUSE: HELP CONTRIBUTE TO EARTH SHARE

Earth Share, a nationwide network of America’s nonprofit environmental and conservation organizations, works to promote environmental education and charitable giving through workplace giving campaigns. These campaigns support the works of participating organizations such as the Citizens' Environmental Coalition, Katy Prairie Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, Endangered Species Media Project, and many others. For the second year, Horizon Organic Dairy has chosen to support Earth Share by featuring the national logo on their web site and on milk cartons. In addition, for every click on the Earth Share panel on the Horizon web site between now and the first week of January, Horizon will contribute 60 cents to Earth Share, up to $11,000. You can click once every day. To click for Earth Share, visit http://www.horizonorganic.com.

TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND CELEBRATION

The Trust for Public Land, with Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Harris County Precinct Two, and Harris County Flood Control District, invites the public to celebrate the transfer of a scenic 10-acre waterfront parcel of land (known as Buffalo Bend Nature Park) to Harris County Precinct Two. The event will be held at 10 am, Wednesday, Dec 8. TPL's protection of Buffalo Bend will connect East End residents to open space, including an anchor park with a trail system linking other public spaces along the bayou. The parkland will also allow for wetland restoration, increased wildlife habitat, science education, water quality improvements, and natural flood control. US Representative Gene Green and Commissioner Sylvia Garcia will be speaking at the program. For directions or more information, call (713) 752-0314, ext 3.

URBAN HARVEST BACKYARD ORCHARD CLASS

Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, tangerines, kumquats, and many other types of citrus tree can easily be planted in the Houston area. Bob Randall, PhD, will teach participants what to grow, how to avoid mistakes, and other basic ideas about types of citrus, how to grow them, and where to get the best varieties. This class will also let participants taste at least three dozen varieties of citrus fruit. The class begins at 9:30 am, Saturday, Dec 4, at Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane. For more information or to register, call (713) 880-5540.

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