Stop Tallgrass Oil Export Terminal

Tallgrass Energy LP wants to build a massive oil terminal and tank farm within miles of the Plaquemines Parish communities of Ironton, Phoenix and Myrtle Grove. The Tallgrass project would emit toxic chemicals, including cancer-causing benzene, into the air that residents breathe, and undermine one of the state's most ambitious coastal restoration projects, the Mid Barataria Sediment Diversion. Shockingly, the Tallgrass Oil terminal is also slated to be built at the site of the former St Rosalie plantation, on top of historic Black cemeteries.

Plaquemines Parish residents, like all Louisianans, deserve clean air free of harmful chemicals. Our coastal communities must be protected from dangerous industrial developments. Take action today! Tell the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to deny Tallgrass' air permit.

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RE: AI No.: 217532 Permit Nos.: 2240-00454-V0, PSD-LA-835 Activity Nos.: PER20190001, PER2019002

Dear Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality,

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I am writing in opposition to Tallgrass Energy LP’s proposed Plaquemines Liquids Terminal. As proposed, Tallgrass’ current air permit application is incomplete, vastly underestimating its potential for toxic air emissions. When accounting for emissions units estimates including rail unloading sources, LPG tanks and fugitive emissions, Tallgrass’ oil terminal has the potential to release 164,000 pounds of toxic chemicals annually, including the carcinogen benzene. This would further pollute the already compromised air that residents of Ironton, Phoenix and Myrtle Grove breathe.

The Tallgrass oil terminal also fails to align with Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan, and if built would undermine the Mid Barataria Sediment Diversion, one of the state’s most ambitious land-building and coastal restoration projects. In 2012 the Water Institute for the Gulf produced a report showing that a proposed coal terminal’s docking structure and ships, similar to those proposed by Tallgrass, could reduce sediment flow into the Diversion’s intake by up to 17 percent. Tallgrass committed to producing a sediment modeling report concerning its impacts to the Diversion project, and has failed to do so.

Finally, the proposed terminal would be constructed on the former St Rosalie plantation, and Tallgrass’ current air permit application would require the excavation of the western site of St Rosalie where historic cemeteries are located. Buried in these cemeteries are the likely ancestors of the historic Black towns of Ironton, Phoenix, and other Plaquemines Parish communities, whose residents would not only face the desecration of their ancestors’ gravesites but also toxic pollution if this terminal is constructed.

There is no justification for the construction of this oil terminal. It would pollute the already overburdened air that residents of Ironton, Myrtle Grove and Phoenix breathe, it would undermine coastal restoration efforts, and potentially destroy historic burial grounds. LDEQ must take all of these factors into consideration and deny Tallgrass’ air permit application.

Sincerely, [Your information here]