16 Feb How Dirty & Dangerous is Austin’s Coal Plant?

I had the pleasure of attending a meeting last night — led by a new crop of Austin enviro activists, who want this fair city to lead the world out of coal dependence. (Look for more from them in March.) Below are facts and data compiled by the National Research Council, The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, The Texas Dept of State Health Services, and Dr. Neil Carman. To learn more, follow Austin Has a Dirty Secret on Fb.

Facts Regarding Austin’s Coal Plant: 

Public Health Impacts

·       Expense – According to the National Research Council’s 2009 report, “The Hidden Costs of Energy” — Austin’s coal plant caused $200-$300M in health injury costs during the year 2005.

·       Lung Damage – Austin’s coal plant is a leading source of Ozone pollution

·       Birth Defects – Austin’s coal plant is a leading source of Mercury pollution

·       Really Bad Regional Air Quality – The Fayette Power Plant has consistently ranked among the largest sources of air pollution in Texas among more than 2,000 industrial plants surveyed by the TCEQ. For the five year period 2003-2007, Fayette PP ranked #8 in criteria air emissions averaging 87,941,704 lbs a year. While new pollution control equipment ($445M) has significantly reduced the plant’s SOx impacts, they are likely having little effect removing NOx, Mercury, PM10/PM2.5, etc., emissions.

·       Heavy Toxins – Hydrochloric Acid, Hydrofluoric Acid, Sulfuric Acid, Vinyl Benzene (suspected human carcinogen), Chromium (mainly hexavalent chromium, the most carcinogenic form), Lead, Dioxin and Dioxin-like compounds. (see detail below for more info)

·       Statewide, Coal Emissions Harming Our Food Chain – According to the Texas Dept of State Health Services 2009 report, “Guide to Eating Texas Fish & Crabs” — Texans are advised against eating most local fish (both saltwater & fresh water varieties) due to industrial emissions and effluents. Additionally — the entire Texas coast line is under advisory for fish and shellfish consumption. 7 Texas counties have banned fish and shellfish consumption entirely, 24 have advisories.

Detail of Air Pollutant Data — Fayette Coal Plant (2007)
Data compiled from TCEQ records by Neil Carman, Ph.D, Clean Air Program Director for Texas Sierra Club.

• Fayette PP reported emitting 496,337 lbs of toxic air contaminants in 2007:
• Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) – 220,000 lbs
  
• Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) – 170,000 lbs
  
• Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4) – 78,000 lbs
  
• Barium Compounds – 12,210 lbs
  
• Styrene – 11,000 lbs (styrene is vinyl benzene, a suspected human carcinogen)
  
• Zinc Compounds – 1,504 lbs
  
• Manganese Compounds – 837 lbs
  
• Nickel Compounds – 573 lbs
  
• Vanadium Compounds – 527 lbs
  
• Copper Compounds – 517 lbs
  
• Chromium Compounds – 412 lbs (mainly hexavalent chromium, the most carcinogenic form)
  
• Mercury Compounds – 308 lbs (ranks #12 of 17 Texas coal plants & 2.7% of coal plant Hg)
  
• Lead Compounds – 274 lbs (TRI lead # is different than lead # reported to TCEQ – 360 lbs)
  
• Cobalt Compounds – 172 lbs
  
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons – 3 lbs
  
• Dioxin and Dioxin Like compounds – 0.6452 lbs (292.6 grams)

TOTAL FAYETTE COAL PLANT CRITERIA & TOXIC AIR POLLUTION 2007 = 88,773,103 lbs
This total equates to 91 lbs per Austinite

Summary of associated health hazards related to nine toxic heavy metals emitted by Fayette (2007):
Data compiled from TCEQ records by Neil Carman, Ph.D, Clean Air Program Director for Texas Sierra Club.

• Recognized Human Carcinogens – Chromium VI, Cobalt, Lead, Nickel;
  
• Recognized / Suspected Developmental Toxins (Birth Defects) – Barium, Cobalt, Lead, Mercury, Nickel;
  
• Recognized or Suspected Reproductive Toxins – Barium, Chromium VI, Cobalt, Lead, Manganese, Mercury, Nickel;
  
• Recognized or Suspected Neurological Toxins – Barium, Cobalt, Lead, Manganese, Mercury, Nickel;
  
• Recognized or Suspected Endocrine System Toxins – Lead, Mercury;
  
• Recognized or Suspected Respiratory Toxins – Chromium VI, Cobalt, Lead, Manganese, Mercury, Nickel, Vanadium;
  
• Recognized or Suspected Cardiovascular or Blood Toxins – Cobalt, Lead, Mercury, Nickel;
  
• Recognized / Suspected Immunological Toxins – Chromium VI, Cobalt, Lead, Mercury, Nickel, Vanadium;
  
• Recognized or Suspected Kidney Toxins – Chromium VI, Cobalt, Lead, Mercury, Nickel, Vanadium;
  
• Recognized or Suspected Gastrointestinal or Liver Toxins – Chromium VI, Cobalt, Lead, Manganese, Mercury
  

TOTAL TOXIC HEAVY METALS EMITTED AT FAYETTE COAL PLANT 2007 calculated in grams:
17,334 pounds x 453.6 grams/pound = 7,862,702 grams or 7.8 million grams

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