Spotlight on San Antonio

DATA Highlights Relating to
CPS and San Antonio Air Quality

TCEQ’s 2000 Emission Inventory Database shows:

• CPS’ Deely/Sommers/Spruce complex emits more criteria air pollutants than all other Bexar-Guadalupe-Comal-Wilson county point sources combined, with:
  *62% of the 64,406 tons for the San Antonio region in 2000 – CPS 40,232 tons
  *48 other point sources emitted 24,174 tons

• 90% of the SO2 for the region – 23,255 tons of the 25,828 tons of SO2 for the region There are potential public health effects from five-minute sulfur dioxide spikes at ground level from large SO2 emissions.

• 52% (13,912 tons) of the 26,767 tons of NOx in the San Antonio region- much of it from Deely.

• 49% (1160 tons) of the 2,378 tons of PM10 in the San Antonio region- much of it from Deely.

  Deely/Sommers/Spruce complex ranked #1 among 49 industrial plants in 2000 in the four county San Antonio region for

  • *nitrogen oxides (NOx)
  • *sulfur dioxide (SO2)
  • *PM 10 – particulate matter
  • *VOC’s – Volatile organic compounds
  • *Carbon monoxide – CO

Show Deely power plant as emitting:

• Sulfuric acid – 202,865 pounds
• Hydrofluoric acid – 162,600 pounds
• Hydrochloric acid – 123,030 pounds
• Barium compounds – 14,525 pounds (100% of Bexar County Barium on TRI)
• inc compounds - 1,815 pounds (100% of Bexar County Zinc on TRI)
• Mercury compounds – 646 pounds - mercury contributes to fish contamination
• Copper compounds – 585 pounds
• Chromium compounds – 580 pounds
• Nickel compounds - 385 pounds
• Lead compounds - 365 pounds
• Cobalt compounds - 170 pounds

Several of the TRI chemicals are also Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPx) under Title III of the Federal Clean Air Act. HAPs are the most toxic pollutants, which include known and suspected human cancer-causing agents, substances that may cause genetic changes to DNA, contribute to birth defects, disrupt the immune system, and promote reproductive problems. HAPs include: *HF acid *HCl acid *Manganese, mercury, chromium, nickel, lead and cobalt compounds *dioxin

Some progress has been made in lower 1-hr ozone levels –likely involves reduced mobile source emissions with newer vehicles on the road today. Many factors vary – weather, number of monitors and their location, operational factors at local plants, highway expansions, traffic flow, etc.

CPS claims NOx reductions – have had Regional Ozone SIP requirements – not voluntary.

Downplaying SA 8-hr standard (84ppb standard) and one-hour ozone exceedances. (120ppb standard)
In 2003, through June 22 – 9 days with 19 exceedances of the 8 hour standard
2002- 17 days with 40 exceedances, two days of one hour ozone exceedances.
1997 –June 2003 total bad air days for 8-hr ozone – 52 days, 98 exceedances.

Data compiled by Neil Carman, PhD., Lone Star Sierra Club
Provided as a courtesy of the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED) Coalition, 611 S. Congress, #200, Austin, Tx. 78704 512-479-7744 karen at SEEDCoalition.org

© All Rights Reserved SEED Coalition