Local Environmental Activist Calling Out TCEQ with 'Smoking Gun'

Posted: Feb 18, 2011 9:16 PM by Steven Romo, KRIS TV,  kristv.com

CORPUS CHRISTI – A local environmental activist is coming forward with what she calls another smoking gun against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Suzie Canales of the Citizens for Environmental Justice, held a press conference to showcase some video of the old Encycle Facility on Up River Road.

The plant is closed and is set to be demolished. Canales says, this video shows that there are harmful chemicals still around the facility, and her group is afraid demolishing the site will cause those chemicals to spread.

She says, the video comes from an anonymous source who is able to tour the site. The video shows a field of industrial parts scattered around. Canales says, it also shows acid vats, which seem to still hold a corrosive chemical.

The TCEQ says the facility is prepared for Hurricane Damage but Canales says, the video shows otherwise.

Now, Canales is trying to meet with officials who own Encycle to get information on the status of the plant.

“Now, we have the documentation that shows that they’re not telling the truth. And, I think shame on the TCEQ our biggest problems through the years has not been the industry. Because they do what they do. They’re out to make billions of dollars; we understand that. Our biggest obstacle has been the government,” she said.

We were not able to reach anyone with the TCEQ for comment on this story. Canales says, she has been in contact with that agency and the EPA.

http://www.kristv.com/news/local-environmental-activist-calling-out-tceq-with-smoking-gun-/