March 25, 2020: Over the past week, Sierra Club filed 2 sets of legal comments on the first massive crude oil export facility proposed in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Freeport, Texas. If built, the SPOT Deepwater Port project would be the first of its kind and size. Located 40 miles offshore, SPOT would have the capacity to load 2 million barrels of crude oil per day onto Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) for export to the global market. For perspective, a VLCC is a tanker the size of the Empire State building. The project, largely sourced by crude from the Permian Basin, also involves construction and operation of nearly 140 miles of onshore and offshore pipelines through wetland, beach, and marine habitat. Our comments highlighted how irresponsible this project is, locking in decades of fossil fuel production and combustion, as well as shoddy and scarce analysis provided by the agencies on climate change impacts, oil spill risks, and impacts to species, habitat, and frontline communities.
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While we filed comments on the draft EIS and 404 permit, an incredible organizing team garnered support from local groups and residents who were unaware of the project just three weeks ago. Their efforts led to nearly 20,000 public comments on the project. After discovering the agencies and SPOT failed to provide notice to adjacent landowners, we also successfully advocated for an extension to the draft EIS public comment period, which will provide the public an additional 30 days to submit comments.