Update from John and Barbara of Save RGV from LNG on Valley Crossing Pipeline

From the editor:  John and Barbara of Save RGV from LNG have sent us an update delineating the progress of Valley Crossing Pipeline to construct a 168 42" pipeline from the Agua Dulce Hub to the Port of Brownsville.  Valley Crossing Pipeline is represented by Eddie Lucio III.

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Valley Crossing Pipeline Update: Construction has started, eminent domain Petitions For Condemnation have been served.

We're being treated like mangy stray dogs, like road kill, like bugs splatted on the windshields of the company's 18 wheelers running over everything and everyone in its path.

The Valley Crossing Pipeline is being built from the Aqua Dulce Hub southwest of Corpus, northwest of Kingsville, down to our local Port of Brownsville.  Then it's to go under our ship channel, under South Bay, over Brazos Island, then under the Gulf of Mexico to the US-Mexico border about 30 miles off our coast.  There it's supposed to connect with the Sur de Texas-Tuxpan Pipeline being built to connect the Aqua Dulce Hub with Veracruz, Mexico.

Valley Crossing is a 168 mile natural gas pipeline.  The pipeline being laid from the Aqua Dulce Hub to our Port is 48 inches in diameter.  The part from our Port to the Sur de Texas-Tuxpan Pipeline is to be 42 inches in diameter.

Last I heard, the pipeline was approaching Sarita, TX.

Valley Crossing has already filed eminent domain Petitions For Condemnation against some Cameron County landowners.  One landowner was offered $2,000 by Valley Crossing but the judge awarded him $60,000.  Valley Crossing may appeal the judge's decision.  We'll have to wait and see.  Valley Crossing has also cited at least two landowners by publication (a 03-17-2017 Public Notice in the Classifieds section of the Brownsville Herald, see https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/brownsvilleherald.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/classifieds/a/a8/aa80e42a-0ef8-5961-be9d-7638185defcd/5940c2ffe97e6.pdf.pdf).  I've also heard that Valley Crossing has already marked a route along Hwy 48.

Bottom line: If you own land along the pipeline route, you may want to get a lawyer.  If you think you might own land on the pipeline route, or know someone who might, I can send you a detailed map of the route.

What's the big deal?  Most if this pipeline is 48-inches in diameter.  The 30 miles or so of it that's suppose to be 42-inches will run under the South Bay and Gulf of Mexico waters.  We haven't been told how much pressure the pipelines will be under, so we have no idea how large the Blast Zone along the pipeline will be.

The "Blast Zone" (also called "Incineration Zone" and "Burn Zone") is the area that will be burnt to a crisp within seconds if there is leak and resulting explosion (leaks result in explosions because of the heat from the high pressure ignites the escaping gas).

We also want to know the High Consequence Areas (HCA) along the pipeline.  These are areas that will require additional protection for people with limited mobility such as day care centers, old age homes, and prisons.

We also want to know the location and extent of the Evacuation Zones.  These are areas an unprotected human would need to leave in order to avoid burn injuries if there is a pipeline explosion, fire, or leak.

Representative Eddie Lucio III,
Attorney for Valley Crossing Pipeline

We also want to know the Worst Case Scenarios.  If everything goes wrong, what's the maximum danger and damage that's possible.  For sure we want our first responders to know what's possible, to have the equipment needed, and to have the training the need to get to and deal with Worst Case Scenarios.

So far, I haven't been able to find a chart on the Blast Zone for any pipeline with a diameter larger than 42-inches.

So far the only real information we've gotten about this mostly 48-inch pipeline is about the 1,000 feet Valley Crossing calls the "Border Crossing Project" -- where it's to connect with the Sur de Texas-Tuxpan pipeline.

So far, there have be no public hearings on this pipeline.  Valley Crossing wants the Environmental Assessment to be limited to just its 1,000 foot Border Crossing Project segment.