JOA~The MalakO_t~ News,Thursday, May ~;!981"
• • •
By BOB GUILIANO
CROSS ROADS -- The "pow-
erlessness" of the people was felt here
Tuesday night at a public hearing on
the perm/t application for construction
of a sour gas plant locally.
Over 100 persons attended the
hearing at Cross Roads School to hear
officials from the Texas Air Control
Board and Delhi Gas Pipeline Cor-
poration explain the proposed facility
and its impact on the area.
The air beard has the authority to
approve Delhi Corporation's ap-
plication to construct a $14 million
amine sweeterdng and sulfur plant
seven miles southwest of Athens.
What the persons in attendance
learned was what they had an-
ticipated -- the sour gas plant will go
in regardless of what they feel.
Residents and landowners expressed
fear of a potential disaster with
hydrogen sulfide gas; alarm about
monitoring, warning and evacuation
procedures; annoyance about a
potential rotten egg odor; and concern
about effects on the population and
property values.
Indications from the air beard of-
ficials were that air quality standards
would easily be met by the plant which
will have the Best Available Control
Technology (BACT) and Lowest
Achievable Emission Rate (LAER).
So, regardless of people's fears and
concerns, as long as the plant meets
technical criteria, its construction will
be approved.
"We sympathize with your not
wanting the plant here," Jim Brad-
dock, air beard attorney in the Austin
office,/nformed at the
"But our decision is based on technical
data. We consider people our main
function.
"As long as it can be demonstrated
that emissions from the facility won't
cause a problem, they (Delhi) are
entitled to a permit whether the
population is 10 or 10,000 people in the
area. Our only concern is the effects on
air quality, and that they (Delhi) have
sufficient land and controls so it won't
cause a problem with air pollution."
Air beard and Delhi officials beth
stressed that all necessary precautions
will be taken to avoid an accident. Even
if the entire system broke down, the
maximum concentration of sulfur
dioxide released would be no more than
100 parts per million (ppm) over a 7,400
feet Radius of Exposure (ROE) from
the plant site, according to Jack Boley,
manager of Delhi's safety and en-
vironmental department.
Boley added that the inner ROE
would be limited to 500 ppm over 3,500
feet.
(According to a Railroad Com-
mission hydrogen sulfide report, 100
ppm "kills smell in 3 to 15 minutes, may
sting eyes and throat;" 500 ppm causes
"dizziness; breathing ceases in a few
minutes; need prompt artificial
respiration.")
Delhi will obtain a list of names and
phone numbers of residents in that 7,400
feet radius, said Ron Willlamson,
assistant general counsel for Delhi.
"We'll inventory and visit residents
in the 100 ppm radius of exposure area
prior to placing the plant on line,"
Williamson added. "We'll also give
them numbers of Delhi era-
~loyees to contact. Our operators will
e eq.uipped with air packs and will
come m with vehicles to get residents
out of contaminated areas."
Williamson also said that Delhi in-
tends to install hydrogen sulfide
monitoring devices.
Stuart Keil, air beard permit
engineer, Austin office, said that "some
kind of civil defense procedure" will be
required.
From the perspective of prevention,
Boley explained the plant's safety
system. He said there will be automatic
safety valves at points in the pipelines
which would shut off should there be a
break or gas leak. There are also back-
up remote controls to close those
valves, as well as an emergency shut-
down system.
Boley stressed the "fall safe" system
which, should failure occur in the
pipelines, the valves will fail in the
closed positions, he said.
"We'll keep the systems up, so we
know they'll work," Boley added.
Responding to a question at)out
whether the shutting of a valve might
not stop a gas leak, Boley cited block
valves on the main line. "We'll have
bleed-off and incinerator capability.
We'd bleed the pressure off the line
right away. The amount of gas in the
pipes would be much less than the ROE
limits. We're much closer to the rules
on block valves than we have to be."
Boley was also asked about
monitoring the pipelines with alarms.
He said there's "no practical or
technical way to do that."
The safety manager explained in
addition that a Radio Transmission
Unit will send information continually
to Delhi's Tyler office. "Should
something occur, an alarm will sound
(in that office) and we'd close the
system and get the people out of the
area."
On the topic of plant location here
instead of elsewhere, Andy Hoyle, Delhi
process engineer, spoke. Presently,
Delhi is gathering sour gas from
Navarre and Freestone counties, with
an eye for the potential in the four-
cotmty area around the proposed plant
site.
Petitions against the proposed plant
are now available at six Athens
businesses.
SEVENTii AND EIGllTIi GRADE honor students received their awards at the
recent Cross Roads Awards Banquet. Pictured above is Tonya Talley, Sharon
Chandler and Joey Lamb. (Staff Photo by Ann Rounsavail)
According to Nell Hall, who along
with Robbi Barns initiated the petitions
last week, they are available at Shady
Oaks Store (Cayuga Hwy. "at Shady
Oaks), Miller and Miller Lumber Com-
pany (Fro 753, before Shady Oaks),
Valvista Pavillion Nursing Home
(Valle Vista), Faye's Store (Dogwood
Estates), and Bomer and Milam Real
Estate, 711 W. Corsicana.
In addition nine other copies of the
petition are being circulated by volun-
teers.
O
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II II I I III
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SHANNON DAVIS and SONJA McGAUGltI, IN of Eustace presented entertainment at the American
Association meeting Thursday night. Both girls are students at Eustace Itigh School. Miss Davis is the
Ruby Rogers of Malakoff. (Staff photo by Lori Callaway)
• !!
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ELEMENTARY AWARI) WINNERS at Cross Roads School included (left to right) Matt llolland,
Sharp, Chris Coker, Julie Gideon, Daniel Holmes, Tina Morrison and Scott Stone. Back row is Tim Doolen,
John Holland and Siovhan Upchurch. (Staff Photo by Ann Rounsavall)
DEWAIN IPOCK
CINDY NEWMAN
MIKE ECHOI'~
New ofl
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Three new officers
staff of the Malakoff pol
Don McCord announced i
Mike Eehols has
full time patrolman
and Cindy Newman have
ce as reserve officers.
Echols, who joins th~
full time, attended
School, Cooke County
and S.M.U. He holds
liabilities .for police
investigation and
vestigation, a master
servation, rural fire
tended the fire control
Athens.
He has completed
cement courses at
received his certificate
from the State of Texas.
years experience in
cement field.
He has been
American
included in their
placed in the Library
to, in the opinion
Governing Board, his
deavors as a law
He and his wife,
married for 17 years
children, David, ten;
Leah 16.
Personnel
at MISD
Following
Malakoff School
Tuesday night the
resignations
Matlock, special
tary; Deborah C~
therapy; Mike
Diane Locke, hi
Blackmon, first
Murray, Title I
Re-employed was
Harper who will be the
remedial reading at
and Mrs. Regina
math teacher.
The averag~ _
and 18 breaths per minute'
