FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Katie Chimenti, 281-286-9750
Good Faith Betrayed
For six years,
law-abiding citizens opposed to the Bayport project have dutifully filled the
squares. They have attended public hearings on the proposed project, written
numerous letters of comment, and challenged the
"We know that our
objections to a container port at this location are legitimate," said
Katie Chimenti, Vice Chair of the Galveston Bay Conservation and Preservation
Association. "In good faith and confident of our position, we have honored
the requirements of the regulatory process and the law."
So far, citizens are
gratified at having kept the giant port out of their communities for several
years. But they also feel betrayed by the system.
"The Port Authority
has consistently maneuvered to try to render community objections legally
meaningless. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has gone along with the program.
Although we did not prevail at the district court level, we feel confident that
we have a good case for appeal," said Chimenti.
The Bayport opposition
is therefore heading to the appeal courts to press for accountability by public
agencies and for enforcement of federal environmental laws protecting wetlands
and coastal resources.
"Downtown power has
its place, but that place is not at Bayport," said Chimenti.
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Galveston Bay Conservation and Preservation
Association
Website: http://www.gbcpa.net E-mail:
gbcpa@ev1.net
Stop Bayport: The Fight
Continues