Right now, oil giants Enterprise and Chevron are proposing to build a massive crude oil storage facility, offshore pipeline, and export terminal off the coast of Freeport, Texas. The project is called the Sea Port Oil Terminal, or SPOT, and is an immediate threat to our Texas coastal communities, to our delicate environment, and to the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle – world’s most endangered sea turtle. (Click here to learn more about the background and impacts of the proposed project.)

We have until May 28, 2020 to make our voices heard and ask the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the United States Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District Commander to reject this project by writing letters to the agencies involved.

As we continue adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic, taking action on this issue is a great opportunity to teach children the importance of providing input in the development of rules and regulations that serve your community. We encourage everyone, no matter their age, to raise their voice on issues they care about. Our children are inheriting this planet, and they have a right to see animals like the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle when they grow up. 

Publicly submitted comments have an impact and help agency policy makers improve federal regulations. Click the grade level below for instructions and printable letter templates to get your family and classrooms involved:

Grades K-2:

  1. Introduce letter-writers to the issue.
  2. Download the K-2 letter template.
  3. Letter-writers will draw a picture or write why they do not want an oil pipeline or oil spills on the beach or in the ocean.
  4. Save the letters and submit them as attachments to the Federal Register.
    1. Subject line: Re: Deepwater Port License Application – SPOT Terminal Services LLC. Docket Number: MARAD-2019-0011
    2. Salutation: Dear Mr. Nabach and Ms. Fields,
    3. Comment: See sample comment below
    4. Signature: Sincerely, [your name]
  5. Save the letters and email them as attachments to swg_public_notice@usace.army.mil (details below) OR send letters to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District, P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, TX 77553-1229
    1. Subject line: Re: SWG-2018-00751
    2. Salutation: Dear Col. Timothy R. Vail (USACE Galveston District Commander)
    3. Comment: see sample comment below
    4. Signature: Sincerely, [your name, address, phone number]

Sample Comment:

[Subject Line]

[Salutation],

I am a [teacher/parent] of [# students in grade], and respectfully submit the following comments against the SEA Port Oil Terminal (SPOT) Project.

The SPOT Project will threaten wildlife, their habitat, and the local community’s drinking water supply. The SPOT project is an oil pipeline 168 miles long, with two 36-inch diameter pipes, traveling from Houston to Surfside Beach, where it will eventually travel under the seafloor to the oil terminal. The pipeline will cross 149 wetlands and one major river. It will pass by the drinking water wells for the Surfside community and through endangered sea turtle habitat, threatening the community’s drinking water and the local wildlife. The pipeline is anticipated to result in 568 spills over a 30 year period, 20 of which are considered “major” spills of 1,000 barrels of oil or more.

Please read the following letters submitted by passionate students who value wildlife, and keep the future generations in mind when making your permitting decisions.

[Signature]

Grades 3-8:

  1. Introduce letter-writers to the issue.
  2. Download the 3-8 letter template.
  3. Letter-writers will do their own research and write about how oil spills have lasting impacts on the environment and why it’s important to save our wildlife.
  4. Save the letters and submit them as attachments to the Federal Register.
    1. Subject line: Re: Deepwater Port License Application – SPOT Terminal Services LLC. Docket Number: MARAD-2019-0011
    2. Salutation: Dear Mr. Nabach and Ms. Fields,
    3. Comment: See sample comment below
    4. Signature: Sincerely, [your name]
  5. Save the letters and email them as attachments to swg_public_notice@usace.army.mil (details below) OR send letters to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District, P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, TX 77553-1229
    1. Subject line: Re: SWG-2018-00751
    2. Salutation: Dear Col. Timothy R. Vail (USACE Galveston District Commander)
    3. Comment: see sample comment below
    4. Signature: Sincerely, [your name, address, phone number]

Sample Comment:

[Subject Line]

[Salutation],

I am a [teacher/parent] of [# students in grade], and respectfully submit the following comments against the SEA Port Oil Terminal (SPOT) Project.

The SPOT Project will threaten wildlife, their habitat, and the local community’s drinking water supply. The SPOT project is an oil pipeline 168 miles long, with two 36-inch diameter pipes, traveling from Houston to Surfside Beach, where it will eventually travel under the seafloor to the oil terminal. The pipeline will cross 149 wetlands and one major river. It will pass by the drinking water wells for the Surfside community and through endangered sea turtle habitat, threatening the community’s drinking water and the local wildlife. The pipeline is anticipated to result in 568 spills over a 30 year period, 20 of which are considered “major” spills of 1,000 barrels of oil or more.

Please read the following letters submitted by passionate students who value wildlife, and keep the future generations in mind when making your permitting decisions.

[Signature]

High School:

  1. Introduce letter-writers to the issue.
  2. Letter-writers will do their own research and write a letter about the negative impacts SPOT and potential oil spills will have on Texas beaches and wildlife. Letter-writers can use our webpage to conduct research and this letter template as an example.)
  3. Once letters are complete, students can:
    1. Submit their own letters to the Federal Register as a public comment to the Maritime Administration.
    2. Email their letters to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at swg_public_notice@usace.army.mil (details below) OR send letters to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District, P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, TX 77553-1229
      1. Subject line: Re: SWG-2018-00751
      2. Salutation: Dear Col. Timothy R. Vail (USACE Galveston District Commander)
      3. Comment: see sample comment below
      4. Signature: Sincerely, [your name, address, phone number]
  4. Consider submitting public comments of your own!