Diane Wilson, a well-known Gulf Coast environmentalist, announced her intent to sue Dow Chemical for allegedly discharging plastic pellets from its 4,700-acre petrochemical complex near Seadrift, Texas.
Wilson, a 77-year-old former shrimper, previously sued Formosa Plastics and secured a significant settlement in 2019. Her team, San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper, has collected evidence of plastic pollution from Dow over several years, as detailed in her legal notice.
The 25-page document by Earthjustice and the Environmental Integrity Project cites extensive discharges of plastic nurdles, posing risks to the environment and human health. The pollution persists due to insufficient control measures at the facility.
Wilson, who gained international attention after her battle against Formosa, utilized the Clean Water Act to take legal action when authorities failed to enforce the law. The Act requires a 60-day notice before filing a lawsuit.
Dow spokesperson Glynna Mayers stated the company is reviewing the notice and highlighted their compliance efforts through the Operation Clean Sweep program aimed at reducing plastic releases into the environment.
The Seadrift plant manufactures plastics and chemicals used in antifreeze, paints, detergents, and beauty products. Wilson’s legal notice also claims chronic reporting and maintenance violations at the plant, where visible plastic pollution is not permitted.
Lauren Godshall of Earthjustice remarked on the significant loss of nurdles into the drainage system, describing it as “ridiculous.”
Collecting the Evidence
Wilson’s success against Formosa relied on a volunteer effort to collect evidence of plastic pollution. Her team gathered truckloads of plastic samples, which convinced a federal judge of Formosa’s violations.
Jace Tunnell, from Texas A&M University’s Harte Research Institute, initially discovered large-scale plastic discharges from Dow in 2020 while sampling near the Victoria Barge Canal. He observed nurdles embedded in the canal banks, prompting Wilson to investigate further.
Wilson used funds from her 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize to hire a boatman for evidence collection. They located wastewater outfalls discharging plastic waste into the canal, recovering 13 and 10 pounds of pellets in two separate 10-minute collections.
Wilson, often accompanied by a local teenager, continues to collect plastic evidence multiple times a week. The 60-day notice allows Dow time to address pollution or settle before Wilson files her lawsuit in federal court.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org