ABIA Tank Farms
GEO371T students visited the controversial site of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) tank farms, placed just across the road from residents that have lived in their neighborhoods for generations. Residents were not informed or included in the decision to place the potentially hazardous tanks less than 500 feet away from where their children live, eat, and play. In order to understand the environmental justice implications of the farms, four important guest speakers were invited to discuss the ramifications of the ABIA’s actions.
Sergio Castellanos, professor in the University of Texas at Austin’s Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering department, informed the class of potential hazards residents of the area could be facing – namely, air pollutants. Tank farms can present a serious threat to air quality. Dr. Castellanos emphasized the importance of air quality monitors and how increasing accessibility to them could serve to protect residents from harmful pollutants. Dr. Castellanos showed the class different types of monitors, what they detect, and what their limitations could be. Providing communities living near significant industrial developments could potentially prevent industries from flying under the radar when it comes to exceeding federal limits on pollution.
Vanessa Fuentes, Austin city council member, worked with the neighborhood to prevent the development of the tank farms in the area and urge the ABIA to relocate. Although these efforts were overturned by just one vote, Fuentes provided the class with valuable insight on how environmentally impactful decisions get made. Her insight called into question how much governments care about the people they represent.
To top this off, the class heard from Amanda Carillo, a resident whose family has lived in the area for generations. She gave an emotional account of how unheard her and her family’s voices had been in decisions that affect them and her motivations for continuing being to stand up for those in her community who cannot. Lastly, Susanna Ledesma-Woody is a member of the board of trustees for the Del Valle Community Coalition who works to improve the quality of life for underprivileged residents. Such participation in civil discussions by everyday residents is imperative for all voices to be heard, so that underprivileged communities are not taken advantage of by city governments.
![Img 0960 Pictured Is An Ej Student Giving An Introduction To Guest Speaker Amanda Carrillo 1](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0960_Pictured-is-an-EJ-student-giving-an-introduction-to-guest-speaker-Amanda-Carrillo-1-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0966 The Ej Class Posing With Guest Speakers Sergio Castellanos Amanda Carrillo And Susanna Ledesma Woody 1](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0966_The-EJ-class-posing-with-guest-speakers-Sergio-Castellanos-Amanda-Carrillo-and-Susanna-Ledesma-Woody-1-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0976 An Open Field With A Veteran Affairs Building In The Background Across The Highway From The Tank Farms Which Will Likely Be Commercial Property In The Near Future 1](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0976_An-open-field-with-a-Veteran-Affairs-building-in-the-background-across-the-highway-from-the-tank-farms-which-will-likely-be-commercial-property-in-the-near-future-1-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0978 The Ej Class Ta Jake Peterson And Dr. Jay Banner Assisting Sergio Castellanos On The Setup Of An A Research Grade Air Quality Sensor 1](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0978_The-EJ-class-TA-Jake-Peterson-and-Dr.-Jay-Banner-assisting-Sergio-Castellanos-on-the-setup-of-an-a-research-grade-air-quality-sensor-1-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0985 Sergio Castellanos Setting Up His Air Quality Sensor Across The Highway From The New Abia Tank Farms 1](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0985_Sergio-Castellanos-setting-up-his-air-quality-sensor-across-the-highway-from-the-new-ABIA-tank-farms-1-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0988.jpg Counselwoman Vanessa Fuentes Explaing Her Role In The Community And How She Fought For The Halt Of Construction Of The Abia Tank Farms](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0988.JPG_-Counselwoman-Vanessa-Fuentes-explaing-her-role-in-the-community-and-how-she-fought-for-the-halt-of-construction-of-the-ABIA-tank-farms-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0991 President Of The Del Valle Community Coalition Susanna Ledesma Woody Sharing Her Personal Anecdotes Of How She Loves To Be Involved And Fight For Her Community](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0991_President-of-the-Del-Valle-Community-Coalition-Susanna-Ledesma-Woody-sharing-her-personal-anecdotes-of-how-she-loves-to-be-involved-and-fight-for-her-community-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0993 Captured In This Picture Are The New Abia Tank Farms](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0993_Captured-in-this-picture-are-the-new-ABIA-tank-farms--800x600.jpg)
![Img 1003 The New Abia Tank Farms With What Will Hold The Fuel For The Planes Of Abia Pictures In The Background](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_1003_The-new-ABIA-tank-farms-with-what-will-hold-the-fuel-for-the-planes-of-ABIA-pictures-in-the-background-800x600.jpg)
![Img 1162 The Ej Class Sits And Listens Attentively To Guest Speaker Vanessa Fuentes As She Shares Personal Anecdotes About The New Abia Tank Farms](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_1162_The-EJ-class-sits-and-listens-attentively-to-guest-speaker-Vanessa-Fuentes-as-she-shares-personal-anecdotes-about-the-new-ABIA-tank-farms--800x600.jpg)
![Img 1164 Guest Speaker Vanessa Fuentes Sharing To The Class Ways In Which She Fights For Her Community And Her Battle To Stop The Construction Of The New Tank Farms 1](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_1164_-Guest-speaker-Vanessa-Fuentes-sharing-to-the-class-ways-in-which-she-fights-for-her-community-and-her-battle-to-stop-the-construction-of-the-new-tank-farms-1-800x600.jpg)
![Img 1166 The Ej Class Posing With Community Member Amanda Carrillo Near The Abia Tank Farms](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_1166_The-EJ-class-posing-with-community-member-Amanda-Carrillo-near-the-ABIA-tank-farms-800x600.jpg)