b'Dr. Donna ShaverS ince the 1960s, however, the growing con- including and especially environmental standards, seems Snap to Realtyto be more popular than ever, stakeholders of all stripes are singing in a single voice on many issues that affect servationmovement,ledbytheUnitedquality of lifeand businessalong the Texas Gulf Coast.Kingdom and the United States, has becomeCynics are sure to call NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) a fundamental influence on where and howon oilmen who oppose an offshore oil tanker facility, for development takes place. A century afterexample,stationedintheGulfofMexicolessthanten we humans were eating up the earths re- miles off the coast of Padre and Mustang Islandsin the source at a dizzying pace, the worlds lead- name of protecting endangered sea life as well as lucra-ing builders of everything from infrastruc- tive commercial development. In Port Aransas, where the ture and urban expanse to factories and chemical plantsvalue of vacation property is directly connected to the price areemployingthemostadvancedmethodsavailabletoof crude oil and natural gas, dyed-in-the-wool conserva-make a minimum environmental impact. Even in a politicaltive Republicans find themselves in opposition to the very climate where the idea of reduced government regulation,industry that fuels their political party of choice, as they 22 THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINEWinter 2018-19 TheCoastalBend.com120 THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINEFEATURED: The Stories that Mattered TheCoastalBend.com'