Two more chemical tanks caught fire at Intercontinental Terminals Co. overnight in Deer Park. The intensification of the fire occurred after water pressure dropped. Eventually water pressure was restored, and emergency crews continued to battle the fire overnight. Most of the chemicals identified in the fire are used to produce gasoline. Short-term exposure to the [...]
Some of the workers who were injured in a recent chemical plant explosion in Pasadena are suing Kuraray America. Eleven of the victims were sub-contractors with Turner Industries, and they were on scaffolds when the chemical plant explosion and fire occurred. Some of those injured fell off scaffolding, some were burnt and some fell as [...]
At least 17 people were hurt in a fire and explosion over the weekend at a Pasadena chemical plant. The victims of the fire and explosion suffered burns and topical injuries. Kuraray America Eval confirmed the fire and explosion at the Pasadena plant. Officials say that they believe a valve malfunctioned, which triggered the explosion [...]
A fire at a Solvay Chemical cooling tower in La Porte on January 22 was contained by La Porte firefighters. Officials say that a cooling tower at Solvay Chemical on Independence Parkway caught fire around 4 p.m. Monday afternoon. No chemicals were involved in the incident. La Porte firefighters helped contain the chemical plant fire. [...]
Royal Dutch Shell PLC reported emissions from its refinery in Deer Park, Texas today following a leak of benzene. Shell said the emissions happened over a four-hour period on October 25. They said the cause was rooted in an October 10 incident at the refinery and chemical facility. The material leaking, benzene, has carcinogenic properties. [...]
The Associated Press reports that local officials reported a spill at a Houston-area Superfund site after Hurricane Harvey. According to the report, PRP Group led a cleanup team that called an emergency federal hotline to report a spill in the Vince Bayou, which is near the U.S. Oil Recovery Superfund site. The company reported two [...]
A Petrobras refinery in Pasadena, Texas, restarted their operations over the weekend. The weather and flooding conditions after Hurricane Harvey improved, and the plant was able to start once again. The refinery plans to be back to normal operations by the end of the week according to a Petrobras spokesperson. The plant in Pasadena has [...]
La Porte firefighters and a hazmat team contained a chemical spill yesterday after a ruptured pipeline in the petrochemical district led to a shelter inside warning. Around 4:30 p.m. on Monday, residents of Baytown, La Porte and Shoreacres were given orders to shelter in place, which means they were told to stay inside, shut off [...]
The 2017 Chemical Sector Security Summit took place in Houston last week. The event was co-sponsored by DHS and the Chemical Sector Coordinating Council, and the summit is all about sharing best practices related to chemical sites and their security. Speakers discussed that terrorists are seeking out and using chemicals such as those created throughout [...]
Vopak North America and regulatory agencies came to an agreement to strengthen air pollution controls at the company's chemical storage and wastewater treatment facility in Deer Park. Alleged Clean Air Act violations at the Deer Park facility led to the agreement, which is meant to improve Vopak's compliance with state and federal laws. The EPA, [...]