Gulf Coast chemical companies are responding to humanitarian needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Plants are continuing to run while they boost production of chemicals that are used to manufacture personal protective equipment as well as the chemicals that are used to make hand sanitizer. Companies are are not only increasing the production of chemicals [...]
The mayors of both Pasadena and Deer Park have issued emergency declarations as the coronavirus pandemic threat continues to escalate. The emergency declarations give the cities flexibility in overseeing large gatherings. All Deer Park's indoor parks and recreation department programs as well as facility rentals will be canceled through March 31. Deer Park and Pasadena [...]
A chemical company in North Carolina called Chemours was caught discharging GenX, an industrial byproduct, and it showed up in the drinking water. The chemical is now being brought to Deer Park each month by the company. GenX is used to make Teflon and other products such as fast food wrappers. Its trade name is [...]
A 39-year-old mother and her three young children were found dead of gunshot wounds at their Deer Park home. The victims were Ashley Auzenne and her children, Parrish, 11, Eleanor, 9, and Lincoln, 7. Police discovered the four deaths when they responded to a morning welfare check at the house in 1400 block of New [...]
Dow Chemical ended its lockout with more than 200 chemical workers at its Deer Park plant last week. Workers were locked out of the plant on April 22 amid contract negotiations. The two sides have yet to reach a compromise, and Dow Chemical has declared an impasse. The union disagrees with the company's assertion that [...]
A Deer Park man has been charged with the murder of his son in an unprovoked attack. Police say that Sherman Shirley Fricks, 69, attacked his son Sunday around 11 a.m. The incident took place at a residence in the 1300 block of Meadowlark Street. Police say that Fricks stabbed and shot his son, Sherman [...]
A Dow Chemical subsidiary has locked out more than 200 workers at its chemical plant in Deer Park. Negotiations for a new labor contract broke down Monday, according to the company and the union. Dow and United Steelworkers Local 13-1 have been in contract talks for the Deer Park site since February 14. The employees [...]
United States investigators are hoping to enter the site of the ITC storage facility in Deer Park, Texas, this week. They hope to find a cause for the disaster and to determine if the operator followed safety regulations. Fumes from benzene-containing fuel and fear of more fires have kept investigators out of the site. Investigators [...]
The state of Texas is suing Intercontinental Terminals Company for violating the Texas Clean Air Act. The lawsuit is related to the giant fire at the company's Deer Park petrochemical facility. In addition to the state, four La Porte residents have sued ITC. They're seeking damages of more than $2 million. The U.S. Chemical Safety [...]
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 [...]