Port Arthur, Texas – Response efforts continue to focus on activities to secure site equipment and minimize impact to the environment, while preserving the safety of emergency responders and the community.
As the threat of further off-site impact from the incident has been significantly reduced and the focus is stabilizing the on-site equipment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency transitioned response and cleanup oversight to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Friday, December 13, 2019.
Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick, the Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management, TCEQ and TPC Group continue to operate as Unified Command and communicate with EPA.
Air monitoring samples continue to confirm no actionable levels of butadiene in the community. Additionally, there has been no impact to drinking water quality due to the Port Neches event.
With oversight by TCEQ, TPC Group continues to conduct air monitoring, air sampling and surface water sampling activities in the community. Any reduction in the air monitoring/sampling activities would require TCEQ State on Scene Command approval.
