Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that he is filing a lawsuit against a chemical company whose Port Neches facility reported two explosions in late 2019. Paxton alleges multiple violations of environmental regulations over an almost two year period of time, culminating in the explosion.
The suit was filed on Feb 21 on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, according to The Texas Tribune.
A Major Explosion
The two explosions occurred on Nov 27, 2019, at a facility owned by the TPC Group, a manufacturer of petrochemicals. The incident began in a unit that held butadiene, a gas used in rubber and plastic manufacturing. People who are overexposed to the gas may suffer damage to their central nervous systems.
The explosions started a large fire that injured several workers and nearby residents. Eventually, after the second explosion, authorities held mandatory evacuations for residents in a four-mile radius of the plant, an area that includes the towns of Port Neches, Groves, Nederland and a part of Port Arthur. Much of the area surrounding that zone was also given voluntary evacuation orders.
Following the explosions, a task force made up leaders from local, state and national agencies came together to evaluate the situation. As the lawsuit was being filed, The TPC Group was still in the process of cleaning up much of the aftermath of the explosions and fires. This included moving dangerous chemicals away from the facility and checking piping, tanks and other important pieces of equipment.
The exact cause of the explosions is still unknown. The incident is being investigated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Other Concerns
In addition to the explosions themselves, Paxton’s lawsuit notes a slew of environmental violations related to air and water pollution. According to the state’s data, The TPC Group had exceeded government permitted levels of air pollution on 70 different occasions. Previous to the November incident, the facility put 1,000 pounds of butadiene and about 500 pounds of particle matter into the air in a short period of time, according to The Texas Tribune.
If it is successful, The TPC Group will have to pay the state of Texas civil fees for the harm caused by the fire, as well as attorney fees, court costs and investigative costs.
The lawsuit has garnered support from both environmental groups and politicians in the Port Neches area.
“It is absolutely crucial that entities like TPC Group are held responsible not only for the destructive environmental pollution they cause, but also for their impact on human health,” said Toby Baker, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s director, told the Tribune.
A spokeswoman from TPC Group emphasized the work that the company has already done to address safety and environmental concerns.
Paxton’s quick push to legal action represents a departure from his office’s past efforts towards similar environmental regulations. According to a study from the non-profit organization Environment Texas, the state filed only one similar lawsuit in the two years leading up to the fire at Port Neches.
