FAQ

At approximately 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27 an explosion occurred at the TPC Group Operations site on FM 366 in Port Neches.

The incident occurred in TPC’s Port Neches Operation’s South Processing Unit.

There were 30 individuals on site at our location when the event occurred. All personnel are fully accounted for.

There were no fatalities as a result of the event. Unfortunately, four individuals onsite were injured – three employees and one contractor. All of the injured individuals were treated and released by health professionals. TPC Group is focused on these individuals’ quick recovery and providing support to them and their families.

Yes, the fire was extinguished on December 5. However, on December 6 residual fires were identified. These anticipated small fires are being contained and response measures are ongoing. TPC Group is thankful for emergency responders and community support as response efforts safely continue.

Response efforts at TPC Group Port Neches Operations remain focused on safely bringing the event to an end. An ‘all clear’ has not yet been issued as response efforts continue to focus on activities to secure site equipment and minimize impact to environment, while preserving the safety of emergency responders and the community.

Response teams remain focused on safely bringing the event to an end. Response efforts are focused on activities to secure site equipment and minimize impact to the environment and community, while preserving the safety of emergency responders.

Plans are underway to safely transfer all remaining materials from the site, based on mechanical integrity inspections of tanks and associated piping and equipment. All tanks containing materials are being evaluated and prioritized for transfer. To further secure and safely transfer remaining materials from the site, technical experts with TPC Group are introducing inhibitors to stabilize materials being transferred.

More than 20 federal, state and local organizations have been a part of the response effort.

A temporary plant alarm system has been installed on-site. Testing for the temporary system was successfully completed on December 23. Prior to the event on November 27, TPC Group Port Neches Operations conducted a weekly on-site alarm test each Wednesday at noon. Those regular weekly tests of the on-site plant alarm system have since resumed following the initial test.

The alarm test sounds eight short alerts, followed by one steady alert to indicate an all clear. To hear what the alarm alerts sounds like, click here: Alarm Sound and All Clear Sound

The 218-acre site produces butadiene and raffinate. Combined production capacity for this facility is more than 900 million pounds per year. Logistics infrastructure capabilities include pipeline, barge, rail, and tank car.

Port Neches Operations units process C4 hydrocarbons producing butadiene and raffinate, and stores methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) produced by Huntsman.

Butadiene is used in the production of synthetic rubber used for tires and automobile hoses.

Raffinates are primarily a mixture of butylenes and butane. These products are used in the production of alkylate, a high-octane gasoline blending component.

Fire water (runoff from water used in fire-fighting efforts) has been the only material discharged from the site.

Due to the continued ‘non-detect’ readings, Unified Command has reduced the monitoring radius around the facility to one-half mile. Air monitoring results continue to confirm no health impacts in the community.

Air monitoring coverage also includes fence line monitoring. TPC Group currently has 10 stationary air monitors at the fence line, 17 stationary monitors inside the fence line and 15 roaming air monitors inside the fence line.

Water quality remains normal. The water quality around TPC Group Port Neches Operations has been closely monitored since the initial event by state and federal environmental response agencies, as well as by CTEH. CTEH, the environmental response experts contracted by TPC group, has routinely collected water samples in the community in order to compare the results against health-protective state and federal screening criteria. Unified Command has detected no impact to drinking water supply. Response crews have deployed measures to ensure the safety and quality of all water sources in the immediate area, including the LNVA canal, wastewater canals, drainage ditches, and the Neches River.

TPC Group has engaged CTEH (Center for Toxicology & Environmental Health), environmental response specialists, to conduct air sampling surrounding the event site. CTEH will also conduct debris assessments and will be leading removal efforts. Specialists will be assessing homes and yards within approximately one-half mile of the TPC Port Neches Operations fence-line.

TPC Group contracted with GRS, a third-party claims management provider, to ensure an effective and efficient process to help residents who have been impacted by the Port Neches event.

TPC Group has established a Community Assistance Helpline for impacted residents to file claims with our insurance provider. Affected community members and residents can call 866-601-5880 to file claims.

Claims are divided into two general categories: (1) evacuation related and (2) property damage. If you were in the evacuation zone immediately following the event at TPC Group Port Neches Operations and would like to get a head start click here on the Evacuation Claim Form, and complete the form online. This form is for those who are in the designated evacuation zone and have not already completed an Evacuation Claim Form with a claims representative (i.e. you have made a telephone inquiry and have been assigned a claim number).

GRS will provide a structural engineer if the adjuster believes it to be necessary. If not, the cost a homeowner chooses to spend on a structural engineer will not be covered as part of the claims program. However, if structural engineer finds issue not identified in the original assessment provided by GRS, it will be re-evaluated by a GRS appointed structural engineer. If damage assessment is validated, repair costs may be considered.

Residents who have contacted the Community Assistance Helpline (866-601-5880) with concerns about debris on their property, will continue to be visited by environmental response specialists with CTEH. CTEH is also conducting debris assessments and leading removal efforts. Specialists are assessing homes and yards within approximately one-half mile of the TPC Port Neches Operations fence-line. CTEH will continue to respond to requests received via the Community Assistance Helpline as well as assessments of homes and yards within approximately one-half mile of the TPC Group Port Neches Operations fence line. As a reminder, if you see debris in your yard, please call the Community Assistance Helpline at (866) 601-5880 to file a claim.

TPC Group is providing an emotional support hotline staffed by licensed professional counselors from Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeast Texas. The hotline will be available daily between 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The hotline number dedicated to this event is (409) 727-6400, ext. 250. Calls received after hours will be directed to Spindletop Crisis Hotline at (800) 937-8097, an affiliated local hotline. Additional in-person follow-up sessions with counselors also will be available, as needed. Counseling calls and session discussions will be kept confidential.

https://www.facebook.com/PortNechesUC/

The response Twitter handle is @PortNechesUC

It’s too early in the process to determine cause. Emergency personnel have contained the impacted area and response measures are ongoing. TPC Group remains focused on mitigating the event and maintaining the safety of responders and the community.

A full and thorough investigation and root cause examination of the event will take place. As the event evolves, updates will continue to be provided via the response website created specifically for this event: www.portnechesresponse.com

On December 2, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Board (CSB) and the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) began investigations regarding the fire at TPC Group Port Neches Operations. TPC Group is cooperating fully with all federal and local agencies. TPC Group employees involved in these investigations are asked to be cooperative, truthful and transparent to ensure agencies receive the information necessary to conduct a thorough assessment and review. Additionally the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry partnered with the EPA as a third party resource dedicated to reviewing the response plan as established by Unified Command and TPC Group.

TPC Group has also begun its own Root Cause Investigation (RCI) to systematically process the root cause of the event and corrective actions that will be taken. TPC Group employees involved in these investigations are being cooperative, truthful and transparent to ensure agencies receive the information necessary to conduct a thorough assessment and review.