Beaumont, Texas – Unified Command reports ongoing response efforts at TPC Group Port Neches Operations remain focused on safely bringing the event to an end.
Public Information Update: Unified Command has migrated to a new Facebook page. We encourage community members to follow the page for updates at http://facebook.com/portnechesuc
Citizens can continue to access updated information on Twitter @PortNechesUC and via the response web site at www.portnechesresponse.com
Traffic Update: Grigsby Avenue at Spur 136 will reopen in advance of Port Neches students returning to school Monday. The road has been closed for repair since November 27, 2019. To prevent a disruption in traffic flow, workers are digging a trench that will house an encased hose for fire water supply. This work is expected to be completed this weekend, and the road cleared for traffic prior to Monday.
Situational update: There have been no significant changes in the response efforts since Update #21. Response efforts continue to focus on activities to secure site equipment and minimize impact to the environment, while preserving the safety of emergency responders. Friday morning, Unified Command identified small fires in the impacted area on site. These small residual fires were anticipated and are being contained. Response teams continue to monitor and assess. Smoke may be visible.
As reported previously, the fire at TPC Group Port Neches Operation on November 27 impacted 12 tanks on site. Plans are underway to safely transfer all remaining materials from the site, based on mechanical integrity inspections of tanks. 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 will introduce inhibitors to stabilize materials being transferred. Options to safely transport materials from the site are being assessed.
Air Monitoring update: Air monitoring around the site and in the community continues to show no actionable butadiene levels. Unified Command, comprised of federal, state, local agencies and TPC Group, remains diligent in efforts to monitor air quality. Monitoring coverage, by various state, federal, and local agencies, extends throughout the county and is providing real-time air quality data to Unified Command.
Occasional elevated air measurements may continue to register as response teams secure the site. In the last 24-hours, experts have collected 3,388 air monitoring readings in the community. All readings were at non-actionable levels.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a federal public health agency, is still onsite as a third-party resource dedicated to reviewing the environmental data provided by Unified Command and will communicate findings once they are available.
Updates and information continue to be posted on the web at www.portnechesresponse.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/portnechesuc and Twitter at PortNechesUC.
EPA website: www.response.epa.gov/south4groupfire
TCEQ website: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/response/tpc-incident