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 was reopened on Sunday evening (December 8) in advance of Port Neches students returning to school. Portions of roadways around TPC Port Neches Operations remain closed. Traffic updates will continue to be provided, as available.
Situational update: There have been no significant changes in the response efforts since Update #22. 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 4,364 air monitoring readings in the community. All of these readings were below 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 regarding the event continue to be posted:
On the web: www.portnechesresponse.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PortNechesUC
Twitter: @PortNechesUC
U.S. EPA: www.response.epa.gov/south4groupfire
TCEQ: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/response/tpc-incident