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.
Traffic Update: Traffic updates will continue to be provided as available. Click for a map of street closures. The latest traffic information follows:
Open – Grigsby Avenue at Spur 136
Closed – Portions of Spur 136 near TPC Port Neches Operations remain closed, including:
- Intersection of Spur 136 at Highway 366
- Spur 136 to Highway 366 in front of TPC Port Neches Operations
- Highway 366 between Spur 136 & Park Street
Public Information Update:
Unified Command will continue to post updates and information online at these pages:
On the web: www.portnechesresponse.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PortNechesUC
Twitter: @PortNechesUC
U.S. EPA: www.response.epa.gov/south4groupfire