
- Chemical fire at Deer Park east of Houston Texas
From the SCMP report about the Yancheng pesticide plant explosion:
In the past, the company has received six administrative punishments for failures regarding solid waste management, environmental impact assessments and air pollution.
Meanwhile closer to home in the US, there is growing alarm about a massive fire that has been burning for six days at a chemical storage installation at Deer Park to the east of Houston Texas.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/deer-park-fire-officials-monitoring-air-quality-after-texas-chemical-plant-fire-2019-03-19/Eight large storage tanks were reported to be burning uncontrollably earlier this week, with another seven in the path of the fire at the plant owned by Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) who store chemicals used in gasoline mixes and paint thinners. They can cause difficulty breathing, coughing, headaches and irritation to the eyes, nose and throat.
The company has a history of environmental violations, having paid more than $200,000 in fines over the past decade.
The plant owner, Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC), said while the fire looks ominous, no one is in danger. ITC spokesman David Wascome said they continue to monitor air quality.
Officials said Tuesday they don't know how long it will take to burn itself out. Firefighters are trying to keep it from spreading — as thick black smoke billows into the air, hour after hour.
The chemical fire's flames are wider and the tower of smoke is thicker — darkening the Houston's sky as far as 40 miles away.
"We're working with Sea-Tac, we're also working with the EPA," said the company spokesman - a statement that did little to reassure a local resident like Jorge Guerra who lives three miles away.
"I've seen ash fall out -- black pieces of ash," Guerra said. "I've seen it on my cars, I've seen it on the front porch on the sidewalk. Does that scare you? It does me. What scares me more is what we don't see."
Reuters report that as in the case of the Chinese blast, that benzene was one of the pollutants released, and that hundreds of local residents have sought medical treatment for headaches and breathing difficulties within the last few days.
https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-texas-energy-houston-health/texas-petrochemical-fire-prompts-hundreds-to-visit-health-clinic-idUKKCN1R400D