Officials in Baytown are taking a cautious approach to a possible chemical spill near a plant where a fire broke out Tuesday.
The fire was put out with no one was injured but a couple of chemicals may have mixed and been released by accident, according to officials, so tests are now being run on soil in the area of the Bluebonnet Petrochemical Solutions facility.
Those officials have said there is no danger to public air, soil or water, all of which so far appear to be safe.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has joined the Harris County Public Health, Pollution Control and Emergency Management departments, along with Baytown city services and Harris County's Precinct 2 commissioner's office to test soil and water, where some chemicals are feared to have leaked from the plant into nearby waterways.
The approach favored by the environmental specialists is to surround a series of possibly contaminated drainage channels with ditches and then pump out any contaminated water.
The possible contamination has only directly affected five homes so far, but Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's office said Saturday that the facility had been storing chemicals without a storage permit, and the chemical content of the leak was not known because the company stored some chemicals in unmarked barrels.
It may be several days before all the tests are completed.
The chemicals released were said to be methyl palmitate and diethylene glycol monoethyl
The county judge's office says the Houston Police Department environmental crimes department has been contacted, and an investigation by that entity is possible.
The company that owns Bluebonnet Petrochemical Solutions issued the following statement on Saturday:
"Baytown, TX- The Baytown Fire Department is currently assisting Harris County Public Health and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on the scene of a chemical spill at Bluebonnet Petrochemical Solutions near Main and Hunt Roads.
"The Baytown Fire Department responded to a fire at this location earlier this week. After the incident was cleared, it was discovered that two chemicals were leaking at the property into a drainage area. Harris County Public Health and other supporting agencies were called in to investigate and test private water wells in the immediate area. The Baytown Fire Department Hazmat crews are assisting with cleanup efforts and the City of Baytown’s Public Works teams are assisting with containing the chemicals. More information will be provided when it becomes available."
