Fish and Shellfish Consumption Advisory ADV-55 Updated March 27, 2019
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
FISH AND SHELLFISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY ADV-55
This advisory is issued as a result of sampling of the Houston Ship Channel located in Harris County and revises ADV-49 issued June 26, 2013 for the Houston Ship Channel and the San Jacinto River below the Lake Houston Dam. Pesticide concentrations in fish from the Houston Ship Channel have decreased to acceptable levels. Blue crab and fish samples collected from the Houston Ship Channel continue to indicate the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs; dioxins) at concentrations exceeding health assessment guidelines established by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
Consumption of blue crab and fish from the Houston Ship Channel and the San Jacinto River below the Lake Houston Dam may pose a threat to human health.
COUNTY: Harris
AREA: The Houston Ship Channel and all contiguous waters north of the Fred Hartman Bridge, State Highway 146 including the San Jacinto River below the Lake Houston Dam
CONSUMPTION ADVISORY:
Contaminants of Concern Dioxins, PCBs and Volatile Organic Compounds
Species Affected All species of fish and blue crab
Women of Childbearing Age and Children < 12 DO NOT EAT
Women Past Childbearing Age and Adult Men DO NOT EAT
1 A meal is eight ounces of fish.
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Fish and Shellfish Consumption Advisory 55 Modified March 27, 2019
This advisory shall remain in effect until rescinded or modified in writing.
Modification to Fish and Shellfish Advisory 55
Due to the possible presence of volatile organic compounds resulting from releases related to the ITC Tank Fire incident, ADV 55 is modified as indicated on the table above.
This modification will remain in effect until rescinded or modified in writing.
Modified this 27th day of March, 2019
John Hellerstedt, M.D.
Commissioner
March 22, 2019 | Environment AG Paxton Files Lawsuit Against Intercontinental Terminals Company for Violations of the Texas Clean Air Act
Acting on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Attorney General Ken Paxton today filed an environmental lawsuit against Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) seeking injunctive relief and civil penalties in connection with a fire at ITC’s Deer Park petrochemical storage site. The lawsuit alleges that the fire, which began last Sunday and continued burning until Wednesday, released air pollution in violation of the Texas Clean Air Act.
The fire caused the release of several air contaminants, including benzene. Most of the chemicals identified in the fire are used in the production of gasoline, and short-term exposure to their fumes can cause fatigue, dizziness, and headaches. Twice this week, residents of Deer Park and neighboring Galena Park were told to stay indoors because of concerns about unhealthy air quality. Those concerns also prompted Deer Park ISD and several other districts to cancel classes for several days.
“The state of Texas works hard to maintain good air quality and will hold ITC accountable for the damage it has done to our environment,” Attorney General Paxton said. “ITC has a history of environmental violations, and this latest incident is especially disturbing and frightening. No company can be allowed to disrupt lives and put public health and safety at risk.”
TCEQ continues to monitor the air quality in the affected areas about 20 miles east of Houston.
“I would like to thank the Attorney General for acting so quickly on TCEQ’s request to enforce against ICT, LLC,” stated TCEQ Executive Director Toby Baker. “Due to the dynamic, ongoing investigation of this incident, only air quality violations have been cited in the state of Texas lawsuit against ICT, LLC. Any additional violations, including surface water quality, will be referred to the Office of Attorney General for civil enforcement as part of this action.”
The federal Chemical Safety Board, which investigates serious chemical accidents, announced yesterday that it is opening an investigation into the ITC fire.
View a copy of the lawsuit here;
DISASTERS & ACCIDENTS
Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan sues ITC over Deer Park tank fire
Wednesday, March 27th, 2019 4:27PM
DEER PARK, Texas (KTRK) -- Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan has sued Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) over the tank fire that began March 17 at their facility in Deer Park.
The Texas attorney general has already filed a lawsuit ITC.
Harris County Commissioners approved the lawsuit which seeks a temporary restraining order and temporary and permanent injunctions in an environmental enforcement action.
The County Attorney charges that ITC is responsible for burning and air emissions in violation of the state's Clean Air Act, discharging industrial waste into nearby waters in violation of state law and county regulations, and violation of county floodplain regulations by not having development permits for structures at its facility.
"This company put the health of Harris County residents in danger in many ways for several days," said County Attorney Ryan. "We will hold them responsible for their actions."
Harris County's Pollution Control, Emergency Management and Fire Marshall personnel responded to two tanks burning at ITC on March 17. Over the next few days, more tanks caught fire, releasing air contaminants.
Firefighting foam sprayed on the burning tanks by ITC and industrial wastewater were discharged into the surrounding water. A containment dike breached on March 22, allowing the discharge into Tucker Bayou, before the tank reignited.
In addition, benzene leaks from fire-damaged tanks and firefighting foam caused two local shelter-in-place advisories.
On Wednesday, officials gave updates on the clean-up efforts, with the U.S. Coast Guard saying that the Houston Ship Channel is back open from Tucker Bayou to light 116 for vessel traffic inbound and outbound.
The decision comes after 106 vessels were moved in and out of the area and only one required minor cleaning with hot water. It will be open during daylight hours only.
The entire area had been closed since Friday due to oily product in the water.
So far, more than 33,000 barrels of product have been recovered from the tank farm.
ITC incident commander Brent Weber said that in another milestone, tank 80-10, the last of the pygas-containing tanks, has been secured. Pygas has benzene in it.
ITC continues to pump tank 80-13. Officials say they've also seen an improvement in air quality in the affected area and surrounding communities.
The company has made progress in remediating the ditches along Tidal Road, Independence Parkway and the property around the facility.
If you have concerns about your health and you don't have a care provider, Harris Health System's Ask My Nurse hotline will remain open through 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. The number is 713-634-1110.
SEE ALSO: Fireball erupts as Deer Park tank fire burns
ITC says that so far it has received 2,000 calls to its claims hotline. Hundreds of claims have been submitted.
How to file a claim against ITC for illness or damage from smoke
As a precaution, Harris County Commissioner Precinct 2 has closed the following parks with waterfronts as cleanup continues:
Bay Area Park in Houston
Clear Lake Park in Seabrook
Sylvan Beach in La Porte
Juan Seguin in La Porte
Rio Villa Nature Trail
Meadow Brook
River Terrace
Moncrief Park
The Lynchburg Ferry remains closed to the public.
BAYTOWN: The Baytown Nature Center will also remain closed until further notice.
LA PORTE: Seabreeze Park and Klein Retreat in La Porte will remain closed until further notice.
NOW, i have a question, what is to keep all this cancer causing products from reaching Galveston bay and beyond, past the Fred Hartman bridge?
WHAT wall/boom/gate is in place to stop that?
WHAT IF the Ike/Rice Dike was in place, not a hurricane event, just a man made catastrophic event such as this one right here from ITC in Deer Park, but what if there was a gate at the Fred Hartman bridge, would it be utilized to keep those cancer causing pollutants in place in the ship channel North of the Fred Hartman Bridge until a total cleanup is complete, to keep those cancer causing pollutants from reaching our precious Galveston Bay and Gulf of Mexico?
Once again Houston, Harris County, is flushing their pollutants on down the ship channel, into Galveston Bay, and beyond, to the Gulf of Mexico, and we are just a by product of friendly fire.
a very said state of affairs for Galveston bay and beyond, just another nail in the coffin...bon appetit!
Terry S. Singeltary Sr., Bacliff, Texas, 77518 USA, Galveston Bay, on the bottom...
