Air pollution has become a reoccurring conversation in Houston, Texas as chemical plants put the resident’s air quality at risk. The Environmental Protection Agency sets the pollution air quality standards. And just last month, two chemical plants went ablaze within two weeks of each other (Crosby & Deer Park) forcing people indoors in the surrounding areas. Multiple sources said that you could feel the explosions from a mile away. Are these just a coincidence? I believe not.

Crosby has a long history of breaking the law. In 2016, KMCO pleads guilty to violating the Clean Air Act. They plead guilty to entering false entries logs on air quality from a leaking tank.  Just a year before that, KMCO failed to reach regulations on risk management and makes this looks less and less like a coincidence. Just to put a little icing on the cake, Texas has given the plant three notices since last year that violate federal clean air laws. The list goes on and on. Ignoring these problems has created a lot of conversation about the credibility of Texas Legal and safety actions.

 

Environmental Protection Agencies Role in Clean Air

Congress created the Clean Air Act to fight against pollution issues emerging around the country. They set the baseline for every category involved with air pollution using the latest science and technology to gather information. There are various levels of responsibility for both state and government levels.

 

Common Pollutants

There are various levels of responsibility for both state and federal levels. They work in a partnership to ensure the laws meet all requirements and are enforced. For everyday common pollutants, the EPA establishes the baseline for national air quality standards to protect the people’s health. Using the EPA guidance and technical assistance, States takes responsibility for enforcing the Clean Air Act.  Each state has its own plan specifically catered to their emission.

 

Toxic Pollutants

Hazardous/toxic air pollutants are defined by being cancerous or have serious health effects, such as adverse environmental effects and reproductive/birth effects. Toward the top of this list, petroleum refineries, and chemical plants are in the top 5 cause of toxic air pollutants. When you combine this with ignorance on both the state and federal level, terrible outcomes like the Crosby plant explosion.

Good Practices to reduce odors & fumes

• Store loose materials either indoors or under cover. Store oil and chemicals in suitable, sealed containers and make sure that lids fit tightly.
• Make sure the seals in your equipment fit properly and are in good condition, eg around valves and flanges.
• Establish systems to monitor, measure, control and minimize solvent emissions.
• Install chemical recovery systems to capture chemicals in exhaust gases.
• Use extraction units to remove dust and odour from your operations and filter the extracted air before you release it into the atmosphere.
• Regularly inspect and maintain all abatement equipment, such as scrubbers, carbon filters and dust filters, to ensure your equipment runs efficiently. Make regular visual inspections of your emissions to air and keep inspection records on your site.
• Ensure that roads and any open storage areas are hard-surfaced. Clean these regularly to reduce dust.
• Cover skips and lorries leaving your site.