Shelter-in-place lifted in Texas City after odor complaint at Marathon refinery
TEXAS CITY, Texas (KTRK) -- A shelter-in-place has been lifted for Texas City residents after an odor complaint prompted an investigation Tuesday afternoon.
The video above is ABC13's 24/7 Livestream.
"An all clear has been issued," the City of Texas City shared on Twitter. "There is no longer a shelter in place."
Texas City officials said that multiple agencies have been conducting air monitoring and all readings in the affected areas and throughout the city are normal.
The shelter-in-place was issued for all residents east of State Highway 146 due to an incident in progress at Marathon Petroleum's Galveston Bay Refinery Sulfur Plant.
Texas City Emergency Management's Office said it received a call at about 12:50 p.m. with odor complaints. This prompted an odor investigation, where monitors picked up a reading that confirmed there was an issue.
Authorities spoke with representatives from Marathon Petroleum, confirming the issues at the company's sulfur plant. The chemical is unknown at this time.
The shelter-in-place came after winds were detected coming out of the west. No injuries were immediately reported.
The video above is ABC13's 24/7 livestream.
Fewer than 30 minutes before issuing the order, Texas City tweeted that Marathon was flaring and no action was needed.
Marathon Petroleum issued the following statement:
"Marathon Petroleum personnel are responding to an operational issue at the Galveston Bay Refinery Sulfur Plant and are working to resolve the matter. A limited refinery shelter-in-place has been declared for affected areas within the facility, and the city of Texas City has issued a shelter-in-place for the affected portions of the community east of 146. The health and safety of our workers, responders and the community are our top priority. Air monitoring is in progress, and appropriate agencies have been notified. There have been no injuries reported."
In efforts to maintain students and staff safe, Texas City ISD said that all outdoor activities during its summer school and youth camps are canceled at its Texas City campuses. Students have been moved indoors and will not be released until the all-clear is given.
Last month, Marathon employee Scott Higgins, 55, died when a fire broke out at the refinery.
Higgins' family announced they're filing a lawsuit against Marathon Petroleum, claiming wrongful death and negligence.
The civil lawsuit is being handled by Attorney Tony Buzbee and it claims he burned to death. The family said it has not been able to get any straight answers from the company about what exactly happened.
According to an initial report from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, it was a splitter on Ultraformer Unit #3 that developed a leak and caught on fire.
The family claims negligence on behalf of Marathon and others in failing to "properly and adequately manage, inspect, maintain, and repair" that unit and surrounding machinery.
RELATED: 'Tox-Doc' says shelter-in-place should've been ordered amid Marathon Petroleum plant fire
Source: KTRK-TV
