EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Environmental reports show that the Marathon refinery in El Paso released tons of pollutants into the air for hours Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the state agency tasked with preventing and reducing pollution, released incident reports detailing the emissions from the Marathon El Paso refinery over the two days.
First report
The agency said a total of 862 pounds of sulfur dioxide were released over 24 hours, from Tuesday at 7:47 p.m. to Wednesday at 7:47 p.m. The report said the incident began after a “Fluid Catalytic Cracker (FCC) experienced a process upset and shut down.”
The report listed the sulfur dioxide emission limit as 0.01 pounds per hour, or 0.24 pounds over 24 hours, making the release 3,591 times over the limit.
What is sulfur dioxide?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says sulfur dioxide is a gas that can harm people and the environment. Exposure can cause breathing problems, particularly for people with asthma, and can damage trees and plants while contributing to acid rain.
Report is attached below:
TCEQ Search Air Emission Event Reports Incident Details 2PDF previewPreview PDF
View PDFSecond report
On Tuesday, from 7:10 p.m. to 9:23 p.m., the refinery released 19 pounds of 1,3-butadiene and 8,897.9 pounds of propylene– or 4.4 tons– in 2 hours and 13 minutes. As in the first incident, the report said the release was triggered when an FCC “experienced a process upset and shut down.”
Both contaminants have an emission limit of 1.25 pounds per hour, the report said.
What is 1,3-butadiene?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines 1,3-butadiene as a “colorless gas with a mild, aromatic, gasoline-like odor. It is non-corrosive but highly flammable. The vapor is heavier than air.” The CDC says breathing high concentrations can cause lethargy, headache, drowsiness, fatigue, vertigo, ataxia, unconsciousness, coma, and respiratory depression and death.
Furthermore, the National Cancer Institute has defined 1,3-butadiene as a human carcinogen, adding that it has been linked to an increased risk of leukemia.
What is propylene?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says propylene is a colorless gas that smells like petroleum and can cause dizziness, drowsiness and unconsciousness when inhaled.
Report is attached below:
TCEQ Search Air Emission Event Reports Incident DetailsPDF previewPreview PDF
In a statement provided to KFOX14/CBS4, TCEQ said the emissions in the report are an estimation and may be revised in the final notification, which is due two weeks from the incident.
Below is their full statement:
An initial notification contains estimated emissions. Estimated emissions may be revised in the final notification (due two weeks from the end of the event) after the entity has fully evaluated an incident. After the final notifications are received, TCEQ will conduct an investigation of the reported emissions events to determine compliance with applicable rules, permit provisions, notification and reporting requirements.
The incidents are also being investigated by the El Paso Local Air Program.
RELATED: Hydrocarbon release at Marathon refinery causes sulfur odors
On Tuesday night, residents in South Central El Paso reported foul smells that caused nausea and headaches.
The smell was so overwhelming, people who live close to the refinery said they felt nausea, headaches, and throat pain. One resident even said that they had to leave their home for the night taking their dogs with them.
Rosario Quintanilla, who also lives on E. Yandell Drive near the oil plant, has lived in Central El Paso since 1970 and said the smell was so strong she felt like she couldn’t breathe.
Marathon refinery officials said trained professionals responded to the alerts, identified the source, and addressed the situation.
The refinery also said air monitoring was deployed as a precaution, but it did not detect any readings indicating health risks.
El Paso County Commissioner David Stout, who represents the area where the refinery is located, said he wants better systems in place, more transparency and accountability from the refinery.
“Monitors in the neighborhood, monitors on the fence line, and just more accountability,” Stout said. “If these types of things continue to happen, and they cannot contain these instances, then we need to talk about what’s next in removing the refinery from this area.”
According to Stout, nearly an hour and a half after the first reports of the smell surfaced, his office received notice that the refinery was responding to odors in the surrounding area.
“I am deeply concerned, not only regarding the incident that occurred last night at the refinery, but also with the lack of information and transparency provided to local officials who represent the area, and especially the residents who live nearby. This incident did not only affect people living in the immediate vicinity of Marathon; strong odors were also reported in neighborhoods as far north as Five Points and Manhattan Heights, and nobody knew what was happening,” Stout said.
RELATED: El Paso leaders win air quality battle; set to review refinery emissions in legal hearing
This comes after some El Paso leaders critical of the refinery celebrated a win as on June 3, TCEQ voted to review the air permit instead of automatically renewing it.
This means that for the first time since 1928, Marathon will have to produce documents providing more information about its emissions, including numbers and the way these numbers are calculated.
Texas State Rep. Vince Perez, who championed the move along with Stout, said the air quality hearing is likely to happen in the next six months, mentioning that there will be a 30-day period for people in the affected area to take steps to participate in the hearing.
Perez said El Pasoans with questions or concerns can call his office at 512-463-0638 or 915-440-4377.
The Marathon El Paso refinery is located at 6501 Trowbridge Dr.
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