El Paso refinery testing new alert system after incidents raise transparency concerns

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The troubled refinery in Central El Paso said it tested a new emergency notification system on Thursday.

According to Marathon Petroleum, the refinery has been working with the City since 2025 to create an alert system to notify people who live within half a mile of the refinery whenever an incident happens.

Marathon said that this system is on top of the refinery’s 24-hour “Community Helpline,” which has been expanded to handle more calls, the refinery added.

Below is Marathon’s full statement:

Safe and reliable operations are core principles of Marathon Petroleum, and we never want our operations to negatively impact our neighbors. Our trained professionals work every day to operate the refinery safely, reliably, and in compliance with environmental requirements.Marathon supports the development of an improved community notification system and has been working with the City of El Paso over the past year to establish a system that can directly notify nearby residents about refinery events and provide timely information when appropriate.This system would be in addition to Marathon’s 24-hour Community Helpline, which has been expanded to manage higher call volumes. Yesterday evening, in collaboration with the city, a test message was sent to help confirm the system is functioning as intended. Once fully operational, the system will be able to send messages when necessary to neighbors of the refinery, including all those within a half mile of the facility’s fence line.

KFOX14/CBS4 reached out to the City to confirm that it is working with Marathon on this system.

A City spokesperson said the refinery is working with the Office of Emergency Management to possibly use its systems to send out alerts.

This comes after the refinery has been involved in multiple recent incidents, including a major pollution release and a contractor injury– incidents that raised concerns and questions from local leaders and the community.

An environmental report indicated that over 15 tons of pollutants were released into the air during an incident in early August, significantly exceeding previous estimates.

The pollution release involved substances such as propylene, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide after a piece of equipment known as a Fluid Catalytic Cracker experienced a process upset.

Residents reported overwhelming sulfur odors that caused symptoms like nausea, headaches, and throat pain.

Additionally, a contractor was injured during on-site maintenance and repair work at the refinery on a Saturday in late August, leading to an ongoing investigation by the company.

“These people are really, really angry and they’re really concerned about what is happening,” City Rep. Josh Acevedo said in late August when discussing the incidents and the lack of answers, and how that has impacted residents. “They feel that there is no accountability and that Marathon refuses to face them.”

El Paso City Rep. Josh Acevedo. Credit: KFOX14/CBS4

Acevedo also said he believes the situation at the refinery is serious and that the lack of information is worsening public distrust.

“The longer that they stay quiet, the worse that this gets,” Acevedo said. “And I think I believe that what is happening at the refinery is really, really bad and they are hiding it.”

Marathon hopes to address these concerns and questions during a community meeting planned for Oct. 6.

The meeting will be held at Riverside High School, located at 301 Midway Dr. in the Lower Valley.

People have questioned whether the federal government should step in; however, El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar said that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declined her request to investigate, saying that oversight of Marathon falls under the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Residents at community meeting for Congresswoman Veronica Escobar congressional update and Marathon Refinery. (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)

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