EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — More than two months after an emissions incident at Marathon Petroleum’s El Paso refinery, State Sen. César J. Blanco hosted a public forum on Tuesday aimed at improving how emergency information is shared with the community.
Blanco held a Community Safety & Solutions Forum on Tuesday at El Paso Community College’s Administrative Services Center, 9050 Viscount Blvd., Building A, with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and other stakeholders.
According to Blanco, the forum aimed to strengthen communication, coordination, and emergency preparedness, and is expected to focus on how the public receives timely emergency information.
Organizers also encouraged attendees to submit feedback in advance to inform the conversation and future legislation. A feedback form is available here.
Julia Spencer reports on Marathon Community Safety & Solutions Forum (Credit: KFOX14)
The meeting 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.
The forum also comes less than a month after Marathon hosted a public meeting to address the August incident at the meeting, including what substances were released, air monitoring results, and the findings of an investigation.
The company has previously said it did everything to mitigate the situation and that it notified the city of El Paso and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
However, residents have questioned whether the federal government should step in, demanding transparency and accountability.
WATCH THE FULL FORUM
Marathon Community Safety & Solutions Forum (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)
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