Posted on · On Thursday's Houston Matters: Galveston County's response to the coronavirus, how the pandemic might affect urbanization in Texas, the rise of video streaming services amid social distancing, and why some cleaning products work better on some surfaces.
Posted on · On Tuesday's Houston Matters: Why many local restaurants are staying open amid COVID-19, lessons from the ITC Deer Park chemical fire one year ago, a conversation with Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, and answers to your allergy questions.
Posted on · On Wednesday's Houston Matters: The latest on the fire at a Deer Park chemical facility, a discussion of the latest political news, Kashmere High School's new principal, and writer Bryan Washington.
Posted on · The U.S. Chemical Safety Board says there are "major lessons" to be learned from the incident
Posted on · The plant's owners warned more explosions could follow because a loss of refrigeration was causing chemicals stored there to degrade and burn.
Posted on · State regulators have linked the plant to plastic pellets in nearby waters and are currently considering an enforcement action. But residents are suing in federal court, hoping for what would be, if they win, an unusually large fine.
Posted on · The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the effects of low-level exposure are unknown.
Posted on · A proposed bill would set up an emergency alert system for residence near chemical plants.
Posted on · Michael Hagerty/Houston Public MediaThe Union of Concerned Scientists and TEJAS â Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services â published a report today (Oct. 27, 2016) which outlines the disproportionate risk some communities in Greater Houston face from chemical exposure as a result of both everyday air pollution and occasional industrial accidents. Of course, thereâs nothing particularly […]
Posted on · Back in May (May 19, 2016), we spoke with Houston Chronicle reporters Matt Dempsey and Mark Collette about the first installment in an extensive series called Chemical Breakdown, looking at chemical facilities in the Houston region. In the initial piece, Dempsey and Collette looked at chemical inventories for 2,500 businesses in the Houston area and, […]
Posted on · Recently (Sept. 20, 2016), Shell Oil announced plans to vacate most of its downtown offices. Thousands of employees are expected to move to the company's Woodcreek Complex on I-10 and North Dairy Ashford and to the Shell Technology Center on State Highway 6. The move is planned for the first quarter of 2017. On this […]
Posted on · A 2014 gas leak at a DuPont chemical plant in La Porte killed four workers. In response to that accident, the Houston Chronicle obtained chemical inventories of more than 2,500 businesses in Greater Houston to learn which pose the greatest risk to the public. We talk with reporters Matt Dempsey and Mark Collette about what […]
Posted on · Rail cars, tanks and barges are routinely used to ship chemicals. These chemicals are key to the manufacture of all manner of everyday materials, from plastics to paint. Eventually, these cars, tankers and barges have to be cleaned, a procedure that is largely unregulated and raises health and safety concerns. As the Houston Chronicle reported […]
Posted on · Rail cars, tanks and barges are routinely used to ship chemicals. These chemicals are key to the manufacture of all manner of everyday materials, from plastics to paint. Eventually, these cars, tankers and barges have to be cleaned, a procedure that is largely unregulated and raises health and safety concerns. As the Houston Chronicle reported […]
Posted on · Companies that drill for oil use combinations of chemicals in the hydraulic fracturing process to free oil trapped in rock formations called shale. You probably know that drillers pump thousands of gallons of water mixed with such chemicals down into their wells. You may be aware there are rules about reporting what those chemicals are. […]