On February 21, 2018, EPA was notified by the National
Response Center (NRC) regarding a fire and explosion at the HP Gas LLC.,
facility located at 6701 West Bay Rd., Baytown, Texas (the site). The Baytown
Fire Department responded, however, there were no signs of an explosion, and no
fire was observed. After discovering corroded cylinders during an investigation
of the facility, the county Fire Marshal contacted the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for assistance.
On April 23, 2018, TCEQ requested assistance from EPA to assess and mitigate
cylinders containing hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, phosgene, and other
unknown chemicals at the site. EPA
issued an Action Memorandum in August 2018 for a time-critical removal action
on the site. During the 2018 removal action, EPA processed 1,001 cylinders
on-site through hydrolyzation, flaring, neutralization or ventilation. EPA also
shipped 267 cylinders and 37 drums/labpacks off-site for disposal, and disposed
of empty and purged (processed) cylinders as non-hazardous debris. A grand
total of 1,305 containers were remediated. EPA left shippable containers on
site, per DOT standards, for TCEQ to address.
TCEQ was unable to address the remaining containers through
their enforcement process and requested EPA assistance on August 20, 2024. On
February 3, 2025, EPA began a Removal Site Evaluation at the site to verify
current conditions and update the 2018 inventory. EPA plans to transport and
dispose of the remaining 1,500 containers at an approved off-site disposal
facility, disassemble the scrubber, and dispose of any remaining hazardous waste.
