The National Response Center (NRC 753543) notified EPA of an explosion at the BP petrochemical plant in Texas City, Texas. The explosion occurred at approximately 1:20 PM local time. BP representative Dan Lutz reports the process unit which was involved in the explosion, is an isomerization unit that produced high end naptha products with a feed line that contains 0.5% benzene. Fifteen fatalities have been confirmed and at least 77 injured. A Shelter in Place was issued for nearby residents and schools in the Texas City Independent School District as a result of the explosion. The fire was put out at 3:22 PM on 23 March 2005 and Shelter in Place was cancelled at 4:20 PM on the same day.
Unified Command has been established with BP Incident Commander and other external agencies. EPA along with BP contractors will continue to monitor the air quality in the surrounding areas. All air monitoring has indicated non-detect readings at this time. EPA will continue to work within the Unified Command to address any potential health and safety concerns in the BP Search and Rescue Operations along with the surrounding community.
The objectives during the day of 24 March 2005 was to finalize accounting for all personnel; establish and maintain 24-hour coverage for family and victim support; establish status of all injured personnel; continued incident investigation; and continue communications as needed with public, external agencies, and families and perimeter monitoring for the community and search and rescue team.
EPA representatives continued to conduct perimeter monitoring on 24 March 2005. All air monitoring results have been non-detect. BP incident command continues to operate Search and Rescue team in the facility. Search and Rescue efforts were assisted by ATF agents with Search and Rescue dogs.
The water used in the fire fighting efforts and to prevent airborne particulates from entering the air has been containerized onsite. The stormwater runoff was analyzed for analytes associated with BETX compounds. The stormwater was containerized prior to leaving the facility.
EPA FOSC McCormick contacted FAA to establish a no-fly zone around BP. BP incident command also conducted a door-to-door canvassing of the local neighborhoods to answer question, assess damage, and to reaffirm to the public that air monitoring results have been non-detect.
BP continues to operate the remainder of the facility that was not affected by the explosion. Operation units surrounding the isomerzation unit have been checked for damage. Minor damages were reported from the unit operators, but primarily consisted of house keeping type damages. The incident area remains secure.
Unified Command is established with BP Incident Commander, EPA FOSC McCormick, SOSC Rodriguez with Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Texas City Emergency Management Respresentative Clawson. BP established an operational period from midnight on 24 March 2005 through 0800 25 March 2005. Objective during the operational period previously mentioned. Current objectives for the operational period of midnight 24 March 2005 through 0800 on 25 March 2005 are listed below:
- Account for all personnel – cautious approach to recovery area
- Continue incident investigation
- Establish secure boundary around incident site – recommended by OSHA
- Reassess incident to establish organization periods
- Manage external and internal communications
- Establish a plan for demobilization of IMT
Two EPA START representatives have been tasked by EPA FOSC McCormick to assist in unified command system. No air monitoring will be conducted unless site conditions change. The remainder of the EPA START representatives were demobilized at the request of EPA FOSC McCormick at 1700 on 24 March 2005.
All air monitoring data has indicated non-detect readings. EPA representatives will discontinue air monitoring unless onsite conditions change.
Continue to work within the Unified Command and address any potential health and safety concerns in the BP Search and Rescue Operations along with the surrounding community.
Continue to support EAP activities.
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