U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Shell Chemicals Fire - Deer Park

 
Site Contact:
Idrissa Ouedraogo
FOSC

(Ouedraogo.Idrissa@epa.gov)

Site Location:
5900 HWY 225
Deer Park, TX 77536
response.epa.gov/ShellChemicalsFireDeerPark

UPDATED:

On the afternoon of May 5, 2023, EPA Region 6 response center was notified of a fire at 5900 Highway 225 at the Shell Deer Park Facility. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), EPA, and local agencies, including those from Deer Park, Houston, Harris County, and the Shell facility emergency crews, responded to the fire. Shell reported the unit on fire was the Olefins 3 Unit which produces ethylene.

Although the fire was contained hours later, it reignited at about 4:15 pm on May 6 due to residue in the concrete containment area. This fire was extinguished around 8:00 pm on May 7. EPA and technical assistance contractors were re-mobilized on May 6 and remained in close coordination with TCEQ to supplement and support the agencies’ response.

Emergency air monitoring was conducted as part of the emergency response. EPA and TCEQ conducted air monitoring of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), including Benzene. Six measurements above the detection limit of 0.1 parts per million (ppm) of total VOCs were detected. This area is routinely monitored for air pollution by TCEQ, EPA, and the facility. The Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH) and TCEQ conducted community air monitoring, including the utilization of TCEQ’s air monitoring vans.

Visit the Texas Commission Environment Department's Shell Fire, Deer Park Emergency Response web site: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/response/shell-pemex-deer-park

View the EPA Story Map and Dashboard by clicking the EPA Logo below:

Image from Story Map