A tanker truck carrying fuel grade ethanol overturned near Hamshire, Jefferson County, Texas around 0700 hours on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. Hamshire, Texas is about 10 miles west of Beaumont and the incidend occurred at mile marker 833. (Initial reports were that the tanker contained methanol, but were corrected during the response).The tanker (containing 7,200 gallons) partially ruptured, causing ethanol to leak from the trailer onto the TXDOT right of way adjacent to I-10 at a rate of approximately 1-2 gallons per minute.
The Hamshire Fire Department (FD) Chief confirmed a 2 mile shelter in place and a 1/4 mile voluntary residential evacuation order was in place at the time of the incident. Hamshire Fannett High School is located approximately two miles from the accident. The TCEQ (Beaumont) Emergency Response Team is on scene and conducting air monitoring. Three local FDs are on scene and the Beaumont FD is overseeing the containment and cleanup of the spill. Interstate-10 traffic was detoured (East and Westbound) at the time of the incident, and will remain diverted until HAZMAT crews can secure the release.
R6 OSC Warren Zehner and EPA contractors mobilized to the ethanol spill at 11:00 am on May 2, 2012.
