A massive emissions release at a Marathon Petroleum refinery in El Paso has Representative Veronica Escobar (D) demanding answers from the federal government after residents reported strong odors and feeling sick while thousands of pounds of pollutants were released into the air.
Rep. Escobar sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and EPA Region 6 Administrator Scott Mason calling for an investigation into the August 4-5 incident, which involved a process upset at the refinery's fluid catalytic cracker.
According to reports filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the incident released approximately 8,897.9 pounds of propylene, 862 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and 19.1 pounds of 1,3-butadiene. The reported sulfur dioxide emissions were 3,591 times the permitted limit.
But Escobar's concerns go beyond the numbers.
Residents reportedly noticed strong petroleum-like odors, experienced illness and lightheadedness, and some left their homes during the incident. Local officials also questioned why they weren't immediately informed.
"Residents of El Paso deserve timely and accurate information when hazardous pollutants are released into their community," Escobar wrote.
El Paso County Commissioner David Stout reportedly learned about the release only after contacting Marathon himself. City Council Representative Josh Acevedo has also called for Marathon representatives to appear before the El Paso City Council and explain what happened.
Now Escobar wants the EPA to determine whether Marathon violated the Clean Air Act or its air permit, when regulators were notified, what monitoring was conducted, and whether the refinery followed required procedures after releasing 1,3-butadiene.
She is also demanding answers about whether the reported releases could have harmed the health of El Paso residents and why the public and local officials were not given more timely information.
Escobar has given the EPA until August 31 to provide a written response and requested inspection reports, monitoring data, notices of violation, and other records related to the incident. She also renewed her support for a contested case hearing this fall over Marathon's air permit, continuing her push for greater accountability at the refinery.
