Representative Veronica Escobar (D) is demanding answers from Texas environmental regulators after updated reports showed the Marathon Petroleum refinery in El Paso released more pollutants and continued emissions for three days, beyond the amounts initially reported.
What new information did Escobar raise?
Rep. Escobar has sent a letter to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Chairwoman Brooke Paup seeking answers about the Marathon Petroleum refinery emissions incident earlier this month.
The letter follows Escobar's request for the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the August 4-5 incident.
Escobar said the updated reports filed with TCEQ show the emissions continued for three days and were greater than initially reported. The revised reports list approximately 10,066 pounds of Propylene, and nearly 1,600 pounds of sulfur dioxide, compared with initial reports of 8,897.9 pounds of propylene and 862 pounds of sulfur dioxide.
She said the reported releases raise both environmental and public health concerns.
What is Escobar asking TCEQ?
Escobar is asking TCEQ to determine whether Marathon violated federal requirements or its Title V air permit and when the company notified the agency about the incident.
She wants to know whether Marathon followed its risk management plan, why local officials and residents were not notified, and what air monitoring was conducted during and after the emissions event.
Additional questions focus on whether TCEQ independently evaluated potential health impacts, particularly from sulfur dioxide and 1,3-butadiene, and whether further monitoring or enforcement is warranted.
What happens next?
Escobar is calling for fast, transparent communication with El Paso residents and asking TCEQ to keep her office informed of any investigation or enforcement proceedings involving Marathon.
"It is crucial that TCEQ holds Marathon fully accountable for violations and implements safeguards to stop these incidents from happening again," Escobar warned.
The request adds state-level scrutiny to the federal investigation Escobar previously sought as regulators examine the refinery's emissions and response.
