East Palestine Toxic Wastewater Sent to Houston?

Wastewater used to combat the deadly fire resulting from the East Palestine train derailment was shipped to Harris County, Texas.

The toxic water is reportedly being shipped to Texas Molecular, a sewage treatment facility in Deer Park.

However, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said some of the wastewater from East Palestine started arriving at the plant last week.

She explained that officials weren’t notified that the wastewater was coming to Harris County for disposal.

I heard the news today about East Palestine “firefighting water” being sent to Harris County and will continue pushing for information for our community. pic.twitter.com/lMyJYPtTdT

— Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) February 23, 2023

“Today in speaking with Texas Molecular, we learned that in fact some of the firefighting water is already here,” Hidalgo said.

WATCH:

Update on What We Know So Far Regarding East Palestine ‘Fire Fighting Water’ Disposal https://t.co/EPeCRQGCSK

— Office of Judge Lina Hidalgo (@HarrisCoJudge) February 24, 2023

Chron reported:

Hidalgo noted that Texas Molecular pinned the date the water began arriving in Deer Park at “around last Wednesday-ish.” The company stated that it has received “a half-million gallons” of firefighting water used to fight the East Palestine chemical fire, according to Hidalgo. Texas Molecular will receive around two million gallons of chemical-laden water in total, the judge announced, and is taking in 30 truck shipments per day of the material.

“The company has assured us they’re storing the firefighting water ‘in a way that removes the risk to water, ground water, air emissions and protects public health,” Hidalgo said. The judge added that the water’s presence in the county doesn’t necessarily mean danger, but that a lack of communication has left county leaders frustrated and in the dark on a matter involving a “very public, very concerning disaster that is still ongoing.”

“There are many things we don’t know that we should know,” Hidalgo said. “That doesn’t mean that something is wrong…but it’s worth noting.”

“We are chosen based on our capabilities, experience, and unique ability to handle a project of this size”…”Our technology safely removes hazardous constituents from the biosphere,” Texas Molecular stated.

WATCH:

⚠️ 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗡 ⚠️

𝗢𝗛𝗜𝗢 derailment wastewater 𝗛𝗔𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗘𝗡 shipped to 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗢. #Houston #Texas

🤯🤯🤯 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗟 they won’t offer transparency for Ohio residents 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 they bring it here?!?! pic.twitter.com/KvdQqemptA

— NΛTLY DΞNISΞ (@NatlyDenise_) February 24, 2023

In an update Saturday, the EPA paused sending the toxic wastewater from the East Palestine train derailment to Harris County.

From KHOU 11:

The Environmental Protection Agency will pause the disposing of any wastewater from an Ohio train derailment in Harris County, according to Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee. The agency later confirmed the move in a statement to KHOU.

Jackson Lee said on Twitter she “worked intensely with the EPA and EPA administrator in recent days to protect the community from toxic waste disposal.”

The EPA said Norfolk Southern was “solely responsible for the disposal of waste generated by the East Palestine train derailment site” until Feb. 24.

Norfolk Southern was supplied with a list of disposal facilities, according to the EPA. They were then told to immediately pause waste shipments within 24 hours. Plans, disposal, and transportation of waste will now be subject to EPA approval, the agency said.

According to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, about half a million gallons of wastewater are already here. Texas Molecular, a facility in Deer Park, expected to receive two million gallons in total.