{"id":2110,"date":"2011-11-18T15:59:20","date_gmt":"2011-11-18T21:59:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/?p=2110"},"modified":"2011-11-18T16:04:31","modified_gmt":"2011-11-18T22:04:31","slug":"getting-to-the-bottom-of-the-leaks-at-bps-texas-city-refinery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/2011\/11\/18\/getting-to-the-bottom-of-the-leaks-at-bps-texas-city-refinery\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting to the Bottom of the Leaks at BP’s Texas City Refinery"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mark Wilson\/Getty Images<\/p>

An oil refinery blow off stack in Texas City<\/p><\/div>\n

There were reports earlier this week of leaks of at the BP refinery in Texas City, the site of a 2005 explosion that killed fifteen and injured 140 more.<\/p>\n

The gases that were reportedly leaked were sulfur dioxide, a pollutant\u00a0regulated by the EPA<\/a>\u00a0and linked to respiratory issues, and methyl mercaptan, a smelly gas — think rotten cabbage — added to natural gas (which is odorless) as a safety measure.<\/p>\n

City Emergency Manager Responds<\/strong><\/p>\n

StateImpact Texas spoke with Texas City Emergency Manager and Homeland Security Director Bruce Clawson<\/a> today about the situation at the plant. He says there has been no known leak of sulfur dioxide, but confirmed an ongoing leak of methyl mercaptan.<\/p>\n

The gas leaking from the plant, he says “smells\u00a0ugly and makes you sick. It’s not a small matter.” Clawson says that he is monitoring it carefully and will notify the public to shelter in place if need be. “There have been times where it certainly stinks, but it hasn\u2019t gotten to [that] level,” he says. On Wednesday, local news reported that thirty workers at the neighboring Dow plant asked for medical attention after being exposed to the gas, and some of them were sent to the hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo far the amount being leaked given the wind speed and the height it\u2019s being released at. Certainly it\u2019s unpleasant and a quality of life issue. I\u2019m not aware that in the public that it\u2019s caused anything other than discomfort. A small amount of mercaptan goes a long way. It\u2019s an extremely unpleasant odor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reports of Sulfur Dioxide May be Inaccurate<\/strong><\/p>\n

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