Air Alliance Houston Statement on explosion at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing building in northwest Houston

By Air Alliance Houston’s Executive Director Bakeyah Nelson

For immediate release – January 24, 2020

“It is disheartening that only a few weeks into the new year, we’re seeing yet another large-scale chemical explosion in the Houston area. This tragedy is another example which highlights the dangers that chemical facilities pose to Houston communities and there is an urgent need to improve safety at these sites throughout the region.

“Just two months ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) overturned all accident prevention program provisions of the Chemical Disaster Rule, designed to protect us from exactly these types of disasters that we witnessed today. The longer the EPA continues to block these important protections, the longer it will be before industry makes necessary assessments and investments to prevent these incidents. Meanwhile, safety at facilities lags further and further behind, leaving children, families, and communities in harm’s way. To ensure protection for our region, Air Alliance Houston will continue litigation against the EPA and its rollback of this critical rule.”

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