“The explosion and subsequent fire at the Valero refinery in Port Arthur last night, with a 12-hour long shelter-in-place order, coming less than 2 weeks after a similar incident here in Harris County demands action. For too long, our policy-makers – at the EPA and the TCEQ – have traded our health and public safety for industry convenience. 

Plants like Valero and LyondellBasell Bayport in Pasadena have repeated emergency events and yet are still in operation. Last year, the TCEQ conducted the fewest on-site investigations in 8 eight years and less than 1 percent of all polluters in Texas received any formal enforcement action (source). Moreover, the EPA is attempting to weaken our current protections against chemical disasters just like these. When is enough enough? 

I am truly grateful for the first responders who address these disasters, and I am even more grateful there have been no major injuries or loss of life. 

I am keeping our friends and colleagues in Port Arthur in our thoughts and will support them as they recover from yet another (literally) ground shaking incident.”

Jennifer Hadayia, Executive Director, Air Alliance Houston

• There is still time to ask the EPA to stop rolling-back the new chemical disaster prevention rules. Visit Earthjustice for a simple and automated letter. 
• You can also express your concerns with TCEQ’s lack of oversight. Join our partner Public Citizen on March 30, 2026 to learn more. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Brenda Franco, [email protected] // 832.755.6220