Harvey Flooding Creates Problems
This week’s unprecedented flooding has created problems for some of the industrial facilities in and around Galena Park.
Due to the unparalleled amount of rainfall, two facilities experienced leaks of stored petroleum products
East of the Galena Park on the Houston Ship Channel, several large petroleum storage tanks were floated by flooding, which caused leaks as the water levels dropped and the tanks settled. All of the leaked product was contained within the containment dikes and did not spread. The Galena Park Fire Department, Galena Park Office of Emergency Management, Galena Park LEPC, Channel Industries Mutual Aid, Channelview FD, LaPorte FD and EMS responded to the initial report of a leak. CIMA specialists, were able to locate a leak and a plan was implemented to mitigate the leakage. A private contractor responded Friday morning to take over the response, which is expected to take about a week.
The extraordinary rain also caused an issue with a crude oil tank's floating roof near Clinton Dr. submerging the roof, and allowing crude oil to spill from the tank and into a containment pond. The tank's protective dike contained the overflowed crude, preventing it from spreading outside the containment area. The spill was cleaned and the contents of the tank were transferred to an unaffected tank. The situation has allowed the vapors into the atmosphere and the odor was detected in areas on Clinton Drive and areas west of Crown Street.
Galena Park Emergency Management, USCG and GPLEPC were on-site to meet with facility response personnel. Harris County Pollution Control monitored the air in multiple locations and found no dangers from the vapors' odor.
