In Houston, dioxin poisoning is a partisan issue, not health

The Houston Chronicle reported today that despite the evidence of a ten-year study by the University of Houston that water along the Houston Ship Channel into Galveston Bay is contaminated with high levels of dioxin and PCBs, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have ignored the issue.  According to the Clean Water Act (before Pruitt got a hold of it), the waterways are officially designated as "impaired" and Texas authorities are required to address the problem.

The study, which was conducted from 2001 to 2011, identified over 30 'hotspots' where dioxin has settled.  The TCEQ has refused to release the results of these studies, which includes more details about these hotspots.

The report, finalized in 2012, identified the most likely sources were two former paper mills and a huge chemical complex in Deer Park.   Even before then, a committee formed by state regulators found the major contamination sources to be Shell Chemical and OxyVinyls (a subsidiary of Occidental Chemicals), whose representatives did not voice any concerns to the pollution remediation, according to meeting minutes.

But sixteen years after the area was designated as a Superfund Site, no clean up has begun.  The companies haven't agreed to fund the clean up.

Why not?

Houston Chronicle reporter Lise Olsen reported that all three TCEQ commissioners refused to be interviewed.  All of them were appointed by Governor Greg Abbot (Republican).

Only the TCEQ chairman Bryan Shaw has a background in science.  The other two commissioners, Toby Baker and Jon Niermann, are policy makers.  Go figure.

There is concern now that Hurricanes Ike and Harvey might have caused the pollution to spread even further.  A lawyer, representing about 600 families, believes he will be able to prove that health problems near the pits and superfund sites are the result of dioxin in the water and fish.

Is there any reason to delay clean up of a major waterway, near a major U.S. city?  Do the chemical companies think it will be cheaper to settle out of court with the families, than actually undo the damage they caused?

The TCEQ needs to be called out on their failure to protect the health of Texans.  It appears they are in the pocket of big business.  Gasp.

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https://www.tceq.texas.gov/agency/organization