Investigation continues into environmental impact of PBC chemical fire

ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - State Representative Brooks Landgraf provided another update from the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality Saturday afternoon, as the investigation into the impact of the fire from earlier this week continues.

Landgraf said in a post Saturday afternoon that regional staff with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality continued its investigation on Saturday, including responses to complaints filed by residents who live near the Permian Basin Containers fire site, located northwest of Odessa.

The TCEQ detected a "chemical odor" at a runoff pond on the PBC site. The responsible party's remediation contractor said it expects to have the runoff pond pumped out by the middle of next week, according to the Commission.

Complaints about hydrogen sulfide leaking from the site have been investigated, and readings from handheld air monitoring equipment did not detect the presence of H2S originating from the PBC site.

When asked about testing for groundwater contamination as a result of the runoff, with most nearby residents relying on their own on-site water wells for water, the TCEQ said they are working to get answers. Landgraf said he will be meeting with the regional staff on-site in coming days, with hopes of no later than Monday.

Representative Landgraf is also thanking Odessa Fire Rescue as they continue to address hotspots as they appear, as well as the nearby residents who shared the...