A report released by Air Alliance Houston found that industrial facilities in Harris County recorded 1,735 unauthorized emissions events between 2017 and 2024, releasing more than 49 million pounds of pollutants into the air, based on data from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Air Alliance Houston analyzed eight years of pollution events that occurred outside emissions permitted by federal and state regulators. The nonprofit said accidents, explosions, severe weather, facility maintenance and other incidents caused the releases. Several events occurred at the same facilities.
Dr. Inyang Uwak, research and policy director for Air Alliance Houston, said the report aims to inform communities about potential risks of living near industrial sites.
The report states that five incidents accounted for more than half of the unauthorized emissions during the study period. Two incidents occurred during rainfall from Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
The facilities linked to those events include ITC Deer Park, ExxonMobil Baytown, the Magellan Galena Park Terminal and Shell Deer Park Chemicals. A 2019 fire at ITC Deer Park accounted for more than one-third of the unauthorized emissions, according to the report.
ITC Deer Park and ONEOK, which acquired Magellan, did not respond to requests for comment. Shell declined to comment.
ExxonMobil said each facility operates under its own permits and complies with applicable regulations.
Air Alliance Houston also reported more than 6,300 permit violations in Harris County during the same period. ExxonMobil’s Baytown refinery recorded 948 violations, the highest among local facilities. The nonprofit said 12 facilities accounted for 88% of total emissions.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality did not respond to a request for comment.