HOUSTON — Union Pacific was set to start soil testing in Houston's 5th Ward Wednesday morning, but the sample collection was delayed due to weather.
Editor's note: The above video was published before Union Pacific announced the delay.
According to the company, the Environmental Protection Agency recommended the delay due to power outages and debris in the area.
The sampling comes years after health officials identified a cancer cluster in the area. This is happening near a railyard on Liberty Road where a wood preservative called creosote was used until 1984.
The sample collection was already delayed after severe storms caused significant damage to the Houston area on May 16.
After the delays, Union Pacific said it's finally going to begin testing for contamination in the area. This comes after the EPA conducted vapor testing in the area after it was identified as a cancer cluster. The EPA said several samples they collected had excessive chemical levels, including some linked to creosote.
Union Pacific crews will be working under the direct oversight of the EPA as they collect samples from ground level down to 12 inches below the surface.
Officials with the company said the testing will help them understand the extent of the contamination and determine what steps to take next.
Dozens of neighbors in 5th Ward have been waiting for that kind of information for a long time.