DEER PARK, Texas — The state and the U.S. reached a settlement to recover natural resource damages caused by the March 2019 chemical fire at the Deer Park facility owned by International Terminals Company, LLC (ITC), according to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
ITC agreed to pay $6.6 million to state and federal Natural Resource Trustees because of the release of hazardous chemicals from the facility during the chemical fire.
“I’m pleased we were able to secure this natural resource damages settlement after the serious destruction caused by the fire at Deer Park. This fire burned for three days, spewing hazardous chemicals into our air, water, and land,” Paxton said in a release Tuesday.
The state and the U.S. also filed a civil complaint against ITC seeking money damages and costs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) for injuries to natural resources from the the 2019 chemical fire.
Paxton's office said the ITC chemical fire was responsible for the release of hundreds of thousands of barrels of petrochemical products and firefighting water and foam into Tucker Bayour and surrounding waterways, including the Houston Ship Channel. The Natural Resource Trustees determined that the hazardous substances released during the chemical fire caused significant impact and injuries to ecological resources and habitats.
"The releases to air and water also resulted in lost recreational opportunities in the Deer Park area, including temporary closures of multiple shoreline parks and the Lynchburg Ferry, as well as the cancelation of an annual historical reenactment at San Jacinto State Park," according to Paxton's office.
ITC was hit with five criminal charges concerning the 2019 chemical fire. In 2021, the facility reached a $900,000 settlement with Harris County due to the chemical fire.
In May 2023, we reported that ITC was trying to renew its operating permit amid pushback from residents. A public meeting was held over the bid to renew the permit and nearly all attending residents were opposed.