Toxic wastewater from Ohio is being brought to Texas to be disposed of.
The water was used to put out the fire that resulted from the infamous February 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said on Thursday that 500,000 gallons of the toxic water have already been transported to Deer Park, a city that resides in Harris County, but questions remain about the way in which the water will be delivered and disposed of.
“I know that our community was taken aback by the news just as I was,” Hidalgo said, as reported by AP News. “I also want folks to know there are many things we don’t know that we should know. That doesn’t mean that something is wrong. And I want to stress that point.”
According to Hidalgo, the county only learned on Wednesday that the wastewater was being transported to Deer Park.
She added that she learned from a journalist that the water would be disposed of in Harris County, “not from a regulatory agency, not from the company.”
Hidalgo said this was “unacceptable.”
The disposal of the toxic water will be handled by Texas Molecular — a company certified in the safe and proper disposal of hazardous solutions.
“Our technology safely removes hazardous constituents from the biosphere,” the company told KHOU 11. “We are part of the solution to reduce risk and protect the environment, whether in our local area or other places that need the capabilities we offer to protect the environment.”
Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton said he is “very confident” that the disposal of the water is “being handled appropriately.”
Harris County is one of the few places in the country where the water can be properly disposed of, as it has about ten injection wells that can receive hazardous waste.
However, Hidalgo said there are similar wells in Ohio and Michigan, which are closer to the site of the derailment, and the water could presumably also be disposed of at those sites.
“There may be logistical reasons for all of this. There may be economic reasons. Perhaps Texas Molecular outbid the Michigan facility,” she said. “It doesn’t mean there’s something nefarious going on, but we do need to know the answer to this question.”
Hidalgo said there are still questions about the way in which the wastewater will be transported, as it could affect the health of workers involved with the delivery and the communities it passes through on its way from Ohio to Deer Park.
Even after conversations between Harris County and the Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, these questions still have yet to be answered, according to Hidalgo.
“The government officials have readily provided the information they have, but what we’re learning is that they themselves don’t seem to have the full information,” she said. “I’m not clear on who has the full picture of what is happening here and that is a problem.”
Who had the authority to bring that to Texas. Criminal charges should be filed against anyone bringing that to Texas and an emergency order needs to be issued baring any more Ohio Toxic water crossing state lines.
Who had the authority? It’s in the Code of Federal Regulations to transport hazardous waste! They don’t need the approval of bureaucrats! Would you rather it seep in the water table and poison people in Ohio?!
There was no criminal act, and the disposal company is likely extremely competent!
Your comment is preposterous!
It’s not that they have the authority to do so, it’s just that the state doesn’t have the authority to prevent it. If you knew what hazardous material got transported daily on roads and railways you would be absolutely terrified.
Do you think the Deer Park has said anything, he has not. The Governor of Texas, said nothing, how much money did he get. All the Red State’s are having railroad problems. They didn’t want Regulations, so just who deregulated the Railroad. Obama Regulated the railroads. Now who came after Obama and deregulated the railroad. Then lied in Palestine and gave them some (T Water) like he gave Porto Rico paper towels. Hmmm
Good questions raised in this article. ” Texas Molecular is a Deer Park, TX-based permitted hazardous waste disposal company with a “Deep Commitment” to our mission of creating customer value,”(Pun?) Are its 10 injection wells the only solution?
Did not someone say the water was safe I swear I heard that.
AGAIN, Thank You Dallas Express!! The first thing I thought is WHAT? WHEN? Why would “they” transport this Hazardous waste all the way to TEXAS??- HUMM and then there it is in the story- “…Perhaps Texas Molecular outbid the Michigan facility,” Terrible!!!
Yes….follow the money. And, consider the source. DX news (and Trump last week in Palestine) also conveniently forget to mention the safety regulations that were repealed by Trump administration in 2018 that might have prevented this accident in the first place.
If it’s all Trump’s fault, and the President can unilaterally change Federal Regulations, why did Biden not simply restore them? And notifications? So someone has to send an email— worthless rule!
Exactly. Biden supposedly revoked every Trump era regulation change. It was the first thing he did.
If Biden had changed Trump’s DeRegulation people would be enraged. The Obama/Biden administration put Regulations on the transporting of Toxic water and and any Toxic material.
Now we are going to blame Biden. The president of this Trail Road should be in Jail, handcuffed on the scene.
Big money asked Trump to DeRegulate everyone thing everything Obama had Regulated. Biden had probably made the unannounced trip he had scheduled to go to Ukraine.
Abbott probably knew about this, because he has been silent!
The regulation that Trump blocked wouldn’t have done a thing to prevent this accident. A company that makes braking systems for trains wanted to use legislation to force all trains to be converted to their brake systems. It wouldn’t have changed any part of the brakes. The one thing it would change is how the brakes get turned on and applied. Instead of using a Pneumatic valve pushing on another pneumatic valve they wanted to use an electric valve to actuate the pneumatic valve. Air brakes have been on trains for going on 140 years and the technology is very very mature and reliable. This was just a case of a company wanting to make a fortune by convincing Regulators to require their stuff.
You’re correct until the point of attribution; it was the rail companies that didn’t want the electric braking application… in order not to SPEND money. Remember, the make Billion$ every year.
All modern trains in the EU and many in Asia use the electronic system (for many years).
Thank you TX24. Some that speaks the truth.
Bull it would have prevented people from hazard waste. People know the railroad was pissed and Trump deregulated the WASTE. Jesus please help us with the LIARS!
So what was Buttgief going ? Still showing off his boots two weeks after the toxic spill ? Almost everyone in the current Biden regime is an incompetent Kakistocrat, no less the small time mayor turned Transportation Sec
I guess driving the train. You make more excuses for Trump. You know he took millions in his campaign from the railroad. They don’t live close to the train tracks. They are In gated communities, that are not next to the track.
So now there needs to be another follow-up article detailing the route this hazardous water is taking. How is it being transported? By tanker trucks? By rail? Which communities in North Texas will the material pass through on the way south? NOT GOOD. And if I’m reading the article correctly, the company will be pumping this hazardous water underground into injection wells, putting the contamination into Texas soil and potentially contaminating Texas soil and groundwater? NOT GOOD AT ALL. What is the State of Texas thinking in allowing this mess to be dumped here?
MONEY!
I would rather send it to Delaware along with the illegal immigrants !!
The immigrants are the ones who will be working on the train tracks. They are currently working on the Highways at night, ask TXDOT. I am sure your children and grandchildren want work on the rails or highway.
Plus the dreamers are the ones fighting in the Military. The have openings go help repair the railroad in Palestine.
VLS Environmental Solutions owns Texas Molecular.
Because Hydrofluoric Acid is hazardous waste, VLS and Texas Molecular dispose of it. I can cite examples of when they did.
The hazardous waste Hydrofluoric Acid is deliberately added to Dallas Water Utilities drinking water.
See the link on the first comment under “Censor the Science on Fluoride” Dallas Express Opinion for the EPA statement about putting it in drinking water.
CNN’s Erica Hill speaks with EPA administrator Michael Regan about the local and federal response. Wednesday Feb 15
Michael Regan states: “When we know, they (public) will know.”…
Erica asks, “Can you give them (residents) any sort of timeline when you can say to them definitively: “It’s safe”.”
EPA Administrator Michael Regan responds,
“…But we have to be able to get in and do the assessment. So, as the conditions on the ground becomes safe so that we can put our scientists and engineers not in harm’s way but in a position where they could do their work, we will then be in a position to provide those updates to the public as soon as we can.”
Lina Hidalgo : Isn’t that the “judge” being investigated for corrupt elections ?
And things are only going to get worse!
These decisions that are being made are not at all of any sense! From almost every level things are being done right in front of us and they do not care if “we the people” recognize it, agree with it, disagree with it or anything else. Our great nation is slipping in to the abyss due to the choice’s being made by our very own government. I am NOT a conspiracy nut or anti-government, no not at all, but the events that have taken place these past few years are just unbelievable and unbearable.
It is written and we are at the door step of bad things to come unfortunately.
Repent
And I suppose they’re shipping that toxic water by train? Is that wise?
This is a dangerous thing they’ve decided to do. The question is, who authorized this “deal.” Texas Molecular sounds like a good company, but to bring 500-THOUSAND gallons of deadly, toxic water INTO Texas is utterly irresponsible, hazardous, and I am sure someone got a lot of money put in their pocket. Where the heck is Governor Greg Abbott in this mess. Is he the one who got paid? This is totally unacceptable and residents and voters should be fearful and outraged. So when wildlife starts dying, domestic pets turn up dead, and more unexplained sudden illnesses in residents crop up – you’ll know who to point to.
Where is Governor Abbott? He’s trying to protect our border, keep CRT out of schools, stopping the sexual mutilation of children, wanting to raise the homestead exemption again to help homeowners, trying to save living babies with HEARTBEATS from being torn apart and tossed out like garbage…and having to put up with people like you that don’t appreciate not having a woke governor and cherry pick about anything you think he hasn’t done. The man has a lot on his plate just fighting the dem lunacy. It’s hard to do anything for the good when evil keeps sending something else your way.
The best thing to do, instead of commenting on here, which does nothing, is to write the governor with your concerns. I know I will. Many people should write him. It lets him know how the citizens feel about it. If you don’t, then YOU are part of the problem and the fingers can point at you.
Texas has a surplus of 32 billion. The wall is Governor Abbott’s problem, not the federal government and he need to stop talking money from Trailer Park Bob and Betty. They complain about inflation , stop sending your money to a damn wall and you can buy groceries and gas. You are beings SCAMMED!
You know you can call the Governor’s office. Campaign money!
And just so you know, I did phone and file a complaint with the governor’s office about this today. Want to do something proactive? Give his office a call.
Pap, CRT is not being taught in public schools. Why want you visit a school?
Where did you see Sexual Mutilation? Women in Texas are losing their lives with topical pregnancies, that happened to my then 25 year old cousin, a nurse gave her a shot and she hemorrhage to death in front of her husband and mother.
I wish men like you could give birth to a child, the Bible stays it’s the closest thing to a woman dying and women are dying. I am tried of these commercial on TV about a product called “Roman” on TV. Ladies like Nancy Reagan said, just say NO, if you are going to be hunted like an animal.
WOKE, means people need to WAKE-UP and Eat some of those “CHERRIES “ on the Governor’s PLATE. Don’t CHOCk.