“The effects of climate change are real,” Johnson said. The legislation is written with an eye toward those extreme weather events, a growing concern among scientists and officials across the state as increasingly powerful storms, energized by a warming ocean, batter the Texas Gulf Coast, where many of the tanks are located. But the legislation largely leaves the specifics up to the TCEQ - a move that Democrats hope will ward off the most vigorous industry opposition, but is less palatable to environmentalists who have often criticized the TCEQ for being too industry friendly.įew state rules currently apply to the tanks, and none require construction standards that ensure the tanks can withstand powerful hurricanes or major flooding. The bills would instruct the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to create more stringent standards for tanks in areas prone to flooding, storm surges and hurricanes.

Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, would task the state’s environmental agency with creating tougher rules on the structural integrity of these above-ground tanks at chemical plants, refineries, electric power plants or other large storage facilities. Mary Ann Perez, D-Pasadena, and another from Sen.

And during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, flooding caused the explosions at Arkema’s chemical power plant and damaged storage tanks that leaked thousands of gallons of gasoline. Another fire at a leaking tank farm at a petrochemical plant in Deer Park shut down the ship channel in March 2019 and created a huge plume of smoke that could be seen miles away. The recent fire in Corpus Christi started at an oil storage tank. These are the incidents that some Texas lawmakers have in mind as they push to require new standards on above-ground chemical storage tanks during the upcoming legislative session. And just last month, seven people were injured in a Corpus Christi fire. Toxic chemicals spilled during Hurricane Harvey. Fountain/ProPublica/Texas Tribuneĭeer Park residents sheltered in place. Texas lawmakers are pushing to require new standards on above-ground chemical storage tanks during the upcoming legislative session.Ĭredit: Edmund D.

Rules about ex military tanks in texas