Report: Houston's Toxic Waste Sites Are Flooded

[DonViejo]

Source: The Daily Beast



As Houston begins clean-up efforts after catastrophic flooding, at least five of the city’s toxic waste sites have been found to be inundated with water, the Associated Press reports. The city has more than a dozen so-called Superfund sites, which the Environmental Protection Agency has classified as being among the country’s most highly contaminated places. While the EPA previously warned of the risk of floodwaters spreading hazardous materials, the agency has yet to inspect the flooded sites in Houston, according to the report. An EPA spokeswoman said two other Superfund sites in Corpus Christi were checked and found to have no significant damage. But residents have expressed alarm that unknown chemicals and contaminants could spread throughout the area. “If floodwaters have spread the chemicals in the waste pits, then dangerous chemicals like dioxin could be spread around the wider Houston area,” Kara Cook-Schultz, who studies toxic sites for the advocacy group TexPIRG, told the Associated Press. Cook-Schultz, describing the sites as “the most dangerous places in the country," said they "should have been properly protected against flooding.”

READ IT AT ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/report-houstons-toxic-waste-sites-are-flooded

[RKP5637]

1. Horrorible, I was wondering when this would happen. n/t

[Skittles]

2. repuke state

privatized profits, socialized risks

you can bet these conservative assholes will have their hands out for even more taxpayer money, while telling poor people they need to help themselves

[KT2000]

6. Well - blue state

Washington allowed a hazardous waste site to be installed up to a cliff in earthquake zone - dioxin, mercury etc. Housing development is below the cliff and in upper areas. The state just called it a general purpose landfill. I would bet there are vulnerable sites in all of the states.

[AKing]

3. Limited Government Strikes Again!

[Dustlawyer]

4. When I was a law clerk in the late 80's the litigation over these sites was almost over.

I was sent to the courthouse to pull and make copies of certain files. When I went to the clerk and ask to see them they all looked at each other and started laughing at me. I was not amused and asked what was so funny, already having a sinking feeling I was not going to like it. They felt sorry for me so one lady lead me down stairs and opened these double doors. Boxes were flush with the doors to the ceiling. I said "It is all of these in this closet?" She replied, "This is a 50' X100' room." It was solid boxes with no isles flush up to the door! This was before computers and they didn't have the budget to put them on microfiche.

These companies were all responsible "cradle to the grave" under the law. Every company that dumped there, a who's who list of chemical and refinery companies. My guess is they paid some and then found it cheaper to pay politicians and judge's re-election campaigns.

The EPA knows who they are and they have responsibility under the law. Reality under this Administration means the government will pay the tab and do the bare minimum for the cameras.

[BigmanPigman]

5. 45's EPAdeath to many.

Last edited Sat Sep 2, 2017, 05:17 PM - Edit history (1)

They will do nothing. If there was "less than nothing" that is what they would prefer to do. Negative numbers do not apply here, only dollar signs apply in this Admin.

[beachbum bob]

7. another handout in the making for a state filled with conservative anti-govt types

funny how the hand comes out when THEY need help

[SunSeeker]

8. K & R for exposure.