Around 4:00 PM on
December 26, 2023, EPA received a National Response Center report of an oil
discharge from a Sawtooth oil-water separator in Texas City, Galveston County,
Texas 77510. State and local agencies originally responded and later asked for
federal assistance to respond and assess the situation.
EPA staff and
contractors arrived on-site at 7:00 AM on December 27, 2023. EPA is
coordinating with the responsible party Sawtooth Oil and Gas (RP), Texas City
Emergency Management, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Texas Railroad Commission (RRC),
Texas General Land Office (TGLO), and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
(TPWD). EPA is providing oversight of the response efforts and community air
monitoring. EPA has also notified the local Poison Center for situational
awareness.
The incident is within
EPA’s area of responsibility and EPA is the lead agency. Within a 1-mile radius
there is a population of 179 people with three Environmental Justice indexes
above the 80%.
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