TPC Industrial Plant Fires and Explosion Lawyer

After a massive explosion at a TPC industrial plant sent two workers and a contractor to the hospital, the resulting fires have and will continue to have a significant impact on the Port Neches, Groves, Nederland, and Port Arthur areas. Attorney Tommy John Kherkher, the managing partner of Attorney Tom, is currently investigating claims that the air quality has been contaminated in the area due to the fires and is helping residents who’ve developed a severe illness as a result. We are also here to help those whose homes and property have been damaged by the explosion, or who believe they’ve been exposed to asbestos due to this catastrophic event.

To learn more about this developing case and to speak with an experienced TPC industrial fire attorney about your rights and legal options, contact Attorney Tom at (713) 244-6363 to schedule a FREE, no-obligation consultation today.

Air Quality Concerns After the TPC Industrial Fire

For those who live and work near the TPC plant that exploded in Port Neches, the environmental impact of the explosion and resulting fires is quite concerning. As of now, the air quality has been compromised due to the release of harmful fumes, including (but not limited to):

• Butadiene
• Ethylene oxide
• Isobutylene

Butadiene, in particular, is a known human carcinogen (according to the International Agency on Research for Cancer) and has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Our attorneys strongly encourage anyone who is suffering from ill effects due to fumes from the TPC industrial fires to seek medical attention right away, then contact us for help.

What Happened at the TPC Plant?

On Wednesday, November 27^th, two massive explosions prompted a mandatory evacuation within a four-mile radius of a TPC industrial plant in Port Neches. The evacuation order affected more than 50,000 people near the plant.

The initial explosion occurred at 1:00 a.m. at the TPC Group plant (which makes chemical and petroleum-based products) resulted in a fire and a large plume of smoke that stretched for miles. Thirteen hours later, a second blast occurred at 2:00 p.m., launching a steel reactor tower into the air, prompting the top county official, Judge Jeff Branick, to order mandatory evacuations.

Thus far, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials have said that volatile organic compounds have been detected by some of the more than 15 teams monitoring air pollution in the area, but none of the levels have yet triggered the agency’s “action level,” according to ABC News.

Texas Petroleum Chemicals: A History of Environmental Violations?

According to the Texas Tribune, the owner of the chemical plant, Texas Petroleum Chemicals (TPC Group), “has a long history of environmental violations and has been out of compliance with federal clean air laws for years.” This is particularly concerning since the plant manufactures the highly flammable chemical butadiene.

According to the Tribune report, TPC Group has been on the EPA’s “high priority violator” list for more than two years. The plant has also been out of compliance with federal clean air laws since August 2017, the agency’s last inspection. Five times this year, the facility has spewed more air pollution (including hundreds of pounds of butadiene) than allowed by its government-issued permits.

In all, the TPC facility has been fined approximately $200,000 and was forced to install a $275,000 fenceline monitoring system for butadiene by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the EPA. These fines and requirements are a pittance compared to the billions of dollars in revenue the company generates each year.

Contaminated Air, Asbestos Exposure, Property Damage, and Legal Action Against TPC Group

It’s clear that the lack of compliance and relatively small fines associated with this inaction is not enough to spur the TPC Group to do the right thing and clean up its act. The most recent explosions and contamination of the air here in Port Neches, Nederland, Groves, and Port Arthur are another example of the impact powerful companies who are repeat violators of clean air laws can have on innocent people.

Attorney Tommy John Kherkher and his team are ready to take a stand against TPC Group and any other entity that puts the pursuit of profits over the lives of those in our community. We have the skill and the resources necessary to make sure the company pays attention to your claims and pays financially for the harm you’ve suffered.

If you have become ill or have been diagnosed with cancer due to butadiene or asbestos exposure after the TPC explosion and fires or if your property has been damaged, contact us for help. You could be owed significant compensation for the harm you’ve suffered and losses you’ve incurred, including:

• Medical bills and treatment costs
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earnings
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of household services
• Travel costs for treatment
• Pain, suffering, and mental anguish

It is our job to help those who’ve been hurt get justice. We also fight to hold companies like TPC Group accountable when they violate the laws intended to protect the public from harm. You don’t have to suffer alone, nor do you have to let this company get away with polluting the air and making you or your family sick. Reach out to an experienced TPC explosion lawyer right away for help.

Holding TPC Group Accountable

If you’ve been diagnosed with an illness or if you believe a loved one has become ill due to the TPC plant explosion and resulting fires, reach out to Attorney Tom right away for help. Attorney Tommy John Kherkher and his team are ready to help you get fair compensation and the justice you deserve. Our team has the right skills, resources, and qualified co-counsel to take on TPC Group and any other entity that stands in the way of real justice for those in Nederland, Port Arthur, Groves, and Port Neches.

Call us at (713) 244-6363, fill out a contact form, or reach out to us online to schedule a FREE, no-obligation consultation to discuss your rights with one of our knowledgeable and experienced TPC contamination attorneys today.