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TCEQ investigating ethanol spill from Brownsville crash

TCEQ investigating ethanol spill from Brownsville crash
2 months 6 days 22 hours ago Monday, August 05 2024 Aug 5, 2024 August 05, 2024 6:24 PM August 05, 2024 in News - Local

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story stated 13,000 gallons of ethanol were spilled. On Monday, a spokesperson for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said 200 gallons were spilled.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is now investigating a tractor trailer turnover and hazmat spill that forced a brief evacuation in Brownsville.

People living in the area say the smell was intense when a truck carrying ethanol rolled over on Saturday.

RELATED STORY: Brownsville road open after weekend tractor trailer crash spills ethanol

The driver of the tractor-trailer that rolled over was on International Boulevard when he tried to turn on the Frontage Road for Highway 77, but lost control of their truck.

The Brownsville Fire Department says fire crews secured the scene and laid down piles of sand to keep the spill contained. An environmental cleanup company called CRRC was called in to clean the area.

Brownsville Fire Chief Jarrett Sheldon saaid the leak remained small at first, but during that cleanup, the top of the truck gave into pressure and thousands of gallons of ethanol poured out onto the concrete road.

"During the transfer, one of the hoses malfunctioned and caused a larger spill. At that time, our crews had evacuated a few of the residents nearby and were able to dike and contain the spill," Sheldon said.

Sheldon said the TCEQ, the state's agency on the environment, has been notified to check in on the cleanup work.

The TCEQ said based on their preliminary report there's no evidence the liquid ethanol reached any storm drains and their staff continue to investigate.

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