BEAUMONT, Texas — ExxonMobil Beaumont has given the all clear after issuing a shelter-in-place order for the Charlton-Pollard neighborhood as a precaution due to a potential release.
According to a release from Matt Gully, the ExxonMobil Beaumont Public and Government Affairs Manager, they were working to prevent a release.
The plant lost a unit that's responsible for processing sulfur. This process takes that sulfur out of the finished products like gasoline and diesel, according to ExxonMobil Beaumont Complex Manager Michael Mustian.
"And when that happens that causes impacts within the rest of the refinery and out of an abundance of caution we decided to issue that shelter-in-place," Mustian said.
ExxonMobil has been conducting fenceline monitoring throughout, and haven't had any detection of any hazardous materials, including sulfur dioxide.
"Sulfur dioxide, if inhaled can be an irritant for the respiratory system, so that's why people were asked to stay inside and shelter-in-place," said Mustian.
"I want to thank all of our ExxonMobil workforce for the fantastic response. We never want to use our emergency response procedures or the training that we give people, but they sprung into action in a very quick amount of time and were able to contain the situation and prevent a larger event from happening. So I'm very very proud of our workforce and how they responded today," he said.
Read the full statement below:
"Local officials have issued a shelter-in-place for portions of the Beaumont community bordering the Beaumont refinery as a precaution due to a potential release. We are working safely to prevent a release and collaborating with all responding agencies. Our main focus is the safety of our workforce and community. Local officials in consultation with law enforcement and emergency agencies, as needed, have primary responsibility for ordering shelter in place for communities that might be affected by this incident. ExxonMobil regrets any disruption this incident has caused the surrounding community."