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Port Neches-Groves ISD set to resume classes Monday after air quality scare from TPC plant explosion

"No air quality issues have been discovered at any of our campuses."

PORT NECHES, Texas — Port Neches-Groves ISD will resume classes on Monday after canceling school part of last week when high levels of butadiene were detected. 

Julie Gauthier, PNG ISD assistant superintendent for administrative services, announced on social media Sunday that district officials are confident that the air quality issue "has been resolved". 

Last Wednesday, high levels of 1,3- butadiene were detected near the TPC plant, prompting county officials to issue a shelter in place and voluntary evacuation for the city of Port Neches. 

PNG High School is near the plant and was impacted by the Nov. 27 explosion. 

Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said hours after butadiene was detected, the levels were "greatly reduced to non-irritating amounts".  

Still, PNG ISD made the decision to cancel classes on Thursday and Friday to allow families to evacuate if they chose to do so. 

"Once this recent shelter in place was lifted, we utilized a restoration company to once again clean the air in our schools in an over abundance of caution," Gauthier said in the social media post. "No air quality issues have been discovered at any of our campuses."

RELATED: Crews looking for debris on Port Neches school campuses after TPC explosions

RELATED: PNG ISD assessing damage after Port Neches plant explosion

Gauthier says the district will continue monitoring air quality inside and outside of schools. 

"As we did last week, we will act quickly if an issue arises for us to shelter indoors or cancel school for a period of time," Gauthier said.  

Gauthier says parents should contact the school principal or counselor if they have concerns about their child participating in outdoor activities. 

Officials also expect to reopen Grigsby Avenue at Spur 136 before PNG ISD students return to school, TPC's Unified Command response team said in a news release Saturday, Dec. 7.

The road has been closed for repair since Nov. 27, the release said.

Crews are digging a trench to hold an encased hose carrying water to fight the fires to prevent disruptions to traffic on the road. This project is to be finished this weekend.

RELATED: Groves family claims loved one suffered heart attack, died as a result of TPC explosion

RELATED: Small fires, smoke reported at TPC Group plant following 7-day incident

RELATED: U.S. Chemical Safety Board speaks for first time, officials give updates on TPC plant

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