Document NGYBJEy4By6qnr4LER98zMDpV

Message From: Sent: To: CC: Subject: Gray, David [/0=EXCHANGELABS/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=881C62BlE54142388ClDE2F8E3799C33-GRAY, DAVID] 9/5/2017 9:57:12 PM Andrea Morrow [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=usercacf3350] Tabuchi, Hiroko [hiroko.tabuchi@nytimes.com]; Press [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=b293283291dc44e0b5dlc36be9281d8a-Press] Re: Urgent query from NYT on benzene plume EPA continues to conduct ambient air moni tori ng in Houston, and is focusi ng on an area of potential concern associated with reported air emissions from a Valero faci1ity in Houston. EPA has been on-scene conducti ng real-ti me air moni tori ng near the faci 1it y . None of the readi ngs col 1ected by EPA have been above first responder screeni ng 1evels for volati1e organi c compounds in the air. EPA's T race Atmospheri c Gas Analyzer (TAGA) air moni tori ng bus is conducti ng air moni tori ng in southeast Houston around the Valero Refi nery today, and will conti nue to conduct air moni tori ng around other refineries as they start back u p . The TAGA is a sel f-contai ned mobi 1e 1aboratory capabl e of real -ti me sampl ing and of outdoor air or emi ssi o n s . The instrumentati on refers both to the analyti cal instrument and the mobi1e 1aboratory bui11 around it. EPA continues to investigate complaints in the ar ea. Sent from my iPhone > On Sep 5, 2017, at 4:39 PM, Andrea Morrow <Andrea.Morrow@tceq.texas.gov> wr ot e: > > Y o u '11 need to check with EPA on that. > David Gray 214-665-2200 (PIO-EPA Region 6 in Dal 1as) > > ---- Origi nal Message----> From: Tabuchi, Hi roko [mailto:hiroko.tabuchi@nytimes.com] > Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2017 4:37 PM > T o : Andrea Morrow <Andrea.Morrow@tceq.texas.gov> > Subject: Urgent query from NYT on benzene piume > > Hi Andrea, > > I wanted to confi rm the fol1owi ng WS1 report. > > Is it true that the EPA is investigating the presence of benzene in Manchester? Any more detai1s you can give us? I 'm at 212-556-2642 > > Thanks > Hi roko > > https://www.wsj.com/articles/after-oi1-refinery-is-damaged-by-harvey-benzene-is-detected-in-the-air-inhouston-area-1504638772 > > The ci ty of Houston, the Envi ronmental Protection Agency and an envi ronmental advocacy group are investi gati ng a potenti al1y hazardous piume of a carci nogeni c substance in one nei ghborhood after a nearby oi1 refi ner reported its operati ons suffered hurri cane-related damage. > > The ci ty and the Envi ronmental Defense Fund sai d extra ai r moni tors they di spatched to Houston's Manchester regi on on Monday detected the presence of benzene, a component of crude oi 1 and gasoli n e . Two moni tors detected significantly di fferent 1evels of the carci nogen at di fferent ti mes of the day, and additional sampling is needed to determine the concentration, according to Loren Raun, chief envi ronmental sci ence offi cer for the Houston Health Department and Elena Craft, a seni or health sci enti st at the Envi ronmental Defense Fund, whi ch became invol ved in the investi gati on after offeri ng the ci ty assi stance. > > A Valero Energy Partners LP refi nery in the neighborhood reported a hurri cane-related leak on A u g . 27. > > The EPA sai d it will deploy an ai r moni tor to the area on Tuesday to help the investi gati o n . Offi ci als are seeki ng to pi npoi nt the source of the benzene piume, the concentrati on and how far-reachi ng the emi ssi ons may have spread, M s . Raun sai d Tuesday morni ng after a cal 1 wi th EPA, EDF and Houston ci ty offi ci al s . > > "EPA conti nues to conduct ambi ent ai r moni tori ng in Houston and is focusi ng on an area of potenti al concern associ ated wi th reported ai r emi ssi ons from a Valero faci1ity in Houston," sai d Davi d Gray, a spokesman for the agency. > > Hi roko Tabuchi | Reporter | The New York Ti mes | Phone 212-556-2642 | Cell j______Ex._6______j hi roko.tabuchi@nytimes.com | http://www.nytim e s .com/by/hiroko-tabuchi Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 13 ED 002061 00026445-00001 Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 13 ED 002061 00026445-00002