Oil refineries and chemical plants across the Texas Gulf Coast released more than 1 million pounds of dangerous air pollutants in the week after Harvey struck, according to filings.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
Environmental concerns persist across Harvey-ravaged Texas cities. Here’s what you should know today.
As efforts to rebuild have slowly begun in areas hit hard by Hurricane Harvey, officials continue to warn of lingering environmental hazards, including the health risks posed by receding floodwater.
Crosby plant explosion highlights state efforts to block access to chemical information
After explosions in a Crosby chemical plant, the public had no option but to trust government and company assurances that billowing smoke presented little danger.
Here’s how much rain Harvey has dropped on Texas
Harvey dropped more than 50 inches of rain on parts of Southeast Texas in less than a week.
As Harvey leaves Texas behind, Houston shelters remain a lifeline for thousands
More than 10,000 people remain in Houston shelters, where Texans rescued from rising waters figure out their next steps and search for provisions.
Explosions reported at Harvey-flooded chemical plant in Crosby
Arkema Inc. said the Harris County Emergency Operations Center notified the company at 2 a.m. Thursday of explosions and black smoke coming from its Crosby plant, which was inundated by Hurricane Harvey’s floodwaters.
This Houston suburb is a magnet for growth and flooding. That’s not a coincidence.
Northwest Houston suburbs like Cypress have exploded in population in recent years. Scientists say that’s a big reason some neighborhoods here saw devastating floods last year and now from Hurricane Harvey.
Harvey’s flooding spurs concern about Houston’s toxic waste sites
Harris County has at least a dozen federal Superfund sites, more than any county in Texas. Up to 30 percent of the county is under water, spurring worries about toxins leaking.
ExxonMobil refineries are damaged in Hurricane Harvey, releasing hazardous pollutants
ExxonMobil acknowledged Tuesday that Hurricane Harvey damaged two of its refineries, causing the release of hazardous pollutants.
Analysis: Four things Houston-area leaders must do to prevent future flooding disasters
Here’s what local leaders could have done to protect the Houston region from Harvey-related flooding — and what they must do to prevent such disasters in the future.

