Harris County files lawsuit against Exxon Mobil one day after fire in Baytown injured 37 - Houston Chronicle

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  A fire burns at the ExxonMobil Baytown Olefins Plant on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, in Baytown.

  A fire burns at the ExxonMobil Baytown Olefins Plant on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, in Baytown.

  Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer

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A fire burns at the ExxonMobil Baytown Olefins Plant on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, in Baytown.

A fire burns at the ExxonMobil Baytown Olefins Plant on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, in Baytown.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer

Harris County files lawsuit against Exxon Mobil one day after fire in Baytown injured 37

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The Harris County Attorney's Office filed a lawsuit Thursday against Exxon Mobil just one day after a unit at its Baytown plant erupted in flames injuring at least 37 people, according to a filing in the 190th District Court.

According to the lawsuit against the petrochemical giant, Harris County alleges Exxon Mobil violated the Texas Clean Air Act when its Olefins Plant released "unauthorized emissions into the atmosphere."

The injuries were minor, first-degree burns, Jason Duncan, plant manager said in a news conference hours after the explosion.

The cause of the fire, which began shortly after 11 a.m.,  is still unknown, but Exxon Mobil officials said it began in an area used to purify the chemical propylene, which is used as a fuel and in making plastics.

This is the second filing by Harris County against Exxon Mobil – the other alleging environmental violations from a March fire at the Baytown facility.

Michelle Iracheta is a digital reporter in Houston. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | michelle.iracheta@chron.com | NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.

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https://m.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harris-County-files-lawsuit-against-Exxon-Mobil-14272955.php?ipid=mobbreaking

2019-08-01 15:04:00Z
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