MATAGORDA COUNTY, Texas – Authorities say injuries were reported after an ammonia leak at a plant in Matagorda County Friday.
The Matagorda County Office of Emergency Management (MCOEM) says the leak happened at the Roehm USA facility located off FM 3087 southwest of Bay City.
Officials say the ammonia leak happened after a PSV valve failure in a brine cooler.
The MCOEM says at no time was the public in any danger and the plant’s safety systems worked as designed to mitigate potential risks.
“The exposure resulted in an undetermined number of employees affected. The company informed the county that, as a precautionary measure, employees affected by respiratory problems were being evaluated, while others were removed from the site for preventative medical evaluations,” the office of emergency management said.
A statement from Roehm indicated a total of 10 people were hospitalized as a result of the leak.
Read the full statement below:
Today, at approximately 1:00 PM local time, an over-pressurization event occurred at Roehm’s Bay City plant. When commissioning a supply facility, ammonia vapors were released at the chiller unit through pressure relief devices specifically designed for such events.
To current knowledge, 10 individuals were exposed and are currently receiving medical treatment at nearby hospitals. OQ and Roehm personnel responded quickly to the incidents. We are currently actively assessing the situation.
The release has been fully contained, and there was no threat to the community. Local authorities have been notified, and we are cooperating fully with emergency responders and relevant agencies to assess the situation.
The safety of our employees, the community, and the environment remains our top priority. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.