Your Resource for Deer Park, Texas — Refinery, Community & Environment

Pemex reported an oil sheen on the Houston Ship Channel adjacent to the Deer Park refinery. The incident triggered monitoring and response protocols by the U.S. Coast Guard and TCEQ. The Ship Channel serves as a source of livelihood for commercial fishermen and supports recreational use along Galveston Bay.

A diesel fuel spill was reported at the Pemex Deer Park marine terminal dock along the Houston Ship Channel. The spill prompted response from environmental authorities and raised concerns among residents and environmental groups about hydrocarbon contamination of the waterway. The incident was covered by local news outlets including Click2Houston.

A fatal hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) exposure incident occurred at the Deer Park facility in 2024. A subsequent investigation report found the release was caused by inadequate equipment labeling and procedural failures. Hydrogen sulfide is an acutely toxic gas that can be fatal at low concentrations. The incident was investigated by OSHA and state regulators and reported by energy industry media in early 2026.

A massive fire at the Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) facility in Deer Park — located adjacent to the Pemex Ship Channel corridor — burned for more than two weeks, releasing benzene, xylene, toluene, and other petrochemicals into the air. The city of Deer Park issued shelter-in-place orders lasting several days. Schools were closed. Residents reported headaches, nausea, and respiratory symptoms. The incident drew national media coverage and resulted in multiple lawsuits against ITC. Harris County environmental officials recorded elevated benzene levels in the surrounding neighborhoods.