Texas Grappling with Several Oil Spills After Flooding

By THC Staff | June 6, 2016

 

The State Railroad Commission (SRC) reports a number of oil spills across the state after the recent heavy flooding.

According to the El Paso Times, the SRC reports 21 oil spills on railroads in Texas. Hundreds of gallons of oil and fracking fluid have been displaced into Texas waterways. The paper reports that the SRC said they have the situation under control.

Some of the areas with the most spills were near Austin. Lee County and Fayette County had nine oil spills between May 19 to June 1. In Lee County, roughly 100 gallons of oil were spilled into Yegua Creek.

Some of the spilled materials included fracking chemicals, which can be more hazardous than oil.

State environmental officials said they will wait for most of the floodwaters to recede before they begin their clean up operations.