Exxon Mobile Hit With Lawsuits After Texas Oil Refinery Fire

BAYTOWN, TX — An employee at an Exxon Mobil oil refinery in Texas is suing the company after he was severely burned following a July 31 explosion and fire at the facility. In a move to enforce environmental laws, Harris County also filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming Exxon Mobile violated the Texas Clean Air Act when the blaze broke out at the plant.

Alvaro Coronel, named plaintiff in the lawsuit filed by the employee, was among those injured Wednesday at the plant that processes light hydrocarbons including propane and propylene. According to the plaintiff’s attorney, Coronel was contracted to work as a crane operator at the Exxon Mobil facility when the explosions occurred around 10 a.m.

As Coronel was running to safety, the second explosion and subsequent fire occurred, severely injuring Colonel, the lawsuit alleges. Colonel sustained burns to his head, neck, back, arms and hands, in addition to other injuries. The lawsuit asks for more than $1 million in damages for the plaintiff.

Coronel was the second person this week to file a lawsuit against Exxon. Daniel Serrano also filed a lawsuit after suffering injuries to his neck, back, head and other parts of his body, according to his lawsuit.

According to reports, 37 people suffered minor injuries in the incident. Jason Duncan, the plant manager, told The Associated Press many of those hurt suffered minor burns and were treated at a local clinic. Earlier, Exxon Mobil said in a statement that six people were injured.

On Thursday, Harris County moved to file its own lawsuit against the company. The suit claims that through the explosions and fire, Exxon Mobile released unauthorized emissions into the atmosphere. The company is seeking a temporary injunction ordering Exxon Mobil to comply with the Clean Air Act, the Texas Water Code and the Texas Administrative Code. The county also sued Exxon following a March fire for alleged violations at another of its Baytown plants.

According to the Texas Clean Air Act, the county may impose penalties of $25,000 per day per violation. Despite it being a one-day incident, Wednesday’s fire likely caused multiple emissions.

Through the county lawsuit, Texas environmental advocates are hoping to establish jurisdiction in Harris County, meaning if another incident like Wednesday’s occurs, the court can move faster to impose more aggressive penalties.

Wednesday’s incident is the fourth petrochemical fire in the Houston area this year.