Judge Lina Hidalgo is upset that she was not informed that sewage from a train derailment in Ohio was being delivered to Harris Co.

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said at a press conference on Thursday that she was upset that she was not notified that wastewater from an Ohio train derailment was being sent to Harris County for disposal.

She also confirmed that some of the water is already here.

Hidalgo said the water recycling business, Texas Molecular, has already received half a million gallons and expects to receive a total of two million gallons.

For much of Thursday’s press conference, Hidalgo shared her disappointment that her office had not been notified of the water transport.

She said the state of Ohio was involved, as well as the Texas Commission on Environmental Equality.

Hidalgo said she was not told the water was being delivered to Harris County until she heard about it from the press.

Texas Molecular is located near Deer Park and the company has said it is authorized to work with such materials.

Hidalgo said she has three concerns: what is being introduced into the land, what impact it might have on health, and she wonders if the company has had any previous breaches.

So far, Hidalgo said she didn’t find anything interesting to share with the public.

Grace White of KHOU 11 asked Hidalgo if her office is routinely notified when hazardous waste arrives and leaves the county.

“There is no statute or law requiring our office to be notified of the presence of a hazardous material. So, is it normal that there will be an international disaster in Ohio, an explosion of this magnitude, and we will suddenly find out that the same materials have been entering our community for a week now, passing through our community? I don’t think so,” Hidalgo said.

Texas Molecular told KHOU 11 in a statement, “We were selected based on our capabilities, experience and unique ability to handle a project of this magnitude.”

The mayor of Deer Park also said he was confident the disposal was being done properly. He said that the company has permission from the Environmental Protection Agency and has been doing similar work for 40 years.

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