Pollution Settlement Finalized to Fund Restoration Projects in Galveston Bay, Texas
JULY 1, 2024 — On June 20, 2024, a federal court in Texas approved a settlement for $6.645M with Intercontinental Terminals Company, LLC (ITC) for impacts to ecological services and recreational activities, as well as the cost of assessing those injuries. The Trustees for this site include the United States Department of the Interior, through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA, jointly with the State of Texas, appearing through the Office of the Texas Attorney General, on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas General Land Office.
The Trustees determined that the hazardous substances released from ITC’s facility caused significant injuries to ecological resources, including marsh, riparian habitat areas, and birds. In addition, the hazardous chemicals released into the air and water resulted in lost recreational opportunities in the Deer Park area, including temporary closures of multiple state, county, and city parks and the Lynchburg Ferry, as well as the cancellation of an annual historical reenactment and festival at San Jacinto State Park.
The ITC Trustee Council will begin working to identify restoration projects that will improve habitat and recreational use of the injured natural resources in Galveston Bay. The proposed projects will be included in a Restoration Plan where the public will have an opportunity to provide input. Once public input is considered and the restoration plan is finalized, the Trustees will implement the approved restoration projects.