"The average life expectancy in predominantly nonwhite communities along the Houston Ship Channel, the site of largely unregulated petrochemical production, is up to 20 years less than nearby predominantly white communities, according to a report released Thursday by Amnesty International.
The 52-mile channel is lined by more than 600 petrochemical plants that operate 24 hours per day, disproportionately affecting areas whose residents are largely low-income, Black and Latino and of limited English proficiency, according to the report. The channel experienced at least seven petrochemical disasters last year, six of which were fires.
The report also alleges the state environmental regulatory body, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), regularly approves new permits for companies that have repeatedly been involved in such disasters. In the report, the nongovernmental organization identifies the channel as a “sacrifice zone,” a community permanently damaged by environmental degradation."
Zack Budryk reports for The Hill January 25, 2024.
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