Steam billowing around smokestacks of petrochemical facility.
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The U.S. averages one petro­chemical incident every 4 days

Chemical spills, fires, and explosions are occurring in the United States nearly every day and many of those involve fossil fuels like petrochemicals.1 In 2023 alone, there were 96 petrochemical-related incidents, many causing harm to our communities. Countless more go unreported. That’s why every week, we’re tracking these incidents, which often release carcinogenic petrochemicals like vinyl chloride, ammonia, benzene, and butadiene into the air, ground, and water. Together, we can hold petrochemical companies accountable for their actions.

Spill Tracker

Substance
Unknown
Location
Taft
,
CA
Source
Taft Manufacturing Company

A Highly Toxic Flammable Gas Leak reported at Taft Manufacturing Company...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Jupiter
,
FL
Source
Unknown

Landscaping truck involved in an accident carrying multiple...Learn More

Substance
Nurdles
Location
Encinitas
,
CA
Source
Unknown

More nurdles found in San Diego, this time near train tracks on El Camino Real....Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Henderson
,
KY
Source
Brenntag Mid-South

Chemicla plant evacuated after fire....Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Baton Rouge
,
LA
Source
ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil notified that refinery would have a controlled "burning of waste gas."...Learn More

Substance
Propylene
Location
Donaldsville
,
LA
Source
Union Pacific Railroad

17 cars derailed carrying propylene, sulfuric acid, and cyanuric acid....Learn More

Substance
Nitric acid
Location
Auburn
,
ME
Source
Precision Metal Forming

Equipment malfunction resulted in nitric acid spill at manufacturing company...Learn More

Substance
Nurdles
Location
San Diego
,
CA
Source
Unknown

Nurdles found at San Diego beaches...Learn More

Substance
Hydrogen sulfide
Location
Deer Park
,
TX
Source
PEMEX

One person is dead and several others are injured after a chemical release at an industrial plant in Deer Park....Learn More

Substance
Ammonia
Location
Baton Rouge
,
LA
Source
Formosa Plastic

Four people were injured and two are in critical condition from inhalation burns at the Formosa Plastics plant in Baton Rouge,...Learn More

Substance
Refrigerant
Location
Cedar Rapids
,
IA
Source
Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids firefighters responded to a chemical leak from a faulty refrigerator at Mount Mercy University's Donnelly Center, prompting an evacuation. The...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Sanburn
,
NY
Source
Archem Inc

Three employees were hospitalized after a chemical spill at Archem, Inc. in Sanborn, NY. Archem Inc produces polyurethane foam . About 100...Learn More

Substance
Chloroprene
Location
Reserve
,
LA
Source
Denka Performance Elastomer plant

A spill of chloroprene occurred Sept. 25 at the Denka Performance Elastomer plant in St. John the Baptist Parish, the Louisiana Department...Learn More

Substance
Styrene
Location
Whitewater Township
,
OH
Source
Unknown

Firefighters, a local hazardous materials team and other emergency responders determined that the smell was coming from a rail yard in the...Learn More

Substance
NGL
Location
Deer Park
,
TX
Source
Energy Transfer

The timeline has been pushed back yet again for an ongoing pipeline fire on the border of Deer Park and La Porte...Learn More

Substance
Ammonia sulfate
Location
Washington
,
NC
Source
Unknown

Evacuations occurred near a Washington water treatment plant after a driver mixed liquid ammonia sulfate with sodium hypochlorite, producing toxic gas....Learn More

Substance
Sulfer Dioxide
Location
Torrance
,
CA
Source
PBF Energy

PBF Energy's Torrance refinery in California has experienced flaring for the fourth consecutive day, caused by a mechanical or electrical malfunction. The...Learn More

Substance
Phenol-based material
Location
Dover
,
OH
Source
Dover Chemical Company

Ohio EPA confirmed a phenol-based chemical spill from Dover Chemical on Sept. 6, causing fish deaths in Sugar Creek. Response teams are...Learn More

Substance
Xylene, Methanol, Propane
Location
Akron
,
OH
Source
Koki Laboratories

A three-alarm HAZMAT fire broke at a chemical packaging facility in Akron, Ohio triggering air quality concerns for nearby residents. ...Learn More

Substance
Sodium chloride and hydrogen peroxide
Location
Rochester
,
MN
Source
Unknown

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the semi rolled near Highway 52 and Interstate 90 in Rochester shortly after 7 p.m., spilling...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Deer Park
,
TX
Source
Shell

Flaring occurred at the Shell plant in Deer Park. The flaring started around 9 a.m. and kept burning into the night. Shell...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Houston
,
TX
Source
TPC Group

A large flare at a southeast Houston chemical plant Monday morning was caused by electrical issues after a power outage, officials said....Learn More

Substance
Gas
Location
Benicia
,
TX
Source
Valero

The Valero refinery in Benicia was flaring intermittently Thursday afternoon, the refinery reported to fire officials. The Benicia Fire Department said Wednesday...Learn More

Substance
Firefighting Foam
Location
Brunswick
,
ME
Source
Brunswick Executive Airport

At approximately 5:15 a.m. Monday morning, the fire suppression system in hangar four went off, discharging approximately 1,600 gallons of foam containing...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Hallettsville
,
TX
Source
American Sanitation Supplies

A chemical spill at American Sanitation Supplies has been occurred but been contained. A small amount of material has leaked onto Industrial...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Pasadena
,
TX
Source
Air Liquide

A power outage cut off a string of Ship Channel facilities and a transformer caught fire at the Air Liquide gas plant....Learn More

Substance
Ammonium hydroxide
Location
Albany
,
NY
Source
Department of Transportation

A building at the Harriman State Office Campus in Albany was evacuated Tuesday morning after a chemical spill. Officials said some ammonium...Learn More

Substance
Plastic Pellets
Location
Sheboygan
,
WI
Source
The semi-truck was hauling a tanker filled with 5,000 gallons of liquid manure when it collided with a northbound Wisconsin Southern train. One of the rail cars lost a load of plastic pellets when it derailed.

The semi-truck was hauling a tanker filled with 5,000 gallons of liquid manure when it collided with a northbound Wisconsin Southern train....Learn More

Substance
Disiel
Location
Houston
,
TX
Source
PEMEX Deer Park

Crews are working to contain a diesel oil spill in the Houston Ship Channel Tuesday afternoon, according to PEMEX Deer Park. The...Learn More

Substance
chlorobenzene
Location
Vicksburg
,
MS
Source
Bally’s Hotel and Casino

The spill took place Sunday night in a parking lot adjacent to the casino after the driver of an 18-wheeler carrying the...Learn More

Substance
Natural rubber latex compound solution
Location
Shelton
,
CT
Source
TalalayGlobal

The industrial accident happened about 9:50 p.m. Saturday at TalalayGlobal on River Road, said Paul J. Wilson, Shelton's deputy fire chief. Fire...Learn More

Substance
Hydrochloric acid
Location
Old Orchard Beach
,
ME
Source
Unknown

At about 8:30 PM on Wednesday, August 7th, an Old Orchard Beach Police Department unit, on routine patrol, alerted our team to...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
College Park
,
GA
Source
Alchemix

Multiple agencies battled a large fire at a College Park chemical plant on Wednesday. The blaze broke out at the Alchemix Plant...Learn More

Substance
Hydrochloric Acid
Location
Minneapolis
,
MN
Source
Unknown

The spill occurred around 11:15 a.m. at a business on the 400 block of St. Anthony Parkway, near Columbia Golf Course, according...Learn More

Substance
Oil
Location
Bayou Lafourche
,
LA
Source
Crescent Midstream

Emergency officials continued cleanup efforts Sunday of a large oil spill in Bayou Lafourche that was first detected early Saturday and traced...Learn More

Substance
Hydrochloric acid
Location
Easton
,
MD
Source
Unknown

The spill occurred in the back of a pool company's box truck after the material tipped over, according to the Easton Volunteer...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Clifton
,
NJ
Source
Unknown

Residents on Normandy Road in Clifton expressed concern Tuesday about the flammable chemicals from Monday’s tanker explosion on Route 3. “It smelled...Learn More

Substance
Hydrochloric Acid
Location
Knoxville
,
TN
Source
Unknown

Tractor-trailer leakedhydrochloric acid solution on part of road...Learn More

Substance
Ethyl acrylate
Location
Orange
,
TX
Source
Eagle Rail

On July 18, EPA Region 6 received two National Response Center reports indicating an ongoing air release in West Orange, Texas. Region...Learn More

Substance
Location
Lake Charles
,
LA
Source
Calcasieu Refining Company

Officials with the Calcasieu Refining Company confirmed the plant is currently not operating after heavy flaring this morning. A spokesperson with the...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Joliet
,
IL
Source
ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil shut down its 251,800-barrel-per-day refinery at Joliet, Illinois, due to a power outage after a storm, according to a filing late...Learn More

Substance
Nurdles
Location
Schaghticoke
,
NY
Source
Berkshire and Eastern Railroad

Months after a train crashed the night of Feb. 7 in Valley Falls — spilling rapeseed oil and tiny plastic beads from...Learn More

Substance
Nitric acid
Location
Letterkenny
,
PA
Source
AFCO

The incident occurred at the AFCO facility in the 800 block, involving a leak that released a mixture of water, nitric acid,...Learn More

Substance
CO2, Nox, Ethylene
Location
Brazoria County
,
TX
Source
INEOS

Not long after, the Chocolate Bayou petrochemical plant, owned by British-based Ineos and also located in Brazoria County, reported almost 7 tons...Learn More

Substance
Pyrophoric Liquid Metal
Location
Franklin
,
MA
Source
Dynisco

In their statement near 12 p.m., the fire department identified the hazardous material as ‘a small quantity of pyrophoric liquid metal’ and...Learn More

Substance
Cobalt Thiocyanate Hydrate
Location
Ironton
,
OH
Source
Unknown

The lanes of US-52 were closed at 12:46 p.m. after an unidentified barrel with an unknown substance was discovered on the side...Learn More

Substance
Unkown
Location
Galveston Bay
,
TX
Source
Marathon Petroleum

The fuel giant Marathon Petroleum said Monday that its Galveston Bay Refinery had lost power during the storm and was burning off...Learn More

Substance
Excess gases
Location
Hosuton
,
TX
Source
Formosa

Formosa Plastics Corporation and Freeport LNG also reported flaring related to Beryl, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality....Learn More

Substance
Anhydrous ammonia, sulfur and methanol and plastic pellets
Location
Fargo
,
ND
Source
Canadian Pacific

Twenty-nine cars of a CPKC train derailed around 3:45 a.m. in a marshy area surrounded by farmland that's about 140 miles (225...Learn More

Substance
Chlorine
Location
Navassa
,
NC
Source
American Distillation Company

According to a town of Navassa spokesperson, at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning, the Navassa Volunteer Fire Department responded to a chlorine...Learn More

Substance
Anhydrous ammonia
Location
Trion
,
GA
Source
Mount Vernon Mills

A chemical spill at Mount Vernon Mills in Trion, Georgia forced several evacuations overnight. The Trion Fire Department responded to the scene...Learn More

Substance
Firefighting Foam
Location
Bethel
,
AK
Source
Bethel Aviation

A malfunctioning firefighting system leaked around 10 gallons of foam in the Bethel aviation facility’s boiler room, hangar bay, and outside of...Learn More

Substance
Nitric acid
Location
Buckeye
,
AZ
Source
Thatcher Company of Arizona

A chemical leak in Buckeye prompted a shelter-in-place warning Friday evening as authorities investigated the air quality, the Buckeye Police Department said....Learn More

Substance
Foam
Location
Burlington
,
VT
Source
Vermont National Guard

Hundreds of gallons of chemical foam used to fight fires have spilled out of the Army Aviation Support Facility and into the...Learn More

Substance
Ammonia
Location
Fond du Lac
,
WI
Source
Milk Specialties

Ammonia leak inside the building involving the Ammonia refrigeration system....Learn More

Substance
Nitrogen Oxide
Location
McRae
,
AR
Source
Union Pacific Railroad

Emergency officials are working on a chemical spill involving a train around Highway 367 in the McRae area. Beebe Police said on...Learn More

Substance
Fertilizer
Location
Kansas City
,
MO
Source
Unknown

Eastbound lanes of I-70 through Kansas City closed…after a tanker truck carrying plant chemicals overturned on the highway. The truck overturned around...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Douglasville
,
GA
Source
Unknown

Interstate 20 in Douglasville is completely shut down during the busy Thursday afternoon rush hour following a leak from an overturned tractor-trailer...Learn More

Substance
Polyisobutylene
Location
Union
,
NE
Source
Union Pacific

A Union Pacific Railroad train spilled a synthetic rubber substance into a southeast Nebraska creek Tuesday when it derailed near the Cass...Learn More

Substance
Sulfuric Acid
Location
Burlington
,
WI
Source
Applied Material Solution

A manufacturing plant was evacuated Friday when a delivery truck spilled about 10 gallons of sulfuric acid, officials said. No injuries were...Learn More

Substance
Ferric sulphate
Location
Austin
,
TX
Source
Unknown

The Austin Fire Department is responding to what it called a “hazardous spill” in west Austin Tuesday morning. AFD later said the...Learn More

Substance
Isocyanate fluid
Location
Mansfield
,
MA
Source
Future Foam

Two workers were injured in a chemical spill at a foam manufacturing facility in Mansfield Tuesday morning. Firefighters were called to Future...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Clinton
,
IA
Source
LyondellBasell

At approximately 1 p.m. on May 26th, the LyondellBasell Clinton Complex temporarily lost power, which resulted in flaring at the facility....Learn More

Substance
Unknown Petrochemical
Location
Norwich
,
VT
Source
Unknown

Petroleum-based chemicals have been dripping down an abutment of Moore Lane Bridge, less than two years after the town installed a containment...Learn More

Substance
Foam
Location
Muskegon
,
MI
Source
American Chemical Solutions

A tank on its side and foam seen running into the Black Creek caused a hazmat response, Muskegon Professional Firefighters said Tuesday....Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
West Finley
,
PA
Source
Consol Energy

A large storage building operated by a subcontractor at the Bailey Mine complex in Greene County caught fire Monday morning, prompting numerous...Learn More

Substance
Hydraulic Fluid
Location
Burrton
,
KS
Source
Gressel Oil

A shelter-in-place has been issued for the area of Burrton after an oil field supply plant was damaged causing a chemical spill....Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Houston
,
TX
Source
TPC Group

TPC Group's petrochemical plant was the scene of a fireball-like flare that was blown sideways by blustery winds during the severe thunderstorm....Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Beaumont
,
TX
Source
ExxonMobil

Flaring events were also reported at Exxon Mobil’s facilities in Beaumont, and a spokesperson said that the impacts there were ‘minor.’...Learn More

Substance
Sodium hydroxide
Location
Macedonia
,
OH
Source
Royal Chemical

Tanker exploded at a Royal Chemical facility in Macedonia ohio silling sodium hydroxide...Learn More

Substance
Ammonium nitrate
Location
Pitt County
,
NC
Source
Unknown

The chemical ammonium nitrate was being transported on a truck that turned over at 7 a.m. Friday morning, May 17, the clean-up...Learn More

Substance
Hydrogen Peroxide
Location
Stockbridge
,
GA
Source
Unknown

According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, a tanker truck exiting Jodeco Road spilled a large amount of hydrogen peroxide, shutting down...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Olive Branch
,
MS
Source
Unknown

A part of a highway in Olive Branch closed after a semi-trailer spilled chemicals Friday, May 17. The incident happened on Highway...Learn More

Substance
Transformer Oil
Location
Bishopville
,
SC
Source
Unknown

According to Lee County Fire-Rescue, authorities are on the site of a spill between that happened between Lee State Park Road and...Learn More

Substance
Nurdles
Location
Beaver County
,
PA
Source
Shell Ethane Cracker Plant

Since the plant became operational in the fall of 2022, Clark has noticed strong chemical odors at the outfalls—potentially a sign of...Learn More

Substance
Nitric acid
Location
Creola
,
AL
Source
Ranger Environmental

The Creola Fire Department issued the alert about 10 a.m. [May 13], saying the spill was near Ranger Environmental. Highway 43 between...Learn More

Substance
Acidic material
Location
Spartanburg
,
SC
Source
Unknown

A Spartanburg County road is temporarily closed while Hazmat teams clean up a chemical spill. According to Spartanburg County Emergency Management, a...Learn More

Substance
Nurdles
Location
Chicago
,
IL
Source
Unknown

Most of these fragments are generally smaller than an inch. Lentil-sized pellets used in plastic production called “nurdles” account for 5% to...Learn More

Substance
Chlroine and Fertilizer
Location
Chambersburg
,
PA
Source
Rural King

According to the Chambersburg Fire Department, firefighters responded to the Rural King store on Wayne Ave. around 11:36 p.m. after employees reported...Learn More

Substance
Acid
Location
Gurnee
,
IL
Source
Weiman Products

The Gurnee Fire Department responded around 12:05 a.m. Thursday to Weiman Products, 755 Tri-State Parkway in Gurnee, for a report of a...Learn More

Substance
Organic peroxide
Location
DeKalb
,
GA
Source
FedEx

A FedEx facility in DeKalb County was evacuated early Thursday morning after a chemical spill, authorities said. At around 7:30 a.m., firefighters...Learn More

Substance
Plastic Pellets
Location
Wyoming
,
OH
Source
CSX

On Saturday, three train cars derailed near Wyoming Avenue at approximately 8 p.m., CSX wrote in a statement. One of the cars...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Houston
,
TX
Source
Kinder Morgan Galena Park Refinery

Three people were injured Friday when a fire broke out at a storage terminal in Galena Park, according to the Harris County...Learn More

Substance
Nitric Acid
Location
Ogden
,
NY
Source
Rochester Midland Corporation

A hazmat situation Monday sent employees home early from Rochester Midland Corporation on Paragon Drive. Officials said a 275-gallon tank of nitric...Learn More

Substance
Condensate
Location
Bismark
,
ND
Source
Unknown

According to a press release from the Williston Fire Department (WFD), at approximately 6:24 p.m., staffers with the WFD, the McKenzie County...Learn More

Substance
Firefighting Foam
Location
Sissonville
,
WV
Source
Unknown

A spill of firefighting foam has been detected in three southern West Virginia waterways, and potential downstream intakes have been notified, regulators...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Bethpage
,
NY
Source
Grumman Aerospace

Contractors with Grumman's corporate successor, Northrop Grumman, discovered six 55-gallon drums roughly seven feet underground as they drilled a well Thursday to...Learn More

Substance
Unkown
Location
Borger
,
TX
Source
Phillps 66

Two employees of Phillips 66 were injured in a fire at one of the oil company’s refineries in the Texas Panhandle on...Learn More

Substance
Creosote, benzene
Location
Houston
,
TX
Source
Union Pacific Railroad

The Environmental Protection Agency has identified potentially dangerous levels of toxic chemicals in several new vapor samples taken near a Union Pacific...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Deer Park
,
TX
Source
Shell

A Shell spokesperson said the flare, which first appeared Friday, will continue into the week as the energy company recovers from a power outage....Learn More

Substance
Liquid Nitrogen and Ammonia
Location
Red Oak
,
IA
Source
NEW Cooperative

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is investigating a liquid fertilizer spill into the East Nishnabotna River out the outskirts of...Learn More

Substance
Aqueous film-forming foam
Location
Batavia
,
IL
Source
Flint Group

Officials are warning Batavia residents to stay away from Mahoney Creek after a foam spill was discovered earlier this week. The foam...Learn More

Substance
Methylene chloride
Location
Kalamazoo
,
MI
Source
Pfizer

A no-contact advisory along a stretch of the Kalamazoo River was issued Wednesday afternoon after Pfizer notified the city of Kalamazoo of...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Bristol Township
,
PA
Source
Dow

An elementary school in Bristol Township was evacuated Wednesday morning after an intermittent chemical odor was detected in the Croydon section of...Learn More

Substance
Plastic Pellets
Location
Lower Saucon Township
,
PA
Source
Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern freight train derailment in eastern Pennsylvania...Learn More

Substance
Creosote
Location
Lansing
,
MI
Source
Canadian National Railway

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, or EGLE, said they are monitoring a small chemical spill that occurred earlier...Learn More

Substance
Sodium Hydroxide
Location
Benton
,
AR
Source
Goodyear Tire

The Saline County Office of Emergency Management responded to a chemical spill Sunday morning. According to OEM officials, the chemical spill was...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Allentown
,
PA
Source
Sharp Packing Solutions

Fifty-four people were sent to the hospital after a hazmat situation was reported at the Sharp Packing Solutions building on the 7400...Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Beaumont
,
TX
Source
ExxonMobil

Reports operations require flaring at Beaumont Complex site, Texas source: community alert the Beaumont Complex houses a 619,024 barrel-per-day oil refinery....Learn More

Substance
Unknown
Location
Albion
,
WI
Source
Vico Plastics

The cause of the fire is unknown. Officials reported the building and what it holds inside cost about $1.5 million. Vico Plastics...Learn More

beyondpetrochemicals.org
November 6, 2024
beyondpetrochemicals.org
November 6, 2024
beyondpetrochemicals.org
November 6, 2024
beyondpetrochemicals.org
November 6, 2024
Petrochemical train cars in front of large, dark smoke plume.

96 Incidents
In 2023 and counting are costing us our lives, livelihoods, and health

39%

of the US population lives within three miles of a hazardous facility2
Map of contiguous United States with yellow heat map style markers.

$477M

is the annual cost from evacuations, medical treatments, injuries and deaths caused by chemical accidents3

1.1M

pounds of vinyl chloride were released in a single incident in East Palestine, Ohio4
Ohio with yellow map marker.

1 Key Findings: Chemical Incident Tracking 2021-2023; An Analysis by Coming Clean and the Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform

2 Life at the Fenceline: Understanding Cumulative Health Hazards in Environmental Justice Communities (The Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform)

3 Revealed: the US is averaging one chemical accident every two days (The Guardian)

4 The Devastating Health Consequences of the Ohio Derailment: A Closer Look at the Effects of Vinyl Chloride Spill (Int J Environ Res Public Health)

Explosion at an oil refinery.

People Before
Petro­chemicals

Petrochemicals are a major source of toxic pollution—they are used to make plastic, clothing, fertilizers, and many other products. As the world transitions to clean and renewable energy, oil and gas companies are increasingly looking to petrochemicals as a financial lifeline, with plans to expand exponentially.

The Spill Tracker platform is a commitment made by Beyond Petrochemicals and its partners to communities nationwide to shine a light on the danger of petrochemicals. We hope that by tracking the spills, leaks, fires, and other incidents caused by petrochemicals and the stories of the people who endure their aftermath, this problem will finally receive the attention it deserves.

Enormous plume of gray smoke billowing behind a residential street.