On Thursday, Harris County officials outlined all the actions it has taken over the past two years to enhance environmental monitoring and enforcement.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said since the ITC chemical fire that happened in Deer Park in March 2019, county officials have taken numerous steps to protect the county's environment against threats to public health and safety.
These actions, according to county officials, follow decades of systemic underfunding and neglect of key county departments and services aimed at protecting residents against environmental hazards, including man-made and natural disasters.
“We are committed to addressing the root causes of repeated incidents that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations who live in the shadow of industry,” Judge Hidalgo said.