Source of foul odor reported on Fort Bend Toll Road identified
HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Over the past several days, citizens have complained about a foul odor in the vicinity of the Fort Bend County Toll Road.
The incident was investigated by the Railroad Commission of Texas, which is continuing to monitor the situation. Gaye Greever McElwain, Communications and Outreach Manager for the RRC, issued the following statement on Friday:
“On September 11, the Railroad Commission (RRC) was notified of a strong odor in the vicinity of the intersection of FM 2234 and Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road. An RRC inspector determined the source of the odor to be drilling and completion operations on the Viceroy Petroleum Cities Services Fee Lease Well No 1951 (DP 854473), API 157-33261. In accordance with Commission jurisdiction, RRC cited the Operator for noncompliance with Statewide Rule (SWR) 32(e)(4) that requires gas releases to be burned in a Flare for safety reasons.”
McElwain added that the “open top tanks on the lease have been emptied of fluid. The operator has altered the flow of fluids into covered storage tanks and is installing separation equipment so that any excess gas from the liquid may be flared. No spillage of fluids or impacts to groundwater have been observed.”
Although the incident took place outside Missouri City limits, the odor impacted several neighborhoods in the area and staff will continue to provide updates to citizens should they become available.