East Bernard Pesticide Spill; East Bernard, TX

East Bernard, TX | 2001-May-15

Initial Notification: Late in the evening of 15 May 2001, the NOAA SSC was notified by the HAZMAT Duty Officer of a chemical incident in South Texas. The Texas Natural Resources and Conservation Commission (TNRCC) provide a "heads up" notification related to a facility fire and pesticide spill which occurred Friday night (11 May). The situation was thought to be contained, but (apparently) an unknown connection existed between a storm water sewer and the City of East Bernard sewage treatment facility. It is thought that some of the spilled chemical was lost to the San Bernard River by this route. The pesticides released were Guthion 2L and Bidrin-8. These chemicals are highly toxic to fish. Release volumes were estimated at only 250 pounds. A fish kill has been observed to extend 20 miles downstream as of this morning (16 May). While the incident occurred some 50 miles from the coastal zone, it appears that coastal resources are threatened. USCG district 8.