Environmental (In)justice in Port Arthur, Texas: A legacy of multiple impacts, cumulative risk, health disparities and socio-economic redlining

Port Arthur, in the upper Texas Gulf Coast, ranks in the top 10% of polluted U.S. communities in terms 1) chemical releases, 2) cancer risk, 3) recognized / suspected carcinogens, 4) developmental toxicants, 5) recognized reproductive toxicants. West Port Arthur is 91% African-American with 23% of the households having incomes = or < poverty level and unemployment at 14%.

Port Arthur shows various cumulative risk factors: 1) neighborhoods proximate to petrochemical complex; 2) a high load of emissions; 3) frequent industrial upsets, flaring, fires, 4) diesel particulates from transport, 5) absence of local health facilities; 6) lack of business / accessible county / city social services, 7) school closures, 8) high rates of asthma, respiratory distress, cancer, skin irritations.

Port Arthur recently received additions to its risk burden: 1) Shell / Motiva expansion of refinery capacity, 2) DoD / Veolia VX hydrolysate incineration, 3) severe damage from Hurricane Rita.

EPA's cumulative risk matrix - “Ensuring Risk Reduction in Communities with Multiple Stressors: Environmental Justice and Cumulative Risks / Impacts” - identifies Port Arthur as seriously in need of risk reduction based on: 1) vulnerability, 2) differential exposures, 3) differential preparedness, 4) differential abilities to recover, 5) health disparities. Vulnerability analysis includes: 1) density of facilities, 2) unique exposure pathways, 3) vulnerable populations / multiple exposures. EPA / NEJAC must institutionalize a Bias for Action to promote implementation of Executive EJ Order 12898 (1994) and effectively address environmental injustices in Port Arthur, and similar fence-line communities.