San Jacinto River Waste Pits Resource Library

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The San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site is located in Harris County, Texas. The location was used for disposing contaminated solid and liquid waste. In 2017, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a cleanup plan to address the contaminated site.


Harris County Pollution Control Services Department (PCS) has created a library of resources to assist Harris County residents build knowledge of pollution in their communities. 

Please review the resource library below to learn more about the impact, risks, and cleanup plan for the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site.

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Title
Publication Date
Type of Resource
Source
A review of the Texas, USA San Jacinto Superfund site and the deposition of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in the San Jacinto River and Houston Ship Channel September 24, 2016 Research Paper PubMed.Gov
EPA: Tests show contaminants exposed at Texas Superfund site September 29, 2017 News Article AP News
Houston-area toxic waste site removed from priority cleanup list April 16, 2018 News Article Texas Tribune
Texas officials ignore dioxin spread in Houston waterways May 3, 2018 News Article Houston Chronicle
Limited mobility of dioxins near San Jacinto super fund site (waste pit) in the Houston Ship Channel, Texas due to strong sediment sorption July 23, 2018 Research Paper PubMed.Gov
Final Treatability Study Work Plan Report May 20, 2019 Report EPA
Clean up of San Jacinto Waste Pits moving forward April 10, 2020 News Article Chron
Preliminary 30% Remedial Design Southern Impoundment Report April 13, 2020 Report EPA
Preliminary 30% Remedial Design Northern Impoundment Report May 28, 2020 Report EPA
Crews stabilize cap that covers San Jacinto Waste Pits June 20, 2020 News Article Houston Chronicle
Update on San Jacinto River Waste Pits: EPA says deeper toxic waste means more time & money July 2, 2020 News Article Star Courier News
Update On Status Of The San Jacinto River Waste Pits Site July 14, 2020 News Article San Jacinto Facts
EPA Releases Preliminary Design for Remediation: Waste Pits Removal Will Have Major Impact On Area July 30, 2020 News Article Star Courier News
 
Shotgun metagenomics of indigenous bacteria collected from the banks of the San Jacinto River for biodegradation of aromatic waste August 1, 2020 Research Paper PubMed.Gov
From Community Crisis to National Collaboration August 6, 2020 Web Page THEA
San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site August 17, 2020 Web Page EPA
Cleanup Of San Jacinto River Waste Pits Now Estimated To Take 7 Years August 26, 2020 News Article Houston Public Media
Cleanup of San Jacinto River Hazardous Waste Pits Delayed August 27, 2020 News Article Waste Today Magazine
Feds hope to start San Jacinto Waste Pits cleanup within 2 years September 9, 2020 News Article Houston Chronicle
Here's what you need to know about progress being made at San Jacinto Waste Pits September 10, 2020 News Article Click2Houston
EPA cleanup at toxic Houston site could spread contamination October 22, 2020 News Article E&E News
How tropical cyclone flooding caused erosion and dispersal of mercury-contaminated sediment in an urban estuary: The impact of Hurricane Harvey on Buffalo Bayou and the San Jacinto Estuary, Galveston Bay, USA December 15, 2020 Research Paper Science Direct
Production of methylmercury by methanogens in mercury contaminated estuarine sediments December 22, 2020 Research Paper PubMed.Gov
EPA Delays Waste Pits Clean Up April 19, 2021 News Article Baytown Sun News
Transmittal of Final 100% Remedial Design Southern Impoundment (Amended April 2021) April 19, 2021 Letter EPA
Final 100% Remedial Design Southern Impoundment (Amended April 2021) April 19, 2021 Report EPA
Appendix A Part 1 Of 5 Final 100% Remedial Design - Southern Impoundment (Amended April 2021) April 19, 2021 Report EPA
Appendix A Part 2 Of 5 Final 100% Remedial Design Southern Impoundment (Amended April 2021) April 19, 2021 Report EPA
Appendix A Part 3 Of 5 Final 100% Remedial Design Southern Impoundment (Amended April 2021) April 19, 2021 Report EPA
Appendix A Part 4 Of 5 Final 100% Remedial Design Southern Impoundment (Amended April 2021) April 19, 2021 Report EPA
Appendix A Part 5 Of 5 Final 100% Remedial Design Southern Impoundment (Amended April 2021) April 19, 2021 Report EPA
Appendices B Through E Final 100% Remedial Design Southern Impoundment (Amended April 2021) April 19, 2021 Report EPA
Cleanup Of The San Jacinto Waste Pits Faces More Delays, EPA Says April 20, 2021 News Article Houston Public Media
Meeting Set Over Highway Barrier Suit April 27, 2021 News Article Baytown Sun News
Waste Pits Delayed Another 270 Days May 5, 2021 News Article Star Courier News
Superfund Site Threat Ongoing May 5, 2021 News Article Baytown Sun News
EPA To Update Waste Pits Work In Virtual Meeting June 8, 2021 Public Notice EPA
EPA Community Meeting SJRWP June 8, 2021 Public Notice Baytown Sun News
The San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site Virtual Community Meeting Public Notice June 10, 2021 Public Notice EPA
Presentation from the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site Community Update Meeting on June 10, 2021 June 10, 2021 PowerPoint Presentation EPA
Below Aging U.S. Dams, A Potential Toxic Calamity June 17, 2021 News Article Baytown Sun News
Watchdogs Bill impacts Baytown Air Quality June 17, 2021 News Article Baytown Sun News
Officials celebrate creation of Gulf Coast Protection District June 26, 2021 News Article Baytown Sun News
EPA Orders Dioxin Removal To Commence At Superfund Site September 10, 2021 News Article FOX 26 Houston
Cleanup On Hazardous San Jacinto Waste Pits Could Finally Start Next Year September 14, 2021 News Article Houston Chronicle 
Top U.S. environmental regulator to visit Houston neighborhoods where Black and Latino residents bear brunt of pollution November 15, 2021 News Article Texas Tribune
EPA OKs Pits Clean-Up Extension January 20, 2022 News Article Baytown Sun News
Waste Pits Watchdogs To Update Site Work March 21, 2022 News Article Baytown Sun News
Cleanup of the San Jacinto Waste Pits Must Continue As Planned, EPA Says April 18, 2022 News Article Houston Public Media
EPA won't allow delay in San Jacinto waste pits cleanup April 18, 2022 News Article San Jacinto County FOX 26 Houston
Waste Pits Threat Ongoing May 12, 2022 News Article Baytown Sun News
CHIC Opposes Permits For River Road Construction June 6, 2022 News Article North Channel Star News
EPA Meeting June 23 Will Report On Waste Pits June 16, 2022 News Article Star Courier News
Pct 3 Comm Ramsey Speaks To Chambers June 23, 2022 News Article Star Courier News
Activists watching environmental activities in San Jacinto River June 23, 2022 News Article Star Courier News
Waste Pits Cleanup Plan Due Monday June 25, 2022 News Article Baytown Sun News
EPA meets with community on Waste Pits June 30, 2022 News Article Star Courier News
EPA administrator discusses Smurfit cleanup with Missoula County July 1, 2022 News Article Missoula Current
THEA’s recap of the EPA’s Community Meeting for the San Jacinto River Waste Pits July 5, 2022 News Article THEA
New waste pits cleanup plan under review July 16, 2022 News Article Baytown Sun News
Houston We Have A Flooding And Toxic Waste Problem August 14, 2022 News Article EPA
Update on San Jacinto River Waste Pits August 18, 2022 News Article Star Courier News
 TxDOT shows off San Jacinto River bridge plans  September 22, 2023  News Article  Baytown Sun News
Assessment of the Occurrence of Cancer February 6, 2025 Report Texas DSHS
East Harris County Cancer Cluster Census Tracts Map April 17, 2025 Map Harris County OCA