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EPA and Texas Declare Portion of Tex Tin Site "Ready for Reuse"

Release Date: 7/1/2003
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

      Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state of Texas awarded the first Superfund "ready for reuse" determination in the nation for a portion of a former tin and copper smelter at a ceremony in Texas City, Texas.  

      Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene of EPA, Commissioner Kathleen Hartnett White of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Mayor Carlos Garza of Texas City signed the ready for reuse determination for operable unit 2 (OU2) of the Tex Tin Corporation Superfund site in Texas City.  

      Tex Tin's OU2 is owned by BP Amoco Chemical Company, which conducted the site cleanup.  EPA and the TCEQ declared that BP Amoco's cleanup of OU2 was successful and ensures that the environmental conditions on this property are protective of its anticipated future use as an industrial property.

      Greene said, "Today's 'ready for reuse' determination clears the way for redevelopment of this prime commercial real estate.  For every acre of inner-city land reused, 4.5 acres of undeveloped 'greenspace' is preserved.  We congratulate our partners in the state of Texas, Texas City and BP Amoco on this first Superfund 'ready for reuse' determination in the nation."

      White said, "The designation of Tex Tin as safe for reuse is a significant environmental and economic boost to this area.  It is an excellent example of how we can work together at the federal, state, and local level to ensure a cleaner Texas for generations to come."

      Garza said, "I am very pleased that the BP Amoco property will be available for new economic development opportunities.  There is very limited property zoned 'heavy-industry' in Texas City and this site should be very attractive for an expansion project or a new development."

      Tex Tin, located near the intersection of State Highway 146 and FM 519, was an emergency tin supply plant built during World War II.  It was operated and modified by a succession of companies until it closed in 1991 as a copper smelter. Over the years, industrial waste releases contaminated the entire 170-acre property.  

      More information about EPA's ready for reuse program is available at https://www.epa.gov/swerosps/rcrabf/r4rmain.htm.  More information about the Tex Tin site is available at https://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6sf/pdffiles/tex-tin.pdf. To read more about EPA's progress in protecting land, see the "Report on the Environment" at www.epa.gov/indicators.