San Jacinto River Waste Pits

Overview

The San Jacinto River Waste Pits sit on the San Jacinto River in Harris County, Texas, east of Houston. In the mid-1960s, impoundments were built to hold pulp and papermill wastes. From 1965 to 1966, Champion Papers, Inc. transported wastes by barge and deposited them there. The site has two main sections: northern impoundments covering 14 acres, partially submerged in the river, and a southern impoundment on a small peninsula covering less than 20 acres. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in April 2008.

The primary contaminants are dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Both were created when chlorine was used to bleach pulp and paper. They have spread to fish and shellfish in the river and downstream in Galveston Bay at levels that pose an increased health risk. Dioxins and PCBs accumulate in food chains and break down slowly. Most human exposure comes from eating animal fats, including meat, dairy, fish, and shellfish. The Texas Department of State Health Services issued fish consumption advisories to reduce exposure.

EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) found contamination through sampling in 2005 and 2006. A temporary armored cap was installed over the northern impoundments in 2011 to contain the waste and keep people off the site. EPA's October 2017 Record of Decision selected excavation and off-site disposal as the long-term remedy. In September 2019, Tropical Storm Imelda caused a barge to ground on the eastern cell's cap, but inspections found no waste was released. Additional rock was placed to protect the cap edge. By 2023, excavation of the southern impoundment was fully complete and all waste disposed of off-site. As of 2025, the potentially responsible parties submitted final remedial design documents for the northern impoundments, and that work is ongoing.

Community involvement has been active since 2008. EPA established a 16-member Community Awareness Committee in 2010, including residents, state agencies, local governments, environmental groups, and potentially responsible parties. The committee meets regularly at the Harris County Attorney's Office. EPA coordinated with the Texas Department of State Health Services to survey nearby communities about health concerns. In 2012, EPA provided a Technical Assistance Grant to the Galveston Bay Foundation to hire a technical advisor. A community meeting was held in January 2025 at the Highlands Community Center, and EPA conducted seven virtual community interviews in spring 2025 to update its Community Involvement Plan. The public can follow site updates at www.epa.gov/tx/sjrwp or call the toll-free line at (800) 887-6063.