El Pasoans remained few answers or without any answers, as the huge black bursts of smoke overtook the city and the flames exploded through the smoke flair through the marathon oil refinery in the southern central part.
“We deserve to find out what’s going on at the oil refinery,” said Matthew Moriel, who lives in Corbin-Sambran’s neighborhood a few blocks from oil refinery. “We need to know if we need to be indoors and whether we need to turn off our swamp coolers to prevent contaminated air from entering. It is acceptable that the oil processing company in the middle of the city is not accessible to those who live closest to its contamination.”
The view of the black pollution clouds in the eastern part of the city, caused by a marathon oil refinery in El Pasas, Texas, 2025. July 8th
From the Marathon oil refinery in 212 North Clark Drive near Alamed Avenue, around 5:30 pm, Tuesday, July 8th.
Moriel and other neighbors started calling the oil refinery factory about what was happening at the factory, but heard only from a security guard who took the message. Neighbors have never heard of oil processing operators.
In a statement in the name of Marathon Petroleum Corp. A spokesman told El Paso Times that the incident was caused by the termination of power supply.
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“Due to the termination of electricity supply from the third parties, the provider of the El Pasas Marathon was necessary at the Oil Refinery Marathon,” the report said.
The company did not report injuries during the incident or the harmful environmental impact in this area.
“Air monitoring was used as a precaution, and the effect was not found on the spot,” the report said.
The community asks for transparency, better communication
The Houston In Action Coalition of Sembrando Esperanza, led by “11 of the most historic, resistant, contaminated and hottest workers in the El Passage, asks for more transparency and communication from Marathon processing leaders, the coalition report states.
“Even if what happened (July 8), it is impossible to violate the state or federal rules, that does not mean that the smoke was not toxic and dangerous to our health, the environment and pets,” said Veronica Carbajal, Civil Rights Organizer of the Sembrand Esperanza Coalition Coalition Coalition. “In addition, we will not know what was in the smoke or how it affected our air quality until the tracking data is released. Meanwhile, nearby residents deserve to know what precautions to take and who to call in such emergencies.”
The view of the black pollution clouds in the eastern part of the city, caused by a marathon oil refinery in El Pasas, Texas, 2025. July 8th
Group asks for a marathon processing factory:
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In the meeting, neighbors attend and discuss their worries
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Create a warning system for neighbors near the oil refinery factory
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Submit a number of neighbors
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Regular tracking data reports
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Air quality monitors must be placed in the neighborhood, including those who read the carcinogens issued by the oil refinery
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Marathon oil refineries said they already have a policy to warn residents for any danger.
“Our most priority is the safety of employees, our neighbors and the environment,” the Marathon processing plant said in a statement. “If a situation that is potentially needed by community members’ actions, we advise the designated local authorities, in accordance with the grounds set out in advance and then cooperate with those authorities, the media and others to communicate information to the community if necessary.”
What is flaming?
The El Pasas oil refinery “processes sweet and sour green oils into gasoline, distilled, heavy fuel oil, propane, asphalt and NGL (natural gas fluids) and petroleum chemicals,” the company said in an annual report.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the flame is the process of burning excess or gas or waste. Flonsing safely releases excess pressure from the oil refinery equipment equipment, especially during emergencies or maintenance.
The view of the black pollution clouds in the eastern part of the city, caused by a marathon oil refinery in El Pasas, Texas, 2025. July 8th
Fliming can release harmful contaminants such as sulfur dioxide and particulate matter – a study published in Science Research Journal. Tolstants released by flaming can cause health problems such as asthma, heart attacks and premature deaths, especially in communities near the oil refinery, the study says.
Data on the types and quantities of contaminants issued by the El Paso Marathon processing plant during the flaming factory have not been published.
Aaron Martinez includes the Criminal Justice system of the El Paso Times. It can be accessed by email.
This article initially appeared in El Paso Times: El Paso residents are looking for answers after a marathon processing plant