Boating halted as substance taints Dickinson Bayou

The Dickinson Office of Emergency Management suspended all boating activity along a section of Dickinson Bayou early Saturday afternoon after discovering an “unknown substance” floating in the waterway.

A few hours later, the Dickinson Police Department determined that the murky, yellowish material was a sulfonate solution that originated from the plant upstream.

Calumet-Penreco officials said the solution is a product produced at the plant. They added that the product is non-flammable, non-corrosive and nonhazardous.

According to a police department statement, the accidental release is reportedly a result of a damaged valve due to the freezing temperatures earlier in the week.

An independent thirdparty environmental testing group will conduct further tests on the substance and environment.

Calumet-Penreco will conduct the cleanup, according to police.

A large portion of the product was contained within floating booms deployed by the Dickinson Fire Department, and was within a mile of the Dickinson Bayou Boat Ramp at State Highway 3.

Activity along the bayou will remain suspended to prevent interference with containment and cleanup of the bayou until further notice, according to police.

Dickinson Police Department Sgt. Tim Cromie said the substance was on the bayou from Paul Hopkins Park east toward the Tropical Gardens subdivision.

The Dickinson Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Texas General Land Office are assisting in the investigation.