Odors/Chemicals

Living in Seabrook, you may occasionally smell strange odors. According to Harris County Pollution Control, many of these odors are harmless; however, a strange odor may sometimes indicate something more.

Community Partnerships

Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), consisting of the cities of La Porte, Morgan's Point, and Shoreacres, collaborates with Seabrook, which borders these communities. While Seabrook may not have many chemical plants or refineries, the neighboring communities do.

The LEPC's primary focus is working with local governments to develop emergency plans and enhance citizen awareness of appropriate actions during a chemical emergency. This committee closely coordinates with cities, schools, and the community to promote emergency preparedness and offer shelter-in-place education to residents and workers in the area. The LEPC sponsors and participates in various community events as part of its outreach efforts.

CAER Online

If you smell an odor in your area, visit the EHCMA’s CAER Online website or access their mobile app to see if any information is available. The app and information are provided by the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).

View active CAER messages

Harris County Pollution Control

The mission of the Harris County Pollution Control Services Department is to safeguard the residents of Harris County from environmental impacts by consistently enforcing state and federal regulations. The primary objective is to achieve clean air and water and effectively manage waste. The department focuses on activities aimed at ensuring clean air and water for Harris County residents while prioritizing public health, property enjoyment, and the protection of plant, animal, and marine life. Activities include:

• Enforcing the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Air, Water, Solid Waste, and Harris County Stormwater Rules and Regulations.
• Emergency response.
• Responding to citizen complaints regarding air, water, or solid waste problems.
• Monitoring, inspecting, and investigating activities and facilities associated with air, water, stormwater, and solid and hazardous waste pollution.
• Laboratory analysis of water, soil, and solid waste samples to identify and quantify compounds that may be hazardous, a public nuisance, or detrimental to the environment.
• Reviewing and commenting on TCEQ permit renewals and amendments.
• Assessing and compiling reports and evidence relating to violations of environmental laws for civil or criminal litigation.

Harris County Community Air Monitoring Program (CAMP)

The Harris County Community Air Monitoring Program (CAMP) is designed to:

• Measure pollution levels that affect public and environmental health across Harris County.
• Identify emission sources that adversely impact local communities.
• Inform the public and elected officials on priorities related to clean air and environmental sustainability.
• Highlight patterns and trends that may support environmental regulatory activities.

Bay Area Community Advisory Panel (BAYCAP)

The Bay Area Community Advisory Panel (BAYCAP) is a voluntary organization providing an ongoing, open forum for face-to-face dialogue between sponsoring industries and the surrounding communities. Its purposes are to:

• Build relationships between the community and industry with candid yet mannerly dialogue focused on information sharing and issue resolution
• Share community expectations for the industry on specific topics such as health, safety, and the environment, as well as quality-of-life issues, including education and the economy.
• Learn about industry activities that may impact communities, such as incidents, expansions, shutdowns, safety, disaster preparedness, permit applications, plant involvement in the community, economic development, and hazardous materials transportation.

Seashore Community Advisory Panel (SEACAP)

Organized in 1993 as a spin-off of BAYCAP, the Seashore Community Advisory Panel (SEACAP) community members began meeting with the Port Road companies east of Highway 146 as the Port of Houston’s Bayport Container Terminal started construction. Their goals are:

• To engage in open dialogue about community/industry mutual interests
• To understand the industry’s performance and its effects on nearby neighbors
• Share community expectations for industry local health, safety, environmental, and quality-of-life issues
• Examine area concerns, such as emergency management, regulatory changes and impacts, jobs and workforce needs, and community engagement and support.