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Chemical Odor Reported in Pasadena as Officials Cite Nearby Flaring

City officials say flaring at a Next Wave Energy Partners facility may explain the smell and Harris County will run additional air-quality tests.

Overview

  • Pasadena officials received multiple reports of a chemical or gas-like odor across the city on Tuesday and dispatched the Pasadena Fire Department to investigate.
  • Fire crews checked several locations and, as of the latest updates, portable monitors have not shown readings that indicate unsafe air conditions.
  • City officials referenced a CAER alert showing Next Wave Energy Partners conducting flaring at its 601 N. South Street facility and identified that activity as a likely source of the odor.
  • The Pasadena Office of Emergency Management has asked Harris County Pollution Control to perform additional air-quality assessments and said it will continue to monitor the situation closely.
  • Flaring is the controlled burning of excess gas at oil and gas sites and can cause noticeable smells even when short-term monitors stay below hazard levels; residents are directed to check CAER notifications and call 9-1-1 for any life-threatening emergencies.