Three Deaths In Six Months Prompt Fed Raid On TX Waste Processor - AP

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HOUSTON -- Federal officials raided two facilities of an environmental waste company in southeast Texas Tuesday where three workers have died in the last six months. Davilyn Walston, spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office, said the Houston and Port Arthur facilities of CES Environmental Inc., were being searched and declined to provide more details. Houston-based CES transports and disposes of organic waste.

Meanwhile, a fire was extinguished that broke out in a 10,000-gallon container at the company's Houston facility Tuesday afternoon. Investigators were in the facility at the time.

Fire Assistant Chief Tommy Dowdy told the Houston Chronicle he did not know the contents of the container that burned in the back of a truck. About 6 p.m., fire officials lifted a "shelter in place" order for nearby residents to remain in their homes because of a chemical leak. Officials continued to monitor air quality at the plant and nearby neighborhood.

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Port Arthur Justice of the Peace Tom Gillam said he began investigating the Port Arthur site after two workers died from inhaling hydrogen sulfide, a gas produced by human and animal waste. Gillam said he alerted federal authorities after he discovered that hydrogen sulfide contributed to two of the three deaths. On April 14, Charles "Brent" Sittig, 48, of Eunice, La., died at the Port Arthur site of severe heart disease; Gillam said exposure to hydrogen sulfide was a "contributing factor." Sittig's mother, Shirley Pitre, said her son never complained about his job while he worked as a truck driver hauling waste for CES - first in Houston, then in Port Arthur. However, Pitre said she had questioned Sittig about the safety measures employees took when dealing with the waste. "I asked him whether he had any breathing apparatus and he said no," she said. "I knew he was into hazardous waste materials and they really need protection like HAZMAT suits."

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http://www.star-telegram.com/448/story/1519114.html