Via MYFOXHOUSTON.com:
Part of the Houston Ship Channel was closed after a shore-based tank ruptured, spilling thousands of gallons of animal fat.
An estimated 15,000 gallons of beef tallow entered the ship channel via a storm drain Tuesday afternoon, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Approximately 250,000 gallons of tallow spilled as a result of the rupture.
Three quarters of a mile of the channel is closed from City Dock 16 up to the Buffalo Bayou Railroad Bridge – the northernmost tip of the channel.
The owner of the ruptured tank, Jacob Sterns and Sons, was notified and is working to help clean up the mess. Six boats are working to contain the spill in the affected area.
Due to the nature of the spilled product, environmental damage is expected to be minimal, according to the statement. There are no reported traffic delays in the area.
The cause of the tank’s rupture is unknown.
