Millions of gallons of industrial wastewater were discharged from Samsung Austin Semiconductor facilities in late 2021 and early 2022. (Community Impact Journal staff)
Months after a prolonged spill of toxic sewage at the Samsung Austin Semiconductor campus, the state’s environmental comptroller is considering sanctions against the chipmaker as Austin officials seek to prevent similar incidents in the city in the future.
From late last year to early 2022, Samsung detected multiple storm and sewage releases caused by damaged equipment and heavy rain at its northeast Austin campus from 2.3 million square feet. A spill caused by a broken sump pipe let acidic sewage leak from the facility for more than three months and was followed by two instances of partially treated water overflowing from an on-site retention pond.
Between these incidents, more than 9 million gallons of sewage and stormwater from Samsung’s campus ended up in the surrounding ecosystem. City watershed protection staff said the first spill killed “virtually all” aquatic life in a tributary of Harris Branch Creek, which could take years to recover.
The releases came after another sewage release reported at Samsung Austin Semiconductor last May was found to have “negligible impact” on the environment.
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The Texas Environmental Quality Commission recently concluded its own investigation into the spills and is currently evaluating further enforcement actions and remedial proposals for Samsung.
“Due to the apparent seriousness of the alleged violation, formal enforcement action has been taken and additional violations may be cited upon further review. We encourage you to begin taking action immediately to remedy the alleged violation. pending,” wrote Shawn Stewart, Water Section. director of TCEQ’s Austin regional office, in a June 10 letter to Samsung’s environmental engineer.
In March, Samsung said it had resolved the equipment issue that caused the first spill and was pursuing “continuous improvements” in the facility, while supporting ecosystem restoration in the region. . Conditions in the affected tributary are now back to normal, a company representative said this month.
“Consistent with our core value of environmental stewardship, we are committed, and immediately took action, to fully restore and improve the quality of the Unnamed Tributary,” said Michele Glaze, Director of Communications and Samsung Community Affairs, in a June 22 email. . “We have been completely transparent with the TCEQ and representatives of other government agencies throughout the response. We have also communicated regularly with the surrounding community and neighboring property owners to keep them informed of the facts related to the release. We have thoroughly investigated the root cause, added improved monitoring systems, and are implementing robust countermeasures to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
Condition review
The TCEQ investigation covered the initial release of 763,000 gallons of acidic industrial wastewater spanning January through May as well as two weather-related spills that released more than 8 million gallons of mixed wastewater. Investigators noted that Samsung personnel found that the first prolonged spill into the tributary of the nearby creek resulted in abnormal pH levels in the water and likely killed wildlife, including several fish, crayfish and clams.
“Based on the findings of this investigation, a violation was cited for failure to prevent an unauthorized discharge into or near state waters. Specifically, the unauthorized discharge had a direct and documented impact on the habitat of the tributary and confluence of the Harris Branch by the removal and death of aquatic species.The discharge also stained the underwater surface of the creek bed and vegetation along the creek channel wrote TCEQ investigator Bryan Maynard.
Subsequent releases had “no obvious impact” on nearby creek tributaries, and live wildlife was found along the waterway. A follow-up check in May by TCEQ investigators also revealed “typical” conditions, including wildlife in the area.
TCEQ asked Samsung to provide additional documentation on the releases and more information on local cleanup efforts and fixes the company has since rolled out. A TCEQ spokesperson confirmed that the agency’s enforcement case against Samsung is being prepared, and notice of corrective actions required and possible sanction will be sent to Samsung in approximately two months. At this point, Samsung could either accept TCEQ’s claims or dispute the order.
city watch
Austin officials received a spill briefing from Samsung earlier this spring, during which staff described the releases as likely unprecedented in the city’s history. The Austin Watershed Protection Department has also taken more than a dozen water quality samples along the affected tributary since January and found that the pH has since “bounced back” to low levels. normal. And the city is working with Samsung to improve the facility’s stormwater pond and pH monitoring.
Earlier this month, the City Council passed a resolution aimed at protecting water quality and preventing flooding in Austin’s most environmentally vulnerable areas. While much of the resolution targeted development rules with some elements left over from the unsuccessful rewrite of the city’s land use planning code, the measure also calls for increased monitoring of “potential threats to watersheds.” downstream of industrial sites, including semiconductor factories.
“This resolution will ensure that we have fair environmental protections across the city, which will benefit the health and safety of everyone in our community,” said District 9 council member Kathie Tovo, who sponsored the article, in a press release.
Watershed protection staff said the direction of the resolution is likely not sufficient to prevent any future incidents near industrial sites. However, the department will develop a new “predictive tool” to assess the risks near these facilities and limit the negative effects.
“This could include a background monitoring component for facilities that had discharge permits where there were documented violations or significant concerns about the quality of their operations. These types of proactive investigations would not eliminate events like discharge from Samsung, but would help mitigate the frequency and damage they involve to our stream systems,” Jennifer Olohan, the department’s public information specialist, said in an email.
