Ingleside Newspaper Texas
This story first published on Dec. 9 in the Aransas Pass Progress newspaper
Falcon Refinery Superfund report due in 2010
By Michael Cary
Staff Writer
Petroleum wastes contained in tanks, equipment and piping at the Falcon Refinery Superfund site adjacent to Redfish Bay is due to be reported cleaned up in 2010.
The Falcon Refinery Superfund site, located 1.7 miles southeast of State Hwy. 361 on Farm-to-Market Road 2725 between Aransas Pass and Ingleside, was a refinery operated intermittently since 1980, and is listed on the Federal Register as "currently inactive."
During its operational heyday, it maintained a 40,000 barrel per day capacity for petroleum products such as naptha, jet fuel, kerosene and fuel oil.
The site included a dock facility on Redfish Bay where materials were moved between barges and storage tanks.
The site produced crude oil, but in addition contained hazardous substances, including chromium and other chemicals, and had dumped wastes from holding tanks and leaking drums into Redfish Bay wetlands.
Residents near the facility had as early as 1985 complained about odors from processing impure crude oil, and then complained about odors from a spill in 2000.
The Texas Water Commission discovered in 1986 that the site contained untreated wastewater in tanks that had been discharged into sandy, unlined containment structures.
In November 1995 a spill of approximately eight barrels of crude oil mixture occurred in the wetlands adjacent to the facility.
In 2000, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (formerly the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission) found a leak from a naptha "stabilizer unit," with an estimated 220 gallons of industrial waste that had leaked from the tank.
The commission in 2000 found fluroanthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, benzo(g,h,i)peryline, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, barium, manganese and mercury in sediment samples in the wetlands of Redfish Bay.
The Texas commission and the federal Environmental Protection Agency lists the National Oil Recovery Corp. as the responsible party for the site that entered into an agreement in 2004 "to perform and finance the removal action and remedial investigation and feasibility study for the Falcon Refinery Superfund Site."
The purpose of the removal action is to address the wastes from the tanks, the equipment and the piping that exists on the property.
According to an EPA report on the Falcon Refinery, "the removal action is ongoing.
"The purpose of the remedial action and feasibility study is to determine the nature and extent of contamination and to gather sufficient information about the site to support an informed risk management decision regarding which remedy is the most appropriate for the site," according to the report.
The EPA approved the work plan, a field sampling plan and an quality assurance plan in October 2007, with an addendum in May 2009.
The work is "expected to be completed in 2010."
William Zagorski, emergency managment coordinator for San Patricio County, said that beside posting documents regarding the superfund on the TCEQ's Web site and in other locations, there has been no update for local authorities.
"This is an ongoing superfund cleanup, we're not involved, we're local. We don't hear anything at all, it's the Feds and the way they do things," Zagorski said.
Jim Price, San Patricio County Commissioner, said the site cleanup is "long overdue.
"That site was left untouched with oil spilling over the tops of tanks and feeding into the bays and wetlands without anyone doing anything about it," he said.
"But I do think they have removed oil from old tanks, gradually tearing the tanks down and cleaning the place up," Price said.
"The government came and continued to let the owners operate part of that terminal while the rest of it was being cleaned up. They have quite a few trucks running 24 hours a day in and out of there," Price said.
Currently, the Superior Oil Co. has leased some of the storage tanks, and uses them to store crude oil from operating oil wells.
"The government came and continued to let the owners operate part of that terminal while the rest of it was being cleaned up. They have quite a few trucks running 24 hours a day in and out of there," Price said.
San Patricio County Judge Terry Simpson expressed some frustration with the length of time it is taking to clean up the Falcon Refinery Superfund.
"What usually happens with federal funding is they run out and wait for more money. October 1 is the date for the new federal budget, with funding to continue to remove materials from there," Simpson said.
"They have been removing material and testing for several years now. I wish they could get it taken care of in a year instead of several years," he said.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality lists 159 toxic waste superfund sites in 62 Texas counties. The Falcon Refinery Superfund Site is the only one listed in San Patricio County. There are several superfund sites in adjoining Nueces County, where Corpus Christi is located.
Those superfund sites include the Baldwin Waste Oil site, the Ballard Pits, the Brine Service Co., Industrial Road/Industrial Metals site and South Texas Solvents.
Selected superfund sites in Texas are in various stages of cleanup, according to EPA public documents.
Blog Deadwood Home "Pard, if this fixes me, the mule is yours"
Martha Canary Burke, Calamity Jane's Autobiography Put To The Test
Calamity Jane's Autobiography deemed by many as mostly fictional, surprisingly hits the mark in most instances as being in the right place at the right time.
Autobiographical references made to the following historical events
Grandma Annie Vallery "Gentle Annie", Calamity Jane's Deadwood Employer
Single woman, Annie Vallery, a successful restaurateur in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, sold her business and made her way to Deadwood aboard the Orr wagon train in 1876. "Gentle Annie" operated successful boarding houses in Deadwood, Lead and Custer where Calamity Jane was an employee from time to time.
Calamity Jane resided in the town of Elizabethtown, a suburb mining camp on the outskirts of Deadwood, where she ran a boarding house for a short period of time.
On her trek into Deadwood she would pass through Nuttallberg, started by Tom Nuttall of the Bella Union Theatre, through the Badlands of Chinatown and on into Deadwood proper. These camps were in close proximity to each other and were often hard to tell apart other than by the services they could offer.
Deadwood proper incorporated the towns of Deadwood, Chinatown, Elizabethtown, Fountain City, Highland Park, Ingleside, and Cleveland into one metropolitan area in 1881.
Find out what was Elizabethtown's talk on the streets and whom she may have rubbed elbows with as she made her way to Deadwood's Bonanza Hall and the Gem Theatre where she danced from time to time.
Historical Newspaper Accounts of The Day Regarding Calamity Jane's Autobiographical Claims
Seth Bullock after celebrated Road Agent in Ohio
Robert McKenna, alias Reddy, killd stage driver Johnny Slaughter
March 1877
Newspaper Facts in the Johnny Slaughter Murder Case
John Slaughter, driver stage coach is shot and dies Mar 31 1877
Rev Norcross offciating at funeral of Slaughter Mar 31 1877
John Slaughter, $2,000 reward, bring in his murderer Apr 13 1877
Road Agent Blackburn claims he didn't kill Johnny Slaughter Nov 27 1877
Robert McKenna road agent and supposed murderer of Johnny Slaughter Feb 04 1878
Thomas Flood with Reddy gang when Johnny Slaughter killed Feb 08 1878
Reddy has been sentenced at Hillsboro Ohio to 20 years Feb 03 1879
Seth Bullock received information that Reddy is in jail 15 yrs Mar 31 1879
Autobiographical references made to the following historical events
Historical newspaper accounts of the day indicated:
Deadwood troops arrived, 85 men
Feb 24 1877
In regard to: Deadwood
Jackson, Capt. H. of Seventh Cavalry in Deadwood
Sep 14 1877
In regard to: Jackson, H.
Calamity Jane presented picture of Col. Lounsbury
Nov 30 1877
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane received large size photo of Col. Lounsberry.
Calamity Jane has natural weakness for Bohemians.
In regard to: Calamity Jane
In regard to: Lounsberry, Clement A. Col.
personal story and photo Arlington National Cemetery, American Memories Collection, Dec 02 1877
Military from Terry's department on way to Deadwood
Dec 13 1877
In regard to: Deadwood
Of famous Seventh cavalry, in Deadwood
Sep 03 1878
In regard to: Sturgis, Samuel D.
Ft Meade 1888 with Bear Butte in background
Autobiographical references made to the following historical events
Historical newspaper accounts of the day indicated:
Calamity Jane moves to Rapid
Jan 03 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Going out on Bismarck stage, probably to see boys in blue
Sep 24 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Autobiographical references made to the following historical events
Historical newspaper accounts of the day indicated:
Returned from Sturgis City with Miss Calamity Jane
Aug 22 1879
In regard to: Gantt, T. Fulton, Deadwood Attorney
Report in Yankton Press of her dancing at Pierre
Nov 07 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Came into city a passenger on La Plont's bull train
Nov 18 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
At Sturgis, just in from Pierre
Dec 03 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
To spend winter in Rapid, Deadwood is too puritanical
Dec 10 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
At Rapid City, happy to see members of Deadwood bar
Apr 20 1880
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Has gone to Rapid with dance hall from Sturgis
Jun 30 1880
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Fort Pierre special reports on some bad characters
Aug 27 1880
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Enjoying visit from Spotted Tail and wife at Pierre
Nov 24 1880
In regard to: Evans, Fred T., owner of Sherman Street Court House Building, Deadwood
In regard to: Evans, Fred T., Freighter, Ft Pierre Freight Line, Peck line of steamers, ad
Spotted Tail visiting Evans at Pierre last 3 weeks
Nov 24 1880
In regard to: Indians
In regard to: Evans, Fred T., Freighter, Ft Pierre Freight Line, Peck line of steamers, ad
Autobiographical references made to the following historical events
Calamity Jane claims she moved to Wyoming in 1881 and then to her Yellowstone ranch in Miles City, Montana in 1882
Historical newspaper accounts of the day indicated:
Living on a ranch on Graveyard bottom, Yellowstone
Jun 13 1882
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Exchange claims she's rancheress and devoted to flag
Jul 18 1882
In regard to: Calamity Jane
State of inebriety is her home, born in Montana
Dec 15 1882
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Irrepressible has tired of married life on ranch
Dec 21 1882
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Pierre Recorder, 21st: "Calamity Jane, who was once a famous character in Pierre, and who has lately been living quietly in the Black Hills, has got the Coeur d'Alene fever, and has started on the trail to that far away country." Poor old Calamity has been the most unfortunate woman that ever struck this country. Born in Montana, and reared in the mountains, she grew up with the country, and came to the Hills with the General Custer expedition. Three years ago she married and settled down on a ranch near Miles City, and has remained there ever since, and is an honored member of the Miles City society.
March 28, 1884
In regard to: Calamity Jane.
Autobiographical references made to the following historical events
Historical newspaper accounts of the day indicated:
Calamity Jane is living quietly at Ft. Washakie, Washington
Dec. 2, 1884
In regard to: Calamity Jane.
Word of Calamity Jane.
Aug. 13, 1885
Sundance Gazette says Old Calamity Jane is neither dead nor slumbering. She got to the front one day last week at Rawlins; knocking another trail sister out in first round of a drunken melee. In regard to: Calamity Jane.
Calamity Jane immortalized.
Jan. 23, 1886
New dime novel series adorned with hideous wood cut showing the graves of Deadwood Dick and Calamity Jane . At last advices the old girls was in Sweetwater, alive and kicking.
In regard to: Calamity Jane.
In regard to: Deadwood Dick.
Calamity Jane in Rawlins.
Sept. 30, 1886
Calamity Jane is camped in Rawlins. A local paper says she is not half as bad as the human ghouls who abuse her.
In regard to: Calamity Jane.
In regard to: Rawlins, Wyoming
Calamity Jane drunk and disorderly.
June 30, 1887
Calamity Jane was pulled a few days since in Cheyenne for being drunk and disorderly.
In regard to: Calamity Jane.
In regard to: Cheyenne, Wyoming
Word on Calamity Jane.
Sept. 6, 1887
Lander Wyoming Mountaineer hears from Miss Mattie King, known as "Calamity Jane" that she is sobering up and behaving herself. Article concludes with comment that the genuine Calamity Jane is and has been for four or five years a respectable married woman living with her husband on a ranch in Yellowstone valley.
In regard to: King, Mattie.
In regard to: Calamity Jane
In regard to: Yellowstone Valley, Woming
"Calamity" Jane at Green River.
April 22, 1888
Green River News reports "Calamity Jane," giving her name as Mrs. Steers, had so-called husband arrested for assault. Later, "Calamity" arrested for drunk and disorderly, and now occupies quarters in the county bastile.
In regard to: Calamity Jane
In regard to: Green River, County Seat of Sweetwater County, Wyoming
Deadwood Local News Calamity Jane "High Toned Citizen Tripping The Light Fantastic"
Tells of Calamity Jane he knew in Iowa
Jul 16 1877
In regard to: Hendricks, A.R. Dr.
Jail has 13 males and 1 female inmate
Jul 16 1877
In regard to: Lawrence County Jail, Deadwood
Calamity Jane has arrived, Cheyenne Leader, insert
Jul 15 1876
In regard to: Calamity Jane
In company of outlaws at Spring Creek
Jul 23 1877
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Calamity dancing at the Bonanza on Lee Street
Aug 01 1877
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Times suffering from Sunday attack of the rumors
Aug 13 1877
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Times reports that Pioneer editor is intimate with Calamity Jane
Sep 22 1877
In regard to: Times Newspaper
In regard to: Calamity Jane
High toned citizen tripping the light fantastic
Aug 27 1877
In regard to: Calamity Jane
First woman in the Black Hills imprisoned, Calamity Jane
Sep 20 1877
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Heroine of the Hills, Editor of Times thinks not
Sep 21 1877
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Times reports that Pioneer editor is intimate with Calamity Jane
Sep 22 1877
In regard to: Times Newspaper
Idyl De Macaroni,
"For me to bear, Calamity Jane"
Oct 19 1877
In regard to: Calamity Jane
In regard to: Poetry
Received large size photo of Col. Lounsberry.
Calamity Jane has natural weakness for Bohemians.
In regard to: Calamity Jane
In regard to: Lounsberry, Clement A. Col.
Dec 02 1877
Cosgrove, Maggie "my name ain't Calamity Jane"
Dec 17 1877
In regard to: Cosgrove, Maggie
Calamity Jane moves to Rapid
Jan 03 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Had her first photograph taken
Jan 22 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Green-eyed monster made things lively at dance
Feb 18 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Mrs. Bloxsom, the Pioneer's "heroine of the Hills"
Mar 18 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
"Heroine of the Hills"
Apr 09 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
"Heroine of the Hills", now Frenchy's partner
Apr 12 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Mrs. Bloxsom, that nauseating specimen of humanity
Apr 25 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Warren who was stabbed on Main, under care of Jane
Jun 28 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
In regard to: Warren, Frank
Stabbed on Main St by unknown hand, June 26th
Became drunk in Denver, fell from buggy, injured
Aug 28 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Not our Calamity, death of tenderfoot from Iowa
Sep 05 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
In Deadwood
Sep 13 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Leaves Deadwood
Sep 13 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
In Deadwood
Sep 17 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Leaves Deadwood
Sep 24 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Going out on Bismarck probably to see boys in blue
Sep 24 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Every one-horsed town claiming her residency
Oct 28 1878
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane reportedly walloped two women there
Feb 08 1879
In regard to: Sturgis City
Reportedly walloped two women at Sturgis yesterday
Feb 08 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Again a resident of this place, Gem Theatre graced
Jul 04 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Very sick with congestion of the bowels
Jul 15 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Suffered a severe attack of sickness, recovering
Jul 18 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Has many solid friends among the best citizens
Jul 20 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane's virtues going rounds of eastern papers
Aug 07 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Came over from Sturgis with T. Fulton Gantt
Aug 22 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Returned from Sturgis City with Miss Calamity Jane
Aug 22 1879
In regard to: Gantt, T. Fulton, Deadwood Attorney
Report in Yankton Press of her dancing at Pierre
Nov 07 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Came into city a passenger on La Plont's bull train
Nov 18 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
At Sturgis, just in from Pierre
Dec 03 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
To spend winter in Rapid, Deadwood is too puritanical
Dec 10 1879
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Her remarks remembered by reporter at wrong place
Feb 29 1880
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Progress of our own little war
Mar 25 1880
In regard to: Calamity Jane
At Rapid City, happy to see members of Deadwood bar
Apr 20 1880
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Has gone to Rapid with dance hall from Sturgis
Jun 30 1880
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Fort Pierre special reports on some bad characters
Aug 27 1880
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Belle of the evening fell down stairs and broke leg
Nov 09 1880
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Recovered from broken leg, has gone to Chicago
Nov 24 1880
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane is married, lives in St. Paul
Jan 14 1881
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Married, has found her affinity and lives in St. Paul
Jan 14 1881
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Cosgrove testifies he lived with her
Feb 10 1881
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Witness in Dougherty case lived with Calamity Jane
Feb 10 1881
In regard to: Cosgrove, George
Calamity Jane at the Langrishe Theater in 1876
Feb 24 1881
In regard to: Calamity Jane
What happened to her?
Jan 20 1882
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Family paper publishes romantic trash back east
Jan 27 1882
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Living on a ranch on Graveyard bottom, Yellowstone
Jun 13 1882
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Exchange claims she's rancheress and devoted to flag
Jul 18 1882
In regard to: Calamity Jane
State of inebriety is her home, born in Montana
Dec 15 1882
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Irrepressible has tired of married life on ranch
Dec 21 1882
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Once more in toils of law, selling whisky to Indian
Feb 16 1883
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Denver citizens going wild over opera, Calamity Jane
Sep 13 1883
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Texas Bill, Calamity Jane and Dirty Em, 1876
Sep 25 1883
In regard to: Dirty Em
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Pierre Recorder, 21st: "Calamity Jane, who was once a famous character in Pierre, and who has lately been living quietly in the Black Hills, has got the Coeur d'Alene fever, and has started on the trail to that far away country." Poor old Calamity has been the most unfortunate woman that ever struck this country. Born in Montana, and reared in the mountains, she grew up with the country, and came to the Hills with the General Custer expedition. Three years ago she married and settled down on a ranch near Miles City, and has remained there ever since, and is an honored member of the Miles City society. March 28, 1884
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane living quietly at Washington.
Dec. 2, 1884
Calamity Jane is living quietly at Ft. Washakie, W. T.
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Word of Calamity Jane.
Aug. 13, 1885
Sundance Gazette says Old Calamity Jane is neither dead nor slumbering. She got to the front one day last week at Rawlins; knocking another trail sister out in first round of a drunken melee.
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane.
Nov. 22, 1885
A new sketch of an old and notorious character. The career of one of the most noted frontier characters on record.
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane immortalized.
Jan. 23, 1886
New dime novel series adorned with hideous wood cut showing the graves of Deadwood Dick and Calamity Jane. At last advices the old girls was in Sweetwater, alive and kicking.
In regard to: Calamity Jane
In regard to: Deadwood Dick
Calamity Janw in Rawlins.
Sept. 30, 1886
Calamity Jane is camped in Rawlins. A local paper says she is not half as bad as the human ghouls who abuse her.
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane drunk and disorderly.
June 30, 1887
Calamity Jane was pulled a few days since in Cheyenne for being drunk and disorderly.
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Word on Calamity Jane.
Sept. 6, 1887
Lander Wyoming Mountaineer hears from Miss Mattie King, known as "Calamity Jane" that she is sobering up and behaving herself. Article concludes with comment that the genuine Calamity Jane is and has been for four or five years a respectable married woman living with her husband on a ranch in Yellowstone valley.
In regard to: King, Mattie
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Mrs. Spencer on Calamity Jane.
Aug. 31, 1887
Mrs. George E. Spencer, has "writ a book" on Calamity Jane.
In regard to: Spencer, George E. Mrs.
In regard to: Calamity Jane
"Calamity" Jane at Green River.
April 22, 1888
Green River News reports "Calamity Jane," giving her name as Mrs. Steers, had so-called husband arrested for assault. Later, "Calamity" arrested for drunk and disorderly, and now occupies quarters in the county bastile.
In regard to: Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane Historical Photo Links
Calamity Jane, Custer and 1874 Black Hills Expedition W. H. Illingworth
Calamity Jane and Gen Crook Expedition 1876
Calamity Jane and Gen Crook Expedition
Calamity Jane at Wild Bill Grave 1895
Calamity Jane fancy dress
Calamity Jane fancy dress with bussle
Calamity Jane Post Card for Sale Yelowstone 1897
Calamity Jane seated on her horse 1901
Calamity Jane with beer 1880
Calamity Jane, seated rifle, Gen Crook's scout 1895
Calamity Jane, standing, General Crook's Scout 1895
Calamity Jane, Calamity Peak named for her near Custer by Grabill 1890
