‘They don’t care about us:’ Houston cancer cluster residents feel ignored as they battle rail giant

HOUSTON – In recent months, environmental investigators have been on the hunt for toxic chemicals with robotic rovers in the long-standing communities of the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens.

These are communities that consist of primarily lower-income Blacks and Latinos. Residents KPRC 2 Investigates spoke with made it clear that they don’t see a neighborhood, they see something much different.

“I see a bad problem,” said Anthony Kilpatrick.

Barbara Mouton was much more to the point with her observations.

“I see a clutter of mess and death,” said Mouton. “Because, if somebody doesn’t do something, everybody around here is going to die.”

The death is caused by cancer, and not just any type, according to Houston-based attorney Jason Gibson who represents nearly 1,800 victims and almost 4,000 residents. During a recent interview, KPRC 2 Investigative Reporter Mario Diaz asked Gibson to run through the various forms of cancer.

“The list is three pages, but the main ones are brain cancer, leukemia, esophageal, stomach, kidney, liver, lung, bronchus, breast cancer, and the list goes on,” said Gibson.

A myriad of cancers that took him nearly 15 seconds to rattle off.

Kilpatrick is suffering from liver cancer, while Mouton is battling breast cancer. Their story is similar to others fighting to stay alive on their dime while taking on the railroad behemoth Union Pacific.

The fight is over what they and others say has been seeping out of the Fifth Ward rail yard for decades, Creosote.

According to Gibson, Creosote looks like “tar,” and it was handled improperly while being used to preserve railroad wood on the site until the mid-eighties.

This is the primary reason he and his team recently launched “rovers” into the sewers around the rail yard. KPRC 2 Investigates was there to exclusively witness and capture the search for contamination.

“We’re doing testing, my law firm, that Union Pacific has not done since they purchased the railyard in 1993,” said Gibson.

ADecember 1993 report by the EPA highlighted the potential for human and environmental targets on the site. The report also lists various findings of contaminated soil over the years.

Fast forward to today, over 30 years later, and Union Pacific is still testing the site with the EPA keeping a close eye.

We found one contractor examining a well. The vehicle the worker was driving had its doors completely covered up. Union Pacific confirmed it was one of their contractors collecting data.

Gibson made it clear during a recent interview that his team’s recent testing indicated, “There is definitely contamination in the sewers, both the storm sewers and the sanitary sewers.”

He also went on to reveal that the contaminated area - known as the plume - is stretching further than what is being publicly portrayed by the city and officials. A larger plume impacts more residents as well as areas where children play.

“The city’s version of the plume and what it encompasses right now is apparently very arbitrary and small. I don’t think they actually know, they’re guessing,” said Gibson.

However, considering the documented dangers around them, the neighborhood is constructing new chapters.

In recent years a number of new home projects and a children’s playground were approved by the administration of former Mayor Sylvester Turner. While townhomes went up right across the street, the playground is located blocks away from the railyard. Keep in mind a report by the state from a few years back showed a high level of children near the railyard were diagnosed with Leukemia.

“Don’t nobody care about us because we Black and Hispanic. If it was River Oaks, they would have done something,” said Mouton.

“I’m scheduled for a briefing, the EPA is coming back with some results and we’re anxious to talk to them,” said Whitmire last week following a city council meeting.

Residents say they are tired of briefings by officials and are skeptical of the city’s home relocation program.

What they want is a true resolution. However, some don’t anticipate ever seeing one.

“I don’t think it’s going to come in my lifetime and that is the way I feel in my heart. They don’t care. They don’t care about us,” said Mouton.

Union Pacific released the following statement regarding the matter:

“While previous testing has shown no risk to residents, we’re aiming for thoroughness for the safety of the community. Union Pacific is working with the EPA, on a testing plan to re-check vapor movement and guide next actions.”

The community is set to get an update on the investigation at an event Tuesday night.