El Paso Natural Gas Processing Plant, Goldsmith, Texas: Asbestos Exposure Risk and Legal Options

URGENT FILING DEADLINE WARNING FOR TEXAS ASBESTOS CLAIMS: In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims related to asbestos exposure is generally two years from the date of diagnosis. For wrongful death claims, the statute of limitations is also two years from the date of the victim’s death. It is critical to consult with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer Texas immediately to protect your legal rights and ensure claims are filed within these strict deadlines. Time is of the essence.

The El Paso Natural Gas Processing Plant in Goldsmith, Texas, reportedly operated with various asbestos-containing materials throughout its infrastructure. Former workers and their families must understand the potential for asbestos exposure at this facility. Exposure to asbestos fibers causes mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer. If you or a loved one worked at this site and received an asbestos-related diagnosis, seeking counsel from an asbestos attorney Texas is crucial.

History of Asbestos Use at El Paso Natural Gas Processing Plant

The El Paso Natural Gas Processing Plant processed and distributed natural gas. Like many industrial plants built and operated through the 20th century, especially before the late 1970s, it allegedly incorporated asbestos-containing materials. These materials offered exceptional heat resistance, insulation properties, and durability. These characteristics proved valuable in high-temperature, high-pressure environments like natural gas processing, common in facilities across Texas such as the ExxonMobil Baytown Refinery, Shell Deer Park Complex, and Texaco Port Arthur Refinery.

A list of asbestos-containing products and their manufacturers for natural gas processing facilities is available on the AsbestosIndex Product Crosswalk for Natural Gas Processing Plants.

Asbestos-containing materials reportedly served in numerous applications across the plant:

  • Pipe covering: Miles of piping carrying hot gases and fluids may have used asbestos-containing insulation to maintain temperature and prevent heat loss.
  • Boiler and furnace components: Boilers, furnaces, and other high-temperature processing units reportedly used asbestos in refractory linings, gaskets, and various insulation types.
  • Gaskets and packing: Equipment seals, valves, and pumps frequently contained asbestos gaskets and packing materials. Manufacturers chose them for their ability to withstand high pressures and temperatures.
  • Block insulation: Large pieces of equipment and vessels allegedly used asbestos-containing block insulation.
  • Insulating cement: This material reportedly sealed gaps and provided additional insulation around pipes and equipment.
  • Electrical components: Asbestos may have been present in electrical wiring insulation, panels, and conduit. It offered non-conductive and fire-resistant properties.
  • Spray fireproofing: Fireproofing materials, which sometimes contained asbestos, may have been applied to structural steel beams to enhance fire resistance.
  • Floor tile and ceiling tile: These common building materials in administrative or control areas may have contained asbestos fibers.

Trades and Occupations Allegedly Exposed to Asbestos

The widespread presence of asbestos-containing materials meant a broad range of trades and personnel at the El Paso Natural Gas Processing Plant may have been exposed to asbestos fibers. Exposure typically occurred when these materials were disturbed during routine operations, maintenance, repair, or demolition. Such disturbances released microscopic fibers into the air.

Trades and occupations potentially at risk of asbestos exposure Texas include:

  • Insulators: Directly applied and removed asbestos-containing pipe covering, block insulation, and insulating cements. Members of Texas unions such as Heat and Frost Insulators Local 22 (Houston) or Local 87 (San Antonio) may have worked at such facilities, alongside those who worked at sites like Dow Chemical Freeport.
  • Pipefitters: Allegedly faced exposure when cutting into or removing asbestos-insulated pipes, gaskets, and packing during installation, repair, or replacement. UA Pipefitters Local 211 (Houston) or UA Local 428 (Midland) members may have performed this work, similar to those at the Bethlehem Steel Beaumont Shipyard.
  • Boilermakers: Workers responsible for boiler construction, maintenance, and repair, who may have handled asbestos-containing refractory, insulation, and gaskets. Boilermakers Local 587 (Port Arthur) or Local 74 (Beaumont) members could have been involved, as was common at power plants like Luminant Martin Lake Plant.
  • Electricians: Potentially exposed when working on electrical systems where asbestos was used in wiring insulation, panels, or conduits. IBEW Local 66 (Houston) members may have performed this work.
  • Maintenance Workers: General maintenance crews, tasked with routine repairs across the plant, may have encountered asbestos-containing materials.
  • Laborers: Unskilled laborers assisting with various tasks, including construction, demolition, or cleanup, may have been exposed to airborne asbestos fibers.
  • Operators: Plant operators, while not directly handling asbestos, may have been exposed to fibers released into the ambient air by other trades or from deteriorating materials.
  • Welders: Welding operations performed near asbestos-containing materials could have disturbed them, releasing fibers.
  • Custodial Staff: Those cleaning work areas may have inadvertently stirred up settled asbestos dust.

Exposure to asbestos fibers causes mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer. It primarily affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. Other serious asbestos-related diseases include:

  • Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure increases the risk of developing lung cancer, especially for individuals with a history of smoking.
  • Asbestosis: A chronic, non-cancerous lung disease. It results from inhaled asbestos fibers, leading to scarring of the lung tissue and impaired breathing.
  • Pleural Thickening and Plaques: Non-malignant conditions where the lining of the lungs (pleura) thickens or develops calcified plaques. These can sometimes impact lung function.

These diseases often have long latency periods. Symptoms may not appear until decades after the initial exposure. This delayed onset underscores the need for former workers and their families to know their potential exposure history.

Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases after working at the El Paso Natural Gas Processing Plant may have legal recourse. Explore these options promptly due to state-specific statutes of limitations. Cases are often filed in Texas venues such as the Jefferson County asbestos lawsuit in District Court (Beaumont), Harris County asbestos lawsuit in District Court (Houston), or Bexar County District Court (San Antonio), depending on the specifics of the claim.

Legal avenues include:

  • Asbestos Trust Fund Claims: Many companies that manufactured or used asbestos-containing products established asbestos trust fund Texas to compensate victims. These claims seek compensation from an existing fund rather than directly suing a company. Texas residents are eligible to file these claims simultaneously with civil lawsuits. While most asbestos trusts do not have strict time limits, their assets can deplete over time, making prompt action advisable. Information on relevant asbestos bankruptcy trust funds and the manufacturers they represent is available on the AsbestosIndex Product Crosswalk.
  • Civil Lawsuits: Victims may file civil lawsuits against the manufacturers documented on the AsbestosIndex Product Crosswalk for this facility type. These manufacturers are alleged to be responsible for their asbestos exposure. These lawsuits seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages, potentially leading to a Texas mesothelioma settlement.

Trust fund claims and civil lawsuits can be pursued simultaneously. This maximizes potential recovery for victims.

Texas Asbestos Statute of Limitations and Filing Deadlines

In Texas, the Texas asbestos statute of limitations for personal injury claims related to asbestos exposure is generally two years from the date of diagnosis (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003). For wrongful death claims, the statute of limitations is also two years from the date of the victim’s death (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003). It is imperative to consult with an experienced asbestos cancer lawyer Houston immediately to ensure your legal rights are protected and claims are filed within these strict asbestos lawsuit Texas filing deadline requirements. Do not delay; the clock starts ticking from the date of diagnosis or death.

Contact an Experienced Asbestos Attorney

If you or a loved one worked at the El Paso Natural Gas Processing Plant in Goldsmith, Texas, and received a diagnosis of mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease, act now. Unfortunately, many of the coworkers who shared shifts with you in the earlier years of your career may no longer be reachable. Time is precious. An attorney specializing in asbestos litigation, also known as toxic tort counsel, can help you understand your legal options, gather evidence, identify responsible parties, and navigate the complex legal process. Pursue the compensation you deserve.

Call the O’Brien Law Firm today for a free and confidential consultation.

Data Sources

Information about facility equipment, industrial materials, and occupational records referenced on this page is drawn from publicly available sources where applicable, including:

If specific equipment or product claims in this article are sourced from a non-public database, the source is identified parenthetically within the text above.

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