A Houston cosmetic company has been accused of environmental violations after allegedly dumping 100 gallons of coconut lotion into White Oak Bayou, posing a potential risk to the local ecosystem. Immacule Lab Corporation, the business in question, is now facing a felony water pollution charge, as reported by CW39. Authorities have expressed concerns over the threat to aquatic life and the possibility of contamination of nearby drinking water sources.
In the weeks following the supposed spill, Immacule Lab Corporation has yet to publicly comment on the issue. Meanwhile, court documents revealed by ABC13 indicate the company has been officially charged. The investigation was partly spurred by reports from local citizens, including Jeff Blackwell, Harris County MUD 23 director. "I stopped. I mean, it really. I've never seen the water like that. In my many years of living here since 1986," Blackwell stated.
The inquiry into the spill was assisted by MUD 23 and led to the involvement of Bin Liang, manager of Immacule Beauty. Court documents further state that Liang admitted to discharging what he termed a "bad batch" of the coconut lotion on April 15. In his statement, he detailed the chemical makeup of the lotion to investigators, which they concluded qualified as a pollutant under the Texas water code, according to ABC13.
Investigators have also pointed out that Immacule Lab Corporation was operating without any necessary permits for discharging any substance, an oversight that could to lead to severe legal repercussions. Harris County Constable Precinct One Alan Rosen emphasized the importance of upholding pollution laws: "Enforcing pollution laws countywide is one of several unique responsibilities of our agency," Rosen said in an interview with ABC13. "We carry out this special assignment to protect not only the residents of the county, but also its environment, which is so crucial to everyone."
The consequences of the spill, according to investigators, have already begun to manifest, with nearby plant life being killed and potential harm to wildlife being a major concern.
