HOUSTON (Reuters) - A one-mile stretch of highway that passes within feet of a major Texas refinery will be permanently closed to safeguard the facility against a possible terrorist attack, state officials said on Friday.
No threats have been made against the 223,000 barrel per day ConocoPhillips refinery in Sweeny, Texas, or the Chevron Phillips Company L.P. chemical plant on the other side of the two-lane highway called Farm to Market Road 524.
But last month, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation warned Texas refineries of a possible attack before the November elections. An FBI security task force has recommended permanently closing the portion of the roadway by the refinery, according to the company.
"If you stop your car and take a couple of steps, you're right next to ConocoPhillips' pipe stacks," said Janelle Gbur, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Transportation, Houston District. She said the roadway segment will likely close in three to four months.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, U.S. refiners have been studying their vulnerabilities to terrorism.
ConocoPhillips first sought to close the highway stretch in 1998 but was met with local opposition because it would cut the main road west into and out of Sweeny, located 65 miles southwest of Houston. The company sought reconsideration of the closure this year.
"Because of 9/11, we must rethink our defense measures and attempt to eliminate vulnerabilities," the company said in a statement.
The Sweeny highway is the only roadway near a refinery that Texas officials are seeking to close in the Houston district, Gbur said.
There are nine refineries within an hour's drive of downtown Houston, including the largest U.S. refinery, Exxon Mobil Corp.'s 557,000 bpd plant, in Baytown.
Sweeny officials are not happy about the closure.
Cutting the highway will make those living west of the small town, which has a population of 3,624, take a circuitous route on a temporary bypass to Sweeny's stores.
Sweeny Mayor Larry Piper fears many would drive the same distance to larger towns nearby.
"We are certainly cognizant of the security and safety issues, but we feel the issue is the survival of the city," Piper said.
ConocoPhillips has offered to provide land for a permanent bypass.
April is the cruellest month.