It demands an unspecified financial compensation exceeding $1 million.
It also wants solutions for the alleged environmental breaches at the Deer Park location.
The state says the prolonged firefighting efforts, which utilized large amounts of water to temper parts of Shell's expansive chemical plant, led to the illegal release of roughly 68.7 million gallons of wastewater into a stormwater pond and the adjacent Houston Ship Channel.
The complaint claims Shell allowed more volumes of wastewater to pass through a water purification facility, surpassing the allowed limits.
This water traversed a drainage channel that spanned Shell's chemical production facility and an adjoining refinery.
This is owned by a branch of the Mexican state oil firm, Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), operating as Deer Park Refining Limited Partnership.
Both Shell and the Pemex-affiliated entity are listed as defendants.
The lawsuit says: “After the fire began at the Shell Chemical Plant, mass quantities of air contaminants were emitted into the environment, including huge plumes of black smoke along with large flames from the Plant’s flares.
It says the products that ignited included gasoline and heavy gas oil, citing information from Shell.
It adds the company hasn’t fully evaluated what substances were released or emitted.
Legal action
On Saturday, a representative from Shell acknowledged the lawsuit but refrained from commenting on ongoing legal matters.
He said the Deer Park chemical unit is still in the restoration phase.
He added is Shell actively probing the fire's origins and repairing the affected section.
A spokesperson for Pemex's Deer Park refinery emphasized the company's dedication to collaborating with regulatory bodies to address concerns stemming from the May fire.
They also highlighted the firm's commitment to upholding safety and environmental standards.
