Illinois EPA Seeks Action Against Gasoline and Vapor Releases
in Springfield
For Immediate Release
July 10, 2000 |
Contact: Dennis McMurray
217-785-1871
TDD: 217-782-9143 |
Springfield, Ill. -- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has
asked Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan's office to seek a court order requiring
the owners of a Springfield gas station to take immediate measures to prevent
continued off-site releases of gasoline and gasoline odors.
On July 5, Office of State Fire Marshal staff confirmed strong gasoline odors
in the bathroom of one of several residents of South 14th Street, who complained
about odors starting the prior weekend. The odors are suspected of migrating
through the sanitary sewer system from the Qik-n-EZ store at 1101 Stevenson
Drive, owned by Chronister Oil Company. The Office of State Fire Marshal also
detected high vapor readings in several sanitary sewer manholes in the vicinity.
An underground storage tank release was reported at the Stevenson Drive Qik-n-EZ
on September 25, 1998 and resulted in highly contaminated soil. On June 7, Chronister
Oil submitted its Phase II High Priority Corrective Action Plan to the Illinois
EPA. It proposes the excavation and off-site disposal of approximately 463 cubic
yards of the most highly contaminated material at the site, located around the
old product lines and pump islands.
Illinois EPA is asking the Attorney General's Office to pursue a court order
requiring Chronister to take other short-term actions to prevent release of
gasoline odors.
Illinois EPA is also continuing to investigate an underground storage tank
release reported on July 6 from the Phillips 66 Station owned by Burwell Oil
Company, located at the southeast corner of Stevenson Drive and 11th Street,
across from the Qik-n-EZ, that might be contributing to the vapor problem.
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