News Releases - 2001

Illinois EPA Issues Permit to Texaco in Lockport

Springfield, Ill. -- A post closure care permit has been issued to Texaco in Lockport for maintenance of a closed hazardous waste landfill and four closed hazardous waste management units on the closed refinery site.

"This permit is another important step in providing environmental safeguards and moving forward with redevelopment of this site," said Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Renee Cipriano.

The Lockport facility is undergoing environmental cleanup and preparation for redevelopment. The city of Lockport and a local citizens group were actively involved in the public comment portion of the permitting process.

The issued permit also covers remedial work at the entire site, including areas where redevelopment efforts are underway. Current redevelopment plans include the proposed Rolls Royce peaker plant, a city sponsored small business incubator and interest expressed by realty groups and a state legislator.

In 1988, the landfill was certified closed by the Illinois EPA and the mandated 30-year post closure care period began. Texaco appealed a permit issued in 1993. On November 17, 2000, a draft permit prepared by Illinois EPA based on the application submitted by Texaco, was distributed for public comment. A Public Hearing was held on February 15, 2001, to solicit comments from interested members of the public.

Among the requirements stated in the permit as issued are:

• In response to community and Agency concerns, a determination that groundwater in the area is Class I.
• Installation of four deep groundwater monitoring wells to measure residential water quality.
• All truckloads of waste being transported off site are required to be covered, as necessary.

Texaco will continue to submit reports to the Illinois EPA as part of post-closure care. All documents relating to the permit and the permitting process are available for public viewing at the DesPlaines Valley Library District, Lockport Public Library. The deadline to appeal the permit decision to the Illinois Pollution Control Board is November 2, 2001.

Related Information

• The public notice, hearing transcript, response summary, final permit and other related documents are available online in the Public Notices section of this web site.