News Releases - 2001

Remedial Investigation Begins at Texaco Refinery Site in Lawrenceville

Springfield, Ill. -- Environmental contractors for Texaco are beginning environmental sampling at the former Texaco Refinery in Lawrenceville this week as part of the Remedial Investigation to determine the extent of contamination on the site. The site was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List in December 2000. Texaco is conducting the work under an agreed order with the Illinois EPA.

The first round of sampling, being conducted with the oversight of the Illinois EPA, will be done at the perimeters of former active work areas, such as tank farms, production areas and possible disposal areas. Contractors will sample both soil and groundwater during this phase of the investigation and will determine if contamination has traveled off site. Work conducted this spring in preparation for the Remedial Investigation included wetlands delineation, plant site surveys and river surveys.

The current sampling effort is being done using a GeoprobeŽ direct-push sampling rig. Approximately 250 sampling locations have been selected. The sampling will identify "hot spots" of contamination and will aid in developing a cleanup plan.

The refinery's fluid catalytic cracking unit, known as the FCCU, was demolished on October 24, 2001. Taller than a 10-story building, the FCCU tower was the largest structure on refinery property. Its demolition marked the symbolic end of the Lawrenceville Refinery and helps pave the way to eventual cleanup of the site.

In spring 2002, the Remedial Investigation will continue with groundwater sampling, installing and evaluating monitoring wells, sampling river sediments and water, and ecological studies. The data will be used for a Natural Resource Damage Assessment. The entire Remedial Investigation will take two to three years to complete. Removal of underground structures, including piping, is scheduled to begin in 2002.

The former refinery site, also known as the Indian Refining Company, is a 990-acre inactive oil refining facility along the Embarras River in Lawrence County in southeast Illinois. Refining began at this site in the early 1900s. Texaco ceased their operations in 1985. After changing hands a few times, all operations ceased in 1995.