Fact Sheet 2 May 1997

Indian Refining Company
Lawrenceville, Illinois
Lawrence County

What is the residential cleanup status?

The residential (off-site) cleanup begun by Indian Refining Co. under joint guidance of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is not complete. Tar-like waste was partially excavated at a Fourth Street property and at a property on Hickory Street. The refinery bought the Hickory Street property. It is to be fenced to prevent any exposure of area residents to the acidic wastes located there. The property on Fourth Street needs more excavation to better define the extent of the waste, both laterally and vertically. The Illinois EPA and U.S. EPA are reviewing the work plan to remove the waste. Removal activities should occur in the near future.

Is the waste present on other residential properties?

The Illinois EPA is not aware of other areas where this waste has surfaced on residential properties. The material is a thick, tar-like substance. During warmer temperatures, it tends to rise to the surface and to spread out on the ground. If you believe this material might be surfacing on your property, please notify the Illinois EPA. 

Is our drinking water safe?

The city water supply has not been threatened by the waste in Indian Acres. The groundwater flow from the site is southeast toward the river - the opposite direction of the city wells. The regular sampling results from city wells have shown no contaminants that violate federal health standards.

Residential wells were sampled in July 1996. While some naturally occurring arsenic is present in a few wells, no other contaminants are present at levels above federal health standards. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) notified residents about the arsenic.

What is being done about the wastes on the refinery property?

For several years, the refinery has been under a consent order (a legal contract) with the Illinois EPA. The refinery agreed to sample certain portions of the site. Meanwhile, U.S. EPA and Illinois EPA have collected various soil, sediment and water samples during October and December 1996. Sample results will be presented in a technical report later this spring. It will be available for public review in the Lawrence Public Library.

The sampling is in an effort to fully characterize the site to identify particular waste areas and the types of waste components present. Once this is done, the Illinois EPA can recommend steps to deal with the waste.

How long will this take?

The Illinois EPA expects to complete its reports later this spring. If the refinery or other responsible parties are able to perform the remediation, they could begin developing their work plan once the site is characterized. If those parties are unable to or choose not to begin the work, either the Illinois EPA or the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) will begin the process of remediating the site.

Are their health issues associated with living near the refinery?

Since the refinery is not in operation, the only adverse health effects that the Illinois EPA and IDPH have identified would be from direct contact with the waste. That is why the site was sealed last June and is to remain fenced and closed to the public. Previous remediation in residential areas removed the waste closest to the surface and replaced it with clean fill dirt, thus removing the immediate exposure route with the waste. Further subsurface remediation in the area on Fourth Street will prevent anyone from coming in contact with the waste during future excavation.

The results of soil and water sampling on private residences will be sent to IDPH, which will share the information with individual residents.

Contact

For more information, please contact the Illinois EPA Office of Community Relations. Additional documents not available on this webpage may be obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request or through IEPA Document Explorer.