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Fact Sheet 5 February 1999
Indian Refining Company
Lawrenceville, Illinois
Lawrence County
What environmental sampling event is coming up?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and their environmental consultant will collect residential soil samples in a one-block area between Third and Fourth Streets and between Cedar and Collins Streets (1500 block) in the southeastern part of Lawrenceville. They also plan to collect samples from the west side of fourth street in the 1600 block.
What is U.S. EPA looking for?
Recently, residents in the first block mentioned above reported finding a hard, black coal-like material on their property while digging to install an electrical line. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) investigated the report and collected a sample of the material in December 1998.
The U.S. EPA and the Illinois EPA believe that this material is consistent with waste material from the refinery. The purpose of the sampling event is to identify waste-like material on that and other nearby residential properties and have the material analyzed by a professional laboratory.
When will this sampling take place?
Weather depending, U.S. EPA will plan on coming to Lawrenceville with representatives from Ecology and Environment on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 9th and 10th to collect the samples. These samples will be hand-dug and will be taken close to the surface of the ground where the waste-like material has been observed.
How many samples will U.S. EPA take?
The U.S. EPA will collect 6-10 samples based on observations at the properties on January 27, 1999, although more samples may be collected.
Will residents have another opportunity to have samples taken of the soil on their property?
Yes. This current sampling is for a limited investigation based on the waste-like material that the Illinois EPA encountered in one yard in December. The larger investigation for the entire site hasn't started yet. If you have information about tar-like or coal-like waste material on your property or on someone else's property, please contact the U.S. EPA or Illinois EPA.
When will you know what action will be taken about any waste material that is found on residential property?
Once the U.S. EPA has results of the soil sampling analysis (which takes approximately six weeks) and has had time to interpret the results, they will determine whether to collect more samples in the residential area; additional investigation may be needed to determine the extent of the contamination prior to approaching potentially responsible parties about taking action to deal with the waste. Once the extent of the waste is understood, the U.S. EPA and the Illinois EPA will issue a joint press release to advise local residents what action, if any, will be taken.
As in the past, the Illinois EPA and U.S. EPA will talk to the residents whose soil was sampled to let them know the status. Additionally, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will send letters to the property owners to advise whether or not there is any health concern related to any contamination found in the samples.
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.