CHICAGO (March 18, 2004) -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5 has signed an agreement with three oil companies to tackle
ongoing hazardous vapor problems caused by a large, underground
pool of petroleum products in Hartford, Ill. The companies also
agreed to design a permanent cleanup plan.
The agreement with Atlantic Richfield Co., Shell Oil Products
US and Premcor Refining Group is called an administrative order
on consent. It requires the companies take a series of actions
to address the long-standing problems caused by pollution in Hartford.
These include: providing temporary measures to safeguard residences
and public buildings from dangerous fumes, investigating the underground
pool of refined petroleum products created by past pipeline breaks,
and developing of a plan to provide temporary housing and relocation
expenses for residents if they are displaced because of fumes in
their homes. The companies also agreed to design a way to permanently
clean up the underground contamination.
Two meetings to discuss the agreement and its impact on Hartford
residents will be held Thursday, March 25. Both will be held in
the Hartford Community Center, 715 N. Delmar. EPA and Illinois
officials will be available to answer questions one-on-one at an
informal open house from 1 to 3 p.m. A public meeting featuring
formal presentations will begin at 7 p.m. Written comments on the
agreement will be accepted at both sessions. A legal reporter will
be at the evening meeting to record oral statements.
Also, comments will be accepted by mail, e-mail or fax sent to:
Mike Joyce, Office of Public Affairs (P-19J), EPA Region 5, 77
W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604; fax (312) 353-1155; e-mail
joyce.mike@epa.gov
Copies of the agreement are available at the Hartford Public Library
and Hartford Village Hall.
For special needs or accommodations at the public meeting, contact
Joyce at (312) 353-5546.
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