Glasgow, Madigan file suit over refinery release
By Tony Graf tgraf@stmedianetwork.com October 31, 2012 5:04PM
An Exxon Mobil Joliet Refinery truck heads west on Arsenal Road where there is a possible leak at the Exxon Mobil Refinery in Channahon, Illinois, Friday, October 19, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
Updated: December 2, 2012 2:11PM
CHICAGO — Authorities are alleging environmental violations in a legal action against ExxonMobil Oil Corp. after the Oct. 19 release of an oily substance that fell on cars and homes up to four miles east of the Channahon Township plant.
Lisa Madigan, Illinois attorney general, and James Glasgow, Will County state’s attorney, filed a four-count complaint and sought a preliminary injunction against ExxonMobil on Wednesday.
The complaint states that the oil release allegedly occurred as a result of procedural failures at the refinery’s coker unit. The refinery is at Interstate 55 and Arsenal Road.
ExxonMobil released a statement Wednesday afternoon.
“The ExxonMobil Joliet Refinery deeply regrets the release on Oct. 19, 2012, and we apologize to those who were inconvenienced,” the statement said. “ExxonMobil has worked closely with local, state and federal officials from the outset on the initial response, recovery and investigation.
“The incident is under investigation in cooperation with state and federal regulators,” the company said. “ExxonMobil fully concurs with the requirements in the attorney general’s Agreed Interim Order, most of which were identified and voluntarily initiated in the 12 days since the incident.”
The preliminary injunction sought on Wednesday seeks to require ExxonMobil to:
Complete an investigation within seven days to determine the cause of the release and report its findings to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
Submit a detailed work schedule for necessary improvements.
Report all pollutants and quantities involved in the incident.
Collect water samples in Jackson Creek and soil samples along Arsenal Road to be analyzed.
Identify residents, landowners and local government agencies it communicated with following the release.
Provide equipment maintenance and inspection reports for the pressure safety valves involved in the release.
And provide a detailed explanation of the procedures used to restart the coker unit following the Oct. 19 release.
