Chicago —(ENEWSPF)—May 7, 2015. Attorney General Lisa Madigan today filed an amended lawsuit against a Cicero-based oil production facility after a series of oil spills last year and a major antifreeze spill this year contaminated the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and surrounding areas.
The updated lawsuit, which was filed today in Cook County Circuit Court, seeks to require Olympic Oil Ltd. to take action to completely remediate soil and groundwater contaminated by the oil and antifreeze spills, and to take action to prevent future releases into the environment. The amended complaint also seeks additional civil penalties and reimbursement of the state’s oversight costs.
The Olympic Oil facility, located at 5000 W. 41st St. in Cicero, blends and packages petroleum lubricating oil and antifreeze products. During February 2015, approximately 50,000 gallons of toxic antifreeze liquid spilled from tanks and contaminated soil and groundwater near the canal.
“We are pursuing further action in court to ensure that the company is held accountable for completing the cleanup and taking steps to prevent future incidents,” Madigan said.
The antifreeze spill this year was not reported to authorities by Olympic Oil, and was only discovered by federal inspectors during a routine inspection. The antifreeze spill comes after significant oil spills at the facility last year. Last summer, oil and other pollutants leaked from the facility at an unknown rate, contaminating soil and groundwater, and entering the adjacent sanitary and ship canal. In response to the oil spills, Madigan’s office obtained an interim order requiring the company to submit remedial plans to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Attorney General’s Office for approval.
The next status hearing in the case is set for June 25. Assistant Attorneys General Christopher Grant and Robert Petti are handling the case for Madigan’s Environmental Bureau.
Source: illinoisattorneygeneral.gov
