"EPA Orders Hazardous Waste Probe At Shuttered Indiana Site"

"EAST CHICAGO, Ind. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched a hazardous waste investigation at a sprawling former oil refinery in northwestern Indiana that was shuttered in 1973 and later was the scene of a major fire.

The federal agency recently ordered Citgo Petroleum Corp. and Oxy USA to begin assessing and cleaning up dangerous waste at the former Cities Service Refinery site in East Chicago.

Local activist Thomas Frank said that the EPA’s order could be an indication that parts of the property could be reused eventually for industrial purposes,

“I’m happy to see a cleanup is on the way. I’m concerned to see all the time that was wasted,” Frank said. “We’re glad there’s attention. By them addressing the issues, they are posing as if they have a solution. What really is occurring is that they are putting a band-aid on it.”"

The Associated Press had the story February 16, 2020.

Source: AP, 02/18/2020