Refinery cleanup makes progress

The Community Advisory Panel (CAP) met with representatives from Lone Wolf Resources and ARCADIS for a progress update on the Col-Tex Refinery cleanup project.

The recovery program, which began in 1989, has cost TOTAL close to $64 million dollars.

Approximately $4 million of that amount has been spent on establishing a wildlife preserve north of the old refinery site as part of a compensation program for impacted soils at the refinery.

Larry Beavers, who recently passed away, was instrumental in spearheading the wildlife habitat.
Approximately 10,000 trees, shrubs and bushes have been planted, along with an additional 2,500 to be planted in the spring, to help reach the 200 trees per acre measuring stick used by TCEQ.

The habitat area includes water guzzlers which capture rainwater and pools it for wildlife use.

Game cameras set along the boundaries of the habitat have recorded bobcat, hogs, fox, raccoons, possum and numerous bird species including a horned owl.

TCEQ and TPWD, along with several other organizations,  make semi-annual inspections of the habitat recovery area.  “They were very pleased with what they saw,” Darrel Bailey, CAP member.

TOTAL operated the refinery at one time under the joint auspices of FINA and Cosden before the company changed its name.

For the past 21 years, TOTAL's goal has been focused on protecting the Colorado River.

Problems at the site came to light in the late 1980's with two major seepages into the river.

Three remedial trenches were installed to prevent further seepage.

“It's been 10 years since we had anything coming out of the banks,” said Hank McConnell, site coordinator, thanks to the three remedial trench systems in place along the river banks which cut off anything before it reaches the river.  The trenches are checked daily along the river bank.

Additional trenches are in place to continue skimming oil seepage from the refinery area.
"We're producing about 800 gallons of oil and water a month," said  McConnell.  The oil is separated, stored in a tank, then sent to a recycling center.

The biggest issue for workers now is fighting the Johnson grass.  Most if not all of the salt cedars have been grubbed out of the river area.

Residual ponds from the removal of impacted  material now serve as freshwater storm water retention ponds to eliminate runoff from the site.
One milestone is the completion of the four volume investigative report required by the state.

Impacted soil and groundwater continue to be a concern, although the ground water is not used for drinking.  Removing the sources of the contamination has speeded up the recovery process, according to McConnell.

Impacted soil is stored in a lined collection cell, which will be capped with recycled road materials  to prevent rainwater erosion. The containment cell will be maintained against leakage and weeds.

Plans are in the works for a Welcome to Colorado City marker to be installed at the edge of the property at the western entrance to the town, similar to the one near Gas n Grub or by USA Burrito.

CAP is also working toward obtaining a Texas historical marker.

The ColTex refinery site is classified as a superfund project, an environmental program which addresses hazardous waste sites and authorizes EPA to cleanup such sites or to compel responsible parties to perform the cleanups or reimburse the government for EPA led cleanups.

To learn more about the superfund cleanup process, visit http://www.epa.gov/superfund/community/process.htm