In the second stage of the Okmulgee, Okla., refinery cleanup, the partners hired Safety-Kleen Corp. to help remove 916 storage and chemical drums, or 17 large truck loads, from the site. Photo by Bonnie Black, courtesy of Safety-Kleen.Phillips Petroleum Co. recently completed the second phase of cleanup at a former Okmulgee, Okla., refinery. Ultimately, the site will become an industrial park for the community, according to Phillips.
The refinery was shut down in 1981 by Basin Refining Inc., Midland, Tex., when Basin declared bankruptcy. The plant was owned by Phillips between 1930 and 1966.
Phillips is the only previous refinery operator helping to clean the site.
The current cleanup effort has three partners: Phillips, the Okmulgee Area Development Corp. (OADC), the current owner, and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
The cleanup consists of five stages:
In the recently completed second stage of cleanup, the partners installed detectors for airborne asbestos around the property. According to Jeff Smith, site manager and environmental geologist for Phillips, the monitors did not detect any asbestos that could be hazardous to the community or cleanup personnel.
In October, the partners installed 15 perimeter groundwater wells, which will be monitored regularly through 1999. Initial data show no significant groundwater impact, said Smith.
During chemicals removal, 17 large truckloads of storage and chemical drums were removed from the site. The second stage of the cleanup effort cost about $200,000.
Asbestos abatement began in early March, and decommissioning and demolition is expected to last 1-1.5 years. Stage 3 is estimated to cost about $3.3 million.
Stages 4 and 5, environmental investigation and remediation, will occur concurrently. They are planned to begin in late 1999 or 2000.
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