The Lewis Farm/Indian Oil Refinery Site is located on Lewis Lane in Georgetown, Scott County, Kentucky. The current land use is as a horse farm, but the site was operated as an oil refinery by the former Indian Oil Company from 1905-1916. Chevron Corporation (Chevron) is a Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) for this site, as a successor corporation to Indian Oil.
In November 2007, EPA conducted a sampling investigation at the site, as part of the Removal Site Evaluation (RSE). Based on the results of the sampling investigation, releases of hazardous substances are occurring at the site, or may occur. The spring or seep, which was the subject of the March 2004 NRC Report, was documented during the RSE as releasing a leachate into North Elkhorn Creek on an intermittent basis, as influenced by recharge to the subsurface.
On April 14, 2008, the OSC was notified by KDEP that a recreational boater had recently complained to the City of Georgetown concerning an oily film deposited on his canoe after traveling by the site along North Elkhorn Creek. A followup investigation by the OSC on April 18, 2008 confirmed that the leachate discharge continued to release unabated into Elkhorn Creek and that a time-critical removal action was necessary in order to mitigate the release. Chevron indicated to EPA that it was unable to conduct the required measures to stabilize the release, and the OSC promptly initiated the removal action under his delegated procurement and programmatic authorities.
The Region 4 Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor (CMC, Inc.) mobilized to the site on April 18, 2008 to control the leachate discharge.
On June 13, 2008, Chevron assumed responsibility for continuing actions necessary to keep the seep discharge from entering North Elkhorn Creek.
(See Polrep Number 1 for additional background information on this site).
OSC Smith visited the site on 06/02/09. Inspection of site conditions revealed the following:
- Chevron is maintaining collection of the seep discharge as requested by EPA. At the time of the inspection on 06/02, the telemetry component of the system was under repair, due to a recent electrical storm.
- the area where black "grit-like" material has been deposited is eroding to the point wher the material is migrating away toward uncontaminated areas of the site. (see pictures under the Imagtes tab of the website www.epaosc.net/lewisfarm. The OSC pointed out to Chevron's contractor CRA that the migration of the material which is likely elevated in lead concentration would result in tracking lead contamination to other areas of the site, unless the situation was brought under control.
After a one year period, the OSC considers that the situation involving the seep is sufficently stabilized to not warrant continued EPA oversight of the PRP's actions. Therefore, this Final Polrep marks the end of the PRP removal action for this site.
Further regulatory oversight of the conditions involving the seep discharge which prompted the removal action are under the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection.
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