On August 15, 2012, OSCs Waldon and Wise conducted a site visit at the abandoned USA Petroleum Refinery in Ventura, Ventura Co., CA. EPA was their at the request of Ventura Co. Environmental Health after they had come to a stalemate on cleanup with the landowner. The site contains a number of very large above ground storage tanks, many of which contain1 -3 feet of oily sludge left from when the refinery closed. A number of leaks were observed from the piping throughout the facility, which may still be full. The refinery is approximately 100 feet from the Ventura River, a navigable water. There is also a large amount of asbestos on the pipes and process units that is in the process of being removed by the PRP under the oversight of the Ventura Co. Air Pollution Control Disctrict. At the time of the assessment Environmental Health estimated their was approximately 46,000 gallons of oil left in the tanks. This does not include what may be in the pipes or other process equipment.
At the request of Environmental Health, EPA will be taking over the lead for the oversight of the cleanup. Due to the proximity to the River, this site will be conducted as an OPA removal.
