November 14, 2005

On November 4, the Department of Environmental Quality announced the entrance into an Administrative Order by Consent for Payment of Past Costs with Exxon Mobil Corporation in the recovery of $150,000 in costs for the clean up of an abandoned waste pit located in Pulaski Township, Jackson County. The waste pit was used by Exxon Mobil in conjunction with oil and gas well production in the area prior to 1990. The DEQ completed clean up and restoration of the pit and sought recovery of those costs with the assistance of the Department of Attorney General.

The existence of the waste pit was first reported to the DEQ in 2002, and was found to contain hazardous substances at levels in excess of the state clean up standards; including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, total hydrocarbons, and chlorides, posing a threat to the waters of the state.

After Exxon Mobil failed to take action on the site, the DEQ completed the clean up to ensure the local environment was not put at risk.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

“Protecting Michigan’s Environment, Ensuring Michigan’s Future”

Revised November 14, 2005, by Shirley Smith for Pat Watson