DNR Anaylzing Soil Samples in Fuel Leak Probe

Local authorities are awaiting laboratory results of soil samples taken late last week as the probe into the source of a gasoline leak in Shorewood’s sanitary sewer system continued Monday.

Fire officials said they found a gas station at 1602 E. Capitol Dr. and collected soil samples.

State Department of Natural Resources officials will now analyze the samples as part of an investigation into who's responsible for the spill. After a party is designated as being responsible, cleanup efforts will begin.

Though crews didn’t collect soil samples elsewhere in Shorewood, North Shore Fire Chief Robert Whitaker said Friday that it's very unlikely the petroleum came from any other source other than the gas station.

That station has been closed since Wednesday night, when sanitary sewer samples prompted officials to shut down its pumping operations.

"At this point, the state has red-taped their pumps, which means they can't sell petroleum or fuel, and the state has told us that will go on at least through Monday," Whitaker said.

The station has a history of contamination problems dating back to 1991, according to a Today’s TMJ4 report.

The TV station said the owner of the gas station, Syed Rizvi of Glendale, hired Benchmark Environmental Services, an Illinois-based environmental engineering firm, in 2008 to examine the property and near East Capitol Drive and North Newhall Street — but Rizvi ignored the results.

Whitaker said Rizvi hired a private contractor, after officials shut down Citgo, to perform some tests.

"It's my understanding...they did some sort of pressure test on their pumps to make sure their lines underground were intact and not leaking," Whitaker said.

Meanwhile, Shorewood officials say they have reduced the amount of gasoline in sewers, but some particles still remain. Fire officials and contractors continue to monitor conditions related to the gas spill and the situation is stable.

Whitaker says he's confident the gasoline stench still poses no health danger, but if residents discover the odor in their home they should flush their water traps with water. If that doesn't work, residents are asked to call 911 and leave their homes.