UPDATE: DNR Orders Citgo Station Owner to Clean Up Contamination

Last update: 3:25 p.m. Wednesday

The owner of Shorewood’s Citgo gas station has been ordered to start cleanup efforts after soil samples revealed contaminated soil near his station.

State Department of Natural Resources officials will meet with the owner, Syed Rizvi of Glendale, on Thursday to discuss how he intends to clean up contaminated soil in the area of the gas station.

"The DNR has deemed him responsible for the spill at this point," North Shore Fire Department Chief Robert Whitaker said Wednesday at a press conference.

gas station at 1602 E. Capitol Dr. Friday morning and laboratory results received on Tuesday showed there was gasoline and fuel byproducts in the ground. A private sanitary lateral lies beneath the tested area, which connects to a public sanitary sewer that runs east to west.

Fire officials and contractors have been searching for the source of a gasoline leak into Shorewood’s sanitary sewer system since Oct. 5, when they responded to a report of a gas leak in an apartment basement near East Capitol Drive and North Wilson Drive.

The station has a history of fuel contamination problems dating back to 1994, when a private contractor performed an inspection of Rizvi’s property. However, the DNR didn't deem the contamination to be to levels warranting remediation, Whitaker said.

Officials matched historical spill data against more recent samples and determined there was a spill as recently as a week ago.

"There was definite proof that this was a new substance in the ground," Whitaker said.

Whitaker said there were high levels of benzene, a natural constituent of crude oil.

"Benzene is in gasoline, and as I understand it, that substance is quick to dissipate...that is definitely proof that this is recent spill here on site," Whitaker said. "We expect that the owner will take responsibility."

Rizvi, who has been trying to sell his station since August, declined comment Wednesday when contacted by Shorewood Patch.

Citgo has been closed since Oct. 5, when sanitary sewer samples prompted officials to shut down its pumping operations. It will remain closed indefinitely as the state has red-tagged his pumps.

"For the owner to remove those (red tags) is a federal felony; he's allowed to open for quick mart business, but he's not open to sell gasoline," Whitaker said.

Shorewood tested for contaminated ground water and drinking water, and Whitaker said he's confident there's no danger of tainted water. 

"We have consulted with a toxicologist, who assured us that there should be no problem,” Whitaker said.

Whitaker said crews continue to monitor sewer system conditions but that everything is stable.

If residents still have a gasoline odor in their homes, they should flush their water traps with water. If that doesn't work, residents are asked to call 911 and leave their homes.