After CITGO Air Quality Complaints, Refinery Officials To Attend Environmental Commission Meeting: Village

LEMONT, IL — Lemont Village Administrator George Schafer gave an update at Lemont's Village Board meeting after recent resident comment and complaints about air quality in Lemont pertaining to CITGO refinery.

"We've reached out to representatives from CITGO ... we've relayed the concerns from the residents," Schafer said. "They're taking it seriously, they told us that. They're going to be preparing responses to many of those concerns."

"We're also meeting with officials from the IEPA, to better understand notification protocol," Schafer added. When an "emissions event" occurs, CITGO files with the IEPA or IEMA, but the Village does not necessarily receive that notification.

Patch did report in 2013 when CITGO was fined $737,000 for alleged Clean Air Act violations. According to the EPA website, CITGO was ordered to pay a $1.955 million civil penalty in 2016, perform environmental projects totaling more than $2 million, and spend an estimated $42 million in injunctive relief.

The purpose of the fines were to "to resolve Clean Air Act violations and violations of CITGO’s global refinery consent decree at its refinery, located in Lemont."

The refinery was also required to implement different systems and controls "to reduce emissions of harmful air pollution that can cause respiratory problem," according to the EPA.

The Lemont Environmental Commission meets Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. at Village Hall, and Schafer said CITGO representatives will attend that meeting.

"We will let CITGO answer the questions that our residents have, as well as our neighbors," Mayor John Egofske said.

Residents have voiced concerns over emissions of benzene at CITGO. As part of its refinery operations, CITGO does emit benzene. According to the American Cancer Society, benzene is a carcinogen that is a "natural part of crude oil and gasoline (and therefor motor vehicle exhaust) as well as cigarette smoke."

CITGO's Lemont refinery manufactures several grades of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and high-quality hydrocarbon solvents.

"Benzene is commonly found in air, but the levels in most places are usually very low. Levels of benzene can be higher in enclosed spaces with unventilated fumes from gasoline, glues, solvents, paints, and art supplies. Areas with heavy traffic, gas stations, and areas near industrial sources may also have higher air levels," according to the American Cancer Society.

"By no means am I an expert on benzene, but these are the questions and concerns that need to be brought up to CITGO, so people understand what's being posted out there [on social media]," Egofske said.

Egofske said the data is public and readily available, and state and federal agencies are tracking it.

"We just have to flush out the concerns that people have," he said.

Patch has reached out to CITGO Lemont refinery for comment.