Ecological Revitalization Project Profiles Database
British Petroleum (BP) Wood River Site
Last Updated: June 14, 2010 |
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| Site Information | ||
| Site Name, Location: | British Petroleum (BP) Wood River Site, Wood River, IL
(EPA Region 5) |
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| Cleanup Program: | RCRA, Brownfield | |
| Site Type: | Petroleum Refining and Reuse | |
Project Information |
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| Project Name: | British Petroleum (BP) Wood River Site | |
| Remediation Technology: | Air Sparging | |
| Ecological Revitalization | ||
| Excavation | ||
| Extraction and Monitoring | ||
| Groundwater Well Installation | ||
| Soil Vapor Extraction | ||
| Site Use Prior to Revitalization: | Construction of the Wood River Refinery, named for a local stream, began in 1907 and was completed later that year. The first stills were put into production in January of 1908. Originally, the refinery mainly produced heating oil, paraffin, kerosene, coke and asphalt. As automobile production increased and the market for motor fuels increased, Standard Oil of Indiana focused on motor fuels, and the refinery increased exports to Europe to meet the growing demand there. In October of 1911, the price of gas in Europe was 9 ½ cents. By 1913, motorists in Europe were paying up to $1 per gallon. The refinery gave birth to the City of Wood River in 1909. Standard Oil went on to establish the first school, a municipal band, and a fire department. As the refinery grew, the population of the area increased. Standard purchased more than two-dozen Sears catalog kit homes for workers in 1919. The 1920 U.S. Census cited Wood River as the fastest-growing community in the country. The close relationship between the refinery and the City was evidenced by the fact that the sports teams for Wood River schools were named the Oilers in honor of the industry that gave birth to their community. The refinery survived the lean years of the Great Depression to play a significant role in supplying fuel to the military in World War II. In 1956, Standard Oil became Amoco. The refinery continued to be a major economic generator for the region and for thousands of workers. In 1981, economic circumstances forced the refinery to close. In the mid 1990s, the chemical additives plant also closed, leaving only a marketing terminal in operation. The terminal continues to operate to this day. In addition, businesses serving the barge and rail road industries lease space at the Riverfront and main plant, respectively, and continue to contribute to the local economy. In 1998, Amoco merged with British Petroleum as part of the new BP, making BP the new owner of the property. The BP Wood River site has undergone nearly 30 years of demolition and environmental cleanup. To date, Amoco and, now, BP have over $100 million on taking down the refinery and cleaning up soil and groundwater impacts from nearly 75 years of active industrial use. | |
| Final Use: | Restored Habitat | |
| Waterfowl Habitat | ||
| Greenspace | ||
| Habitat Created/Restored: | Wetland | |
| Woodland | ||
| Revitalization/Reuse Description: | Nestled on a corner of a former BP refinery, a 30-acre wildlife habitat is turning this industrial brownfield a little greener. Called Deer Park, this habitat offers a natural refuge for wildlife and much-needed greenspace for residents of this industrial region. Atlantic Richfield Company (ARC), a BP affiliated company, officially opened this site in 2002. It quickly earned official certification by the Wildlife Habitat Council, a national environmental organization created to promote the setting aside of space for wildlife. The site has been recertified twice as a recognized habitat. A wide array of wildlife has made a home here amid the native plants, protective trees and restored wetlands - including a herd of deer, wild turkey, coyotes, hawks, raccoons, opossum, and waterfowl. For area residents interested in watching the deer and other wildlife, the site offers an Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible observation area along with a fountain, a butterfly garden, and other plantings. In addition to providing a home for native wildlife, Deer Park has been an outdoor laboratory for area science classes. Area science teachers use the site for environmental science and biology classes. Students have been able to study ecosystems, observe wildlife in a natural habitat, and participate in planting native flowers and grasses. Recently, students from Lewis and Clark Middle School in Wood River planted a pollinator garden at Deer Park. Science teacher Craig Taylor and Nancee Kruescheck with Naturescapes Nursery helped students learn about native plant varieties and led them in the planting of more than 200 shrubs and plants. The garden is designed to attract butterflies and other pollinators. Because of its use as an outdoor laboratory for classes, student groups and Boy and Girl Scouts troops, Deer Park has been certified as a Corporate Lands for Learning site by the Wildlife Habitat Council. | |
| Issues Faced: | No Issues | |
| Description of Issues Faced: | No Issues | |
Contaminant(s) |
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| Chemical: | Total petroleum hydrocarbons | |
| Contaminated Media: | Soil | |
| Chemical: | Total petroleum hydrocarbons | |
| Contaminated Media: | Ground Water | |
Contaminated Media |
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| Media Type: | Ground Water | |
| Volume of Media Treated: | 0 | |
| Media Type: | Soil | |
| Volume of Media Treated: | 0 | |
Point(s) of Contact |
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| Primary Contact | ||
| Organization: | British Petroleum | |
| Name: |
Tom Tunnicliff, Environmental Business Manager | |
| Address: | United States | |
| Phone: | Not specified | |
| Email: | Email feature available on British Petroleum Web site; Wood River, Illinois | |
Information Source/Reference |
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| British Petroleum Web site; Wood River, Illinois http://bpwoodriver.com/site/ |
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| Online article; BP site plans advancing in Wood River http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/city-25329-s ite-property.html |
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| Technology Innovation News Survey for March 1-15, 2009; BP Wood River, Illinois: Progress Report http://www.clu-in.org/products/tins/ |
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