Alaska News

North Pole sues Flint Hills, Williams over groundwater pollution at refinery site

FAIRBANKS (AP) -- The city of North Pole is suing two recent owners of an oil refinery over groundwater pollution.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday blames current refinery owner Flint Hills Alaska Resources and previous owner Williams Alaska Petroleum for releasing hazardous substances into the groundwater beneath the refinery.

Sulfolane is one of the substances identified in the lawsuit, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported.

"The presence of sulfolane contamination in the city's groundwater has rendered that groundwater unfit for human consumption and endangers the public health or welfare, or fish, animals, vegetation or any other part of the natural habitat in which it is found," the lawsuit said.

Flint Hills spokesman Jeff Cook said the company has no comment. "It's not appropriate in view of the lawsuit to discuss additional details outside of court," he said. "We look forward to our day in court."

Williams representatives couldn't immediately be reached for comment on the Thanksgiving holiday.

The lawsuit said the contamination has damaged the local real estate market and development efforts, resulting in revenue losses. The city wants the companies to pay for the cost of cleaning up the contamination. The city is also seeking restitution.

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"Based on the information we have, there was some reckless disregard while Williams was in control of that facility," North Pole Mayor Bryce Ward said. "Flint Hills at this point has been willing to work with the community and do so to clean things up. There was a short period of time from when they owned it to when they started with those actions."

Flint Hills acquired the refinery from Williams Alaska in 2004.

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