19 Aug 2004

ChevronTexaco Reports on Second Judicial Site Inspection

NUEVA LOJA, Ecuador, August 19, 2004 - The Superior Court of Nueva Loja today conducted its second site inspection in the environmental lawsuit filed against ChevronTexaco. The inspection took place at Sacha-21, an inactive PetroEcuador well site, where two pits were remediated by Texaco Petroleum Company (Texpet) in 1996.

Among the highlights:

  • ChevronTexaco reminded the Court that the judicial record contains a document relating to Sacha-21 that was submitted by plaintiffs as evidence. This document, "El Legado de Texaco: pozos y estaciones (Texaco´s Legacy: wells and stations)," submitted on October 23, 2003, contains an admission that the pits at Sacha-21 were well remediated, that the drinking water wells had no contamination, and that the residents suffered no health impacts.
  • At the Sacha-21 site, the judge witnessed areas impacted by a 2002 PetroEcuador oil spill from a crude oil pipeline bordering the site that was later remediated by PetroEcuador. Adolfo Callejas, counsel for ChevronTexaco, pointed to this as further evidence of PetroEcuador's responsibility for the present environmental condition of the former Consortium oil fields.
  • Upon seeing multiple cement markers showing plaintiffs' alteration of the site prior to the judicial inspection, Callejas reiterated his denunciation of these activities, and also his request that any such future activities be halted immediately. Novillo has yet to rule on that request.

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