31 Aug 2004

Judicial Site Inspections to Start Again Tomorrow

Plaintiffs Have Tampered Evidence at Two More Sites

NUEVA LOJA, Ecuador, August 31, 2004 - President of the Superior Court of Nueva Loja Efrain Novillo will resume judicial site inspections tomorrow at Sacha-53 and will continue at Sacha-94 on Thursday. They will be the third and fourth inspections in a series of 122 that will take place as part of the environmental lawsuit filed against ChevronTexaco.

Information about the sites:

Sacha-53
  • PetroEcuador has continued to operate the well at Sacha-53 since Texaco Petroleum (TexPet) ceased operating in Ecuador in 1990.
  • As part of an extensive US$40 million environmental remediation program, TexPet remediated two pits in September 1996. A third water pit was not remediated because water testing indicated it was safe and it was in use by the local community in 1996. A fourth pit was not remediated because it did not contain petroleum.
  • The government of Ecuador officially certified TexPet properly remediated Sacha-53 and released TexPet of further responsibility in Actas 4 and 11.
Sacha-94
  • TexPet sealed the Sacha-94 well and remediated three pits in 1996. PetroEcuador currently operates another well at this location, Sacha-173, which it drilled and completed after TexPet completed its remediation program. PetroEcuador also cut down trees and other vegetation to make the site larger. PetroEcuador is currently producing oil at this site.
  • TexPet remediated two oil pits and one dry pit, completing the work in September 1996. TexPet was not required to remediate two additional dry pits because they did not contain petroleum.
  • The government of Ecuador officially certified TexPet properly remediated Sacha-94 and released TexPet of further responsibility in Actas 4, 11 and 14.
  • There are no residents living at this site.

ChevronTexaco believes the plaintiffs illegally altered both
Sacha-53 and Sacha-94 by drilling several holes at each site without permission or supervision of Judge Novillo. ChevronTexaco has petitioned the court to request that any such future activities be halted immediately.

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