1 Sep 2004

Colonos Take Lead Role in Today´s Inspections

Plaintiffs Alleged Pollution of Water Well That Does Not Exist

NUEVA LOJA, Ecuador, September 1, 2004 - Judicial inspections in the environmental lawsuit filed against ChevronTexaco resumed at Sacha-53 despite more evidence of the plaintiffs' brazen illegal activities that have altered the site.

During today's proceedings:
  • Adolfo Callejas, legal counsel for ChevronTexaco, exposed one of the plaintiffs' key claims as a fabrication. The plaintiffs had claimed that the well of Mrs. Rosa Ramos has been contaminated, however, during the inspection Callejas proved and Mrs. Ramos testified that she does not even have a well.
  • Mr. Anibal Baños, a farmer from Coca, led the court to a small amount of fresh crude oil in the middle of the lush palmetto plantation he operates next to Sacha-53. When questioned by the judge about whether Mr. Baños or anyone else has poured oil on the ground, Mr. Baños replied, "No sir, I did not. I am very honest. PetroEcuador comes here at all times, especially in the hours of the night."
  • After pointing out several holes and concrete monuments left by the plaintiffs, Callejas once again asked President of the Superior Court of Nueva Loja Efrain Novillo to order the plaintiffs to stop altering and manipulating inspection sites.
  • Callejas also pointed out that PetroEcuador has continued to operate the well at Sacha-53 since Texaco Petroleum (TexPet) ceased operating in Ecuador in 1990. PetroEcuador performed extensive production improvement work at the well site twice in 1992 and again in 1997.
  • TexPet was required to remediate two pits in 1996 as part of an extensive US$40 million environmental remediation program. The government of Ecuador officially certified TexPet properly performed the remediation and released TexPet of further responsibility in Actas 4 and 11.

Inspections will continue tomorrow at Sacha-94. The court has identified 122 sites to inspect as part of the environmental lawsuit filed against ChevronTexaco.

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