16 Feb 2005

"What I want is for Texaco to Return," Resident Declares During Inspection of Sacha-18

Resident Complains Petroecuador Did Not Properly Remediate Pit

NUEVA LOJA, Ecuador, February 16, 2005 - The Superior Court of Nueva Loja conducted today the Judicial Inspection of Sacha-18, a producing oil well site currently operated by Petroecuador. The visit allowed the Court to observe, once more, the irresponsible way the state-owned company has managed its facilities. This was corroborated by the testimony of Gloria Matango, a resident of the area, who criticized Petroecuador´s operations and praised the job done by Texaco Petroleum Company (Texpet) when it operated in the area.

During the Petroecuador-Texaco consortium there were two pits at this site. Pit 1 was closed by Petroecuador before the Texpet Remediation Plan started and that is why it was not included in that plan. Pit 2, previously an oil pit, was included in the Remediation Plan, and was remediated by Texpet in September, 1996, using the In-Situ Stabilization method. The proper remediation of Pit 2 was certified by the Government of Ecuador.

The highlights of the day:

  • Gloria Matango, a resident of the area for the last 31 years, was interviewed by the President of the Superior Court of Nueva Loja, Judge Efrain Novillo. She criticized the way that Petroecuador remediated Pit 1. "Petroecuador offered to take out the crude and stabilize the soil, but they never took out the crude. They just covered the pit with soil." She also mentioned the difference with how Texpet operated. "Texaco always helped us. It was attentive to the needs of the children and the schools. When [residents] had accidents, it was concerned for the health of the families. They helped us with flights to Quito. What I want is Texaco to return."
  • During the inspection, Adolfo Callejas, ChevronTexaco´s lawyer, rebutted the accusations of the plaintiffs, that the people near the site are exposed to a risk of contamination, attributed to Texaco. "The plaintiffs have not done any epidemiological study scientifically sustained, nor have they demonstrated, with a technical risk evaluation done for human health, that a scientific basis exists to make a relationship between any health complaint and any crude contamination," added Callejas.
  • In order to show plaintiffs´allegations regarding water contamination are false, Callejas asked the Court for water samples to be taken from the water wells of the houses located around Sacha-18 and also from of the pipeline that carries water from Blanco River, the source of water for the neighborhood. He also asked for soil and subsoil samples at Pit 2, which was remediated by Texpet. He reminded the Court that results of previous inspections have demonstrated that the water used by people who live near former Texpet operation sites do not contain hydrocarbons, but they are highly contaminated with microorganisms and bacteria, which are the most likely true causes of any health problems.
  • Finally, Callejas blamed Petroecuador for hydrocarbon contamination that may be observed in the area. Callejas reminded the Court that, just like in the other previously inspected sites where Petroecuador continues operating, in Sacha-18 the state owned company has performed several workovers (September 1990, April 1991, June 1992, and February 2000); and significant oil spills have taken place on the following dates: June 23, 2000; July 23, 2000; and September 27, 2004.

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