14 Sep 2005

Numerous satellite images and photographs demonstrate the remediation effort conducted by Texpet in Shushufindi-7

The areas remediated by Texpet were analyzed by the Central University laboratory

Nueva Loja, September 14, 2005 - Judicial Inspection No. 23, was carried out today at Shushufindi-7. A series of satellite images of showing where Texaco Petroleum Company (Texpet, a subsidiary of what is now Chevron) conducted its remediation of the Shushufindi-7 site were submitted to the Superior Court of Nueva Loja by counsel for Chevron. The company discredited the accusations made by the plaintiffs and presented evidence that proves Texpet conducted environmental remediation of the sites that were under its responsibility as a minority partner in the Consortium.

Other Highlights:

  • During the inspection, Chevron Corporation's lawyer rejected plaintiffs' claims that the environmental remediation effort conducted by Texpet was a complete fraud. He reminded the Court that during the time of the remediation, the laboratory from the Ecuadorian Central University analyzed the samples taken in all of the remediated areas. Based on these analytic results, both the Ecuadorian Government and PETROECUADOR accepted and certified the completion of the remediation works.
  • The lawyer also reminded Judge Efraín Novillo, President of the Superior Court, that contrary to plaintiffs' allegations, the experts' reports prove that the sites remediated by Texpet do not contain harmful elements such as TPH, PAHs or BTEXs. He explained to the Court that the hydrocarbon residues found in the remediated areas are stable and comply with internationally accepted standards -- both in the US and in other Latin American countries -- as required by the Remedial Action Plan Texpet entered into with the government of Ecuador and Petroecuador. The results also show that the remediated areas pose no health or environmental risk
  • Chevron's counsel also reiterated that laboratory results of water samples shows that both ground and underground water sources do not contain hydrocarbons, but do present a high level of contamination due to the presence of bacteria, which may affect human health. In order to prove its arguments, Chevron requested soil and underground water samples be taken from a spring and several water wells used for human consumption by the inhabitants of the areas near Shushufindi-7.
  • Finally, the Company's lawyer underscored PETROECUADOR's responsibility for the current environmental condition of the area where Shushufindi 7 is located; since 1992, when Petroecuador assumed the exclusive ownership of the former consortium, the state owned company has conducted 6 workovers at the site, with its corresponding environmental impact.

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