Old Inger Oil Refinery

Overview

The Old Inger Oil Refinery covers about 19 acres near Darrow, Louisiana. It operated as an oil refinery and waste oil facility from 1967 until it was abandoned in 1980. EPA added it to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1983 and deleted it in August 2008 after cleanup finished.

Improper operations contaminated soil, sediments, sludges, groundwater, and surface water. The contaminants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and trichloroethene; metals such as cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and silver; and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as anthracene, naphthalene, and pyrene. EPA identified 49 contaminants of concern in total. Many appear across multiple media, and chromium(VI), the toxic form of chromium, has been found in groundwater.

Between 1983 and 1988, EPA ran five emergency removal actions to reduce exposure risks and prepare the site for long-term work. The final cleanup included carbon adsorption treatment of impoundment liquids, decontamination and burial of contaminated wood, capping of slightly contaminated soils, and on-site land treatment of heavily contaminated soils and sludges. A bioremediation effort ran from December 1997 through June 2002, and construction was completed in September 2006.

Human exposure is currently under control. Contaminated groundwater is stabilized in its original area with no unacceptable discharge to surface water, and EPA continues monitoring to confirm it stays in place. The site is considered ready for anticipated reuse. Institutional controls remain in place, including two conveyance notices recorded in the deed warning that hazardous substances remain above levels safe for unrestricted use and that disturbing the protective cap may trigger liability. The site also sits within 300 feet of the Mississippi River levee centerline, requiring permits from the Pontchartrain Levee District Board for any work in that zone, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reviewing all permits first.

EPA completed its most recent Five-Year Review in May 2022 and found the site protective of human health and the environment. The next Five-Year Review is estimated between July and September 2027, which will be the next opportunity for public involvement. Community members with questions can reach the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) is also a contact for site-related questions. Site documents are available through EPA's site records or the LDEQ Public Records office in Baton Rouge.