A former oil refinery that operated from 1939 to 1954 left behind a contaminated groundwater plume beneath State Road 114 near Levelland, Texas. The contamination sits in the Ogallala Aquifer, the only high-quality drinking water source in the area, and stretches roughly 1.2 miles west to east and 0.6 miles north to south. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in October 1999 after contamination was discovered in 1990 and later found in 28 groundwater wells.
Seven contaminants of concern have been identified: 1,2-dichloroethane, arsenic, benzene, copper, manganese, vanadium, and zinc. Most are found in groundwater. Copper and zinc are also present in soil. These substances were flagged because EPA determined they pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.
EPA selected a cleanup plan in a 2008 Record of Decision. Work included extending water lines to affected residents, installing a soil vapor extraction system, running a groundwater pump-and-treat system, excavating and burying metal-contaminated soils, and putting institutional controls in place. Construction finished in September 2009. Since then, the soil vapor extraction system has pulled out more than 3.3 million pounds of refined condensate, and the groundwater treatment system has processed more than 300 million gallons of water. In 2019, light non-aqueous phase liquid was found in a downgradient extraction well, prompting a supplemental investigation that is still ongoing. A new remedial investigation for the main operable unit began in September 2021, with completion estimated between September and November 2027.
According to EPA's Five-Year Review completed in August 2024, the site is protective of human health and the environment in the short term. Residents connected to the public water supply are not exposed to contaminated groundwater, and contaminated soil has been excavated and buried. Groundwater migration is stabilized with no discharge to surface water. However, the site is not yet ready for its anticipated future use, and EPA has identified several steps still needed, including updating the site model, completing a new remedial investigation and feasibility study, evaluating additional soil vapor extraction points, and finalizing institutional controls. The state of Texas assumed operation and maintenance responsibilities in September 2020. One business currently operates on site.
Community members can review the 2024 Five-Year Review Report at the Hockley County Memorial Library at 811 Austin Street in Levelland, Texas, by calling (806) 894-6750, or online through EPA. For questions, residents can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager. For state-related questions, contact the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
