Fuel Tanks Under Shuttered Mokena Gas Station Leak, Forcing Village To Intervene: Officials

MOKENA, IL —The owner of a shuttered gas station in Mokena was cited—and the Village forced to intervene—after underground fuel tanks that were supposed to have been drained began leaking into stormwater, Village officials said Friday.

Late on the evening of June 21, the Mokena Fire Protection District responded to a report of a gasoline odor in the area near 192nd Street and Wolf Road. Crews found "fuel-contaminated stormwater" near the scene and traced it back to the former gas station, according to a release from the Village.

The response occurred during and after a period of heavy rainfall, and initial information showed that rainwater had entered or affected the underground storage tank system, "causing or contributing to the overflow or threatened overflow of fuel, petroleum-contaminated water, and related materials."

Officials said the Mokena Fire Protection District, Village representatives, and other responding agencies, including the Illinois EPA and Illinois State Fire Marshall, worked together to assess the situation, place absorbent booms downstream, and coordinate the initial response.

The property owner was instructed to immediately have the tanks pumped out and to have the gas, diesel and kerosene removed from the site.

Those steps were not taken, the Village said.

"For several days, the property owner assured the Mokena Fire Department that the Property Owner was going to accomplish that task," the Village said in a release. "The Village and the Mokena Fire Department determined that the emptying of the tanks was not happening in an immediate and timely manner."

With the owner's inaction, Village and Mokena fire officials met to determine next steps.

The Village issued a notice of violation and demand for immediate abatement to the property owner on June 24. The notice cited applicable Village code provisions addressing illicit discharges, stormwater protection, nuisance abatement, emergency response, and cost recovery. The Village’s immediate concern was to prevent additional discharge into nearby properties, drainageways, storm sewers, and the Village’s stormwater system.

On the eve of initiating enforcement litigation, the Village negotiated a temporary access, abatement and cost-reimbursement agreement. The agreement was signed on June 25. The agreement allowed the Village and its contractor, GFL Environmental Inc., to enter the property for the purpose of pumping out the underground storage tanks, removing fuel and related materials, and transporting and disposing of those materials in accordance with applicable law, officials said.

The agreement allowed the work to proceed on June 26 while "preserving the Village’s rights and confirming that the property owner remains responsible for the property, the underground storage tanks, regulatory compliance, agency reporting, future remediation, and reimbursement of the Village’s costs as provided in the agreement."

“This was a serious situation involving public safety, stormwater protection, and environmental concerns,” said Village President George J. Metanias. “The Village acted quickly, worked closely with the Mokena Fire Protection District and responding agencies, and secured access to address the immediate risk without unnecessary delay.”

The Village’s immediate role is focused on protecting public health and safety, preventing further discharge, and protecting the Village’s stormwater system and public infrastructure, officials said. The agreement does not shift long-term regulatory responsibility from the property owner to the Village, the Village stressed.

"As of 3 p.m. on June 26, all four tanks on the property have been emptied and the hazardous liquid removed from the site for disposal," the Village said.

The next steps will involve coordination with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal regarding required regulatory follow-up, tank compliance, investigation, closure, removal, abandonment, remediation, and any additional actions required by law or by agencies having jurisdiction.

"The Village will continue to monitor the situation, coordinate with responding and regulatory agencies, document the work performed, and pursue reimbursement and cost recovery as appropriate," officials said.

Residents with immediate concerns regarding odors, fuel sheen, or suspected contamination should contact the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Water (Stream pollution, runoff) at 217-782-9720. For emergencies, residents should call 911.