Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The pond at Liberty Park is reopening after Chevron's big oil spill last year. But some neighbors insist the cleanup is far from over.
According to the city, that cleanup effort cost Chevron about $2.5 million. Still, one group of residents has filed a lawsuit to push the oil giant to return Red Butte Creek to its former pristine state.
Nearly one year ago, tens of thousands of gallons of oil spilled into Red Butte Creek and Liberty Lake after Chevron pipeline broke. Since then, 10,000 cubic yards of tainted soil and muck have been cleared from the lake, with a new lining installed.
"They've done a good job," said Jeff Niermeyer, director of Salt Lake City Public Utilities. "It's taken longer than we had hoped for, but part of that has just been the wet weather we've been in."
Now the focus is on the future restoration and monitoring of Red Butte Creek. A group of roughly 30 residents who live near the creek say they're suing Chevron, seeking reimbursement to clean up the waterway.
"Mostly what I want to do is to send a message to Chevron to let them know that I will not rest until not another damn drop of oil is in this creek," said Salt Lake resident Annie Payne.
Others say high runoff masks the pollution that lies just inches under the soil. They say it has dramatically reduced the creek's animal life.
"Really, I was just there and this is what I found: rocks that still have oil on them; soil that still gives you a headache," said Salt Lake resident Camron Carpenter.
"I'm very concerned that we don't know the potential health hazards that will come as a result of this," said Salt Lake resident Kate Jensen. "There hasn't been enough research done yet by Chevron."
Chevron declined KSL News' interview request, instead issuing a statement expressing appreciation to residents for their patience.
But tor some, patience has run out.
"I'm sick. I'm absolutely sick," Payne said. "I think that Chevron is just laughing themselves to the bank. I don't think they give a damn about me, or my property, or my kids, or this creek, or the nice residents of Salt Lake City."
Meanwhile, there's a Celebrate the City event planned at Liberty Park for Saturday. City officials say they're glad the cleanup work here was finished in time.
Email: jdaley@ksl.com
