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Hudson Oil Refining Site Selected as Pilot for EPA Redevelopment Project

Release Date: 7/13/2000
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     The Hudson Oil Refining Company site in Cushing, Oklahoma, is one of 40 sites in the nation chosen to be a pilot project for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund program's Redevelopment Initiative.

     The Redevelopment Initiative gives funding and support to states, communities or tribes to help them plan for reusing Superfund sites before the cleanup method is chosen. This helps ensure that the cleanup results are consistent with the planned reuse of the site.

     "EPA's goal is to ensure that community approved reuse plans are considered when the cleanup itself is planned. Knowing the community's wishes helps us tailor the cleanup to those needs," said EPA Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke.

     The Hudson Oil Refinery filed for bankruptcy and closed in 1982.  As the unused refinery deteriorated, asbestos insulation blew off towers, tanks began leaking toxic chemicals, and vandals broke into laboratories and stole supplies.

     Cushing will use its $100,000 cooperative agreement to form an advisory committee, train officials and committee members on the Superfund process and environmental issues, and develop a reuse plan which will benefit the city.

     The EPA Superfund program works closely with state agencies to clean and restore uncontrolled contaminated properties. Superfund cleans sites when the work required is beyond the resources of state and local agencies.

     More information on the Redevelopment Initiative is available on EPA's web site at https://www.epa.gov/oerrpage/superfund/programs/recycle/overview.htm.