RCRA Permit Process:

CITGO submitted a permit renewal application in November 2020 as required, and IEPA issued a draft renewed permit on April 15, 2026. The public comment period was open through June 8, 2026. IEPA extended the public comment period for the draft permit to September 9, 2026. A public hearing was also scheduled for August 10, 2026, to provide an opportunity for community members to learn more and share comments about the draft permit.

History of Land Treatment Facility (LTF)

In 1973, the Refinery began land treating Refinery wastes in a small land treatment area (LTA). In its entirety, the LTF area consists of approximately 28 acres, which includes four Land Treatment Areas, adjacent roadways, three closed decant basins, and untilled buffer zones around each land treatment plot. Waste has not been applied to the LTF since 1995, and closure was completed in 2016. The Refinery maintains the vegetative cover system as established prairies that act as pollinator-friendly vegetative caps. Invasive species have been removed, and native plant species are thriving on the LTAs. These native plants and flowers provide habitat for pollinators like butterflies, bees, birds, moths, and other insects. The surrounding woodland area in the LTF has also been preserved and cleared of invasive species to help expand the native habitat for pollinators and other wildlife while reducing invasive seed pressures on the caps themselves.

Vegetative cover system established as prairies.