Illinois Town Alleges Oil Refinery Caused Benzene Contamination of Groundwater

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - An Illinois town has filed a state court complaint alleging that the operators of a local oil refinery have been releasing benzene into the air and groundwater for decades, putting the town's drinking water, food chain and air quality at risk. Village of Roxana, Ill. v. Shell Oil Co., et al., No. 2012MR000083 (Ill Cir. Ct., Madison Cty.).

The March 20 suit filed by the Village of Roxana in the Madison County (Ill.) Circuit Court accuses the refinery's operators of breaching their duty to use reasonable care by failing to prevent the spill, discharge and leak of …