Residents Of Sauganash Park Outraged By Alleged Fuel Leak
Fuel that leaked out of storage tanks and into the land of neighboring homes has some local residents outraged. They say no one is going to want to buy their homes now. They are worried about their investment and worried about their health. CBS 2 Investigator Dave Savini reports on their neighborhood nightmare.
Jack Jacobson told CBS 2 the ground underneath his family's Chicago home was contaminated after underground tanks leaked from Bell Fuels.
Jacobson says sometime before August 2001, for an unknown period of time, an unknown amount of oil loaded with toxic chemicals seeped from tanks and headed across the alley into yards.
He says it killed gardens, even the apple tree he ate from.
"I'm concerned about me. I'm concerned about my children," Jacobson said.
Monitoring wells are scattered around the 6000 block of Kedvale in the Sauganash Park neighborhood.
He even pointed to what he says is a common site when it rains: a film on the water.
Another area resident says there's even an odor.
"There's a sheen that comes up that would smell like you're at a diesel station," said Jennifer Lubeck.
Lubeck and her husband are concerned about the potential for long term health effects. They said that this has devastated their family. They claim their son's had mysterious skin rashes.
Dolfin Kheyo and Genave Daniel who had once lived with her say it was at its worst whenever the home flooded.
"It definitely smells like gas," Daniel said.
Norm Berger represents Bell Fuels.
"I can say with confidence that these folks have never been exposed to any dangerous contamination," Berger said.
Bell Fuels contends that there was a spill, but it's been cleaned up. Berger says there is no proof anyone ever got sick and Bell Fuels followed all EPA guidelines to clean the contamination.
When asked if the properties, homes and yards in the area are safe, Berger said, "No question about it."
Kheyo also worries the home she worked her life to buy is now worthless.
When asked about the effect on property values, Berger said, "I don't know whether there has been any property value damage."
Jacobson says the leak scares buyers away.
"In reality, the house is valueless," Jacobson said.
The Lubecks say they tried selling their home but had no luck. Then they recently fell on hard times and lost it to foreclosure.
Jennifer Lubeck says, "It hurts. There were a lot of memories there."
Jacobson says residents feel alone in their struggle.
"The feeling that I have is that nobody really cares," he said.
Bell Fuels says all the tanks and contamination have been removed and they are willing to provide homeowners some compensation.
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency officials say Bell Fuels needs to prove that any remaining contamination cannot reach the public. That's expected to be done soon. Then residents will receive an IEPA letter saying that all is clear.
Jack Jacobson told CBS 2 the ground underneath his family's Chicago home was contaminated after underground tanks leaked from Bell Fuels.
Jacobson says sometime before August 2001, for an unknown period of time, an unknown amount of oil loaded with toxic chemicals seeped from tanks and headed across the alley into yards.
He says it killed gardens, even the apple tree he ate from.
"I'm concerned about me. I'm concerned about my children," Jacobson said.
Monitoring wells are scattered around the 6000 block of Kedvale in the Sauganash Park neighborhood.
He even pointed to what he says is a common site when it rains: a film on the water.
Another area resident says there's even an odor.
"There's a sheen that comes up that would smell like you're at a diesel station," said Jennifer Lubeck.
Lubeck and her husband are concerned about the potential for long term health effects. They said that this has devastated their family. They claim their son's had mysterious skin rashes.
Dolfin Kheyo and Genave Daniel who had once lived with her say it was at its worst whenever the home flooded.
"It definitely smells like gas," Daniel said.
Norm Berger represents Bell Fuels.
"I can say with confidence that these folks have never been exposed to any dangerous contamination," Berger said.
Bell Fuels contends that there was a spill, but it's been cleaned up. Berger says there is no proof anyone ever got sick and Bell Fuels followed all EPA guidelines to clean the contamination.
When asked if the properties, homes and yards in the area are safe, Berger said, "No question about it."
Kheyo also worries the home she worked her life to buy is now worthless.
When asked about the effect on property values, Berger said, "I don't know whether there has been any property value damage."
Jacobson says the leak scares buyers away.
"In reality, the house is valueless," Jacobson said.
The Lubecks say they tried selling their home but had no luck. Then they recently fell on hard times and lost it to foreclosure.
Jennifer Lubeck says, "It hurts. There were a lot of memories there."
Jacobson says residents feel alone in their struggle.
"The feeling that I have is that nobody really cares," he said.
Bell Fuels says all the tanks and contamination have been removed and they are willing to provide homeowners some compensation.
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency officials say Bell Fuels needs to prove that any remaining contamination cannot reach the public. That's expected to be done soon. Then residents will receive an IEPA letter saying that all is clear.
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