Gov. Blagojevich instructs Illinois EPA to expedite construction permits for ConocoPhillips in Metro East to repair damage caused by storm         

State action intended to help avoid fuel shortage

[JULY 24, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- On Friday, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich ordered the Illinois EPA to expedite the review of the construction permits requested by ConocoPhillips to install portable cooling towers so that their refinery in Wood River can resume production after sustaining damage in last week's storms. The severe storms that swept through southwestern Illinois, knocking out electricity to homes and businesses, also forced the shutdown of the ConocoPhillips refinery that provides fuel to Metro East.

"The people of southwestern Illinois have suffered from property damage and loss of power in the past few days. A fuel shortage on top of all that would be devastating to these communities," Blagojevich said. "That's why we are doing what we can to get the ConocoPhillips refinery up and running as soon as possible."

Installing temporary portable cooling towers became necessary after severe storms swept through southwestern Illinois Wednesday evening, causing significant damage to the ConocoPhillips' refinery in Wood River. The facility's cooling towers were damaged and need to be repaired. Meanwhile, to ensure that the facility can resume production, temporary portable cooling towers will be installed.

Installation of these towers requires construction permits from the Illinois EPA. Given the importance of this facility to the region's fuel supplies, Blagojevich ordered the Illinois EPA to expedite the review of the construction permit applications submitted by ConocoPhillips.

The governor's direction to expedite the construction permits came after he declared two southwestern Illinois counties -- Madison and St. Clair -- as state disaster areas. As cleanup and repair efforts were under way, a second round of storms moved through the area on Friday, causing additional damage and power outages and disrupting the ongoing response to the Wednesday storms.

[News release from the governor's office]