Ok, so it’s not the REAL North Pole, but it’s close. North Pole, Alaska is Christmastown, USA, but in addition to the candy cane architectural elements, the Santa Claus House, and year-round live reindeer, the city is also home to Alaska’s largest oil refinery, Flint Hills Resource, which is owned by the Koch Brothers.
The refinery has a history of groundwater pollution, and has contaminated much of the city’s water with a chemical called sulfolane. The refinery has agreed to clean up the water on its property, but is unwilling to extend that clean up to the surrounding community - leaving a plume of polluted groundwater as their corporate legacy. The City of North Pole has just sued the refinery and the state environmental agency, but the EPA has yet to weigh in, despite their legal authority and the clear need for environmental leadership and action.
Sign our petition to the EPA: Urge them to make sure the Koch Brothers clean up the North Pole’s groundwater!
The legacy of groundwater contamination from the North Pole Refinery demands EPA action and leadership. The clean up agreement between the current refinery owners and the state DEC is inadequate in its scope, and allows the refinery to leave a signifiant plume of contaminated groundwater as its corporate legacy. The city of North Pole has been forced to sue to attempt to gain a seat at the table and ensure the residents needs are being met.
The EPA has the clear authority and the moral obligation to step in and broker a better and more expansive clean up plan. Please take action immediately.
