Supreme Court won’t stop government from making oil company clean up spill at former refinery

Court won’t spare Apex from oil spill clean up

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court won’t stop the government from making Apex Oil Company Inc. clean up pollutants from the soil and groundwater near its former refinery in Illinois.

The high court refused to hear the appeal from Apex Oil of Hartford, Ill., on Monday.

The government sued to make Apex Oil clean up land under its former refinery, located about 20 miles north of St. Louis.

Apex says it shouldn’t be forced to pay for the clean up, since its responsibiloty for cleaning up the land was discharged with its other debts during the bankrupcy proceedings.

Federal courts have disagreed.

Shell Oil Co., Valero Energy Corp., BP Amoco and Sinclair Oil Corp. agreed to begin cleanup in Hartford in 2004.

The case is Apex Oil Co. v United States, 09-1023.