Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) Asbestos Exposure

Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), formed in 1966, inherited asbestos use from its predecessors. Workers at the Port Arthur, Texas refinery, dating back to the 1920s, were exposed to asbestos. ARCO incorporated asbestos products into its ships and equipment, including insulation and packing.

The company did not manufacture asbestos products but used them in its machinery, boilers, and refineries. Employees, including boilermakers, pipefitters, and oil refinery workers, faced asbestos exposure. ARCO’s asbestos use led to ongoing litigation, with workers and their families filing claims. Despite changing ownership, ARCO continues to grapple with asbestos-related issues.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, ARCO has consented to the remediation of local soils, encompassing both residential and non-residential areas, as well as soil impacted by the refinery’s activities, at the ACM Smelter and Refinery Superfund Site in Black Eagle, Montana.

The suggested agreement between the EPA and the Atlantic Richfield Company marks a fresh chapter in the endeavor to safeguard the well-being of residents and the environment in the Black Eagle community.