Monitoring of underground leakage of petroleum products is continuing near and around the Chevron Station in Idyllwild. The County’s Department of Environmental Health is awaiting funding approval from the State to begin a pilot test of a soil vapor extraction process, which has been successfully used at two other Hill sites.

During the first quarter of 2014, hydrocarbon products such as total petroleum products, benzene and methyl-tertiary-butyl ether continued to be detected in the site’s monitoring wells.

Most of the chemical concentration were slightly increased from the December 2013 readings, but less than the initial readings in June and September 2013 records.

The soil vapor extraction test may occur later this year, once funding is made available.