VenVirotek Closes Waste-Treatment Plant

VenVirotek Inc., which since 1986 operated an oil and gas waste-treatment plant next to the Bailard landfill in Oxnard, has closed the unit, merging it with another facility in Arvin, near Bakersfield.

The plant treated mud and solid wastes from oil fields throughout Southern California’s coastal region, converting the material into a clay-like landfill cover.

The closure will result in a net loss of four jobs in Oxnard, said Dan Silverman, president of VenVirotek’s parent, Chemfix Technologies Inc., of Metairie, La.

He said the plant was closed last week because of reduced oil-industry demand and the expected closure of the Bailard landfill.

However, the landfill is expected to continue operating for some time even though its permit is due to expire at the end of the year.

Silverman said another Chemfix unit in Ventura County, Santa Clara Waste Water Treatment Co., which processes oil-field liquid wastes, will continue operating in Santa Paula.