IEPA/BOL/02-00#

Illinois Bureau of Land June 2002Environmental 1021 North Grand Avenue EastProtection Agency Springfi eld, IL 62794-9276

Response Action Program2001 Annual Report

IEPA/BOL/02-008

Response Actions Completed in 2001 acres remediated

• Western Lion (Mattoon)................................. 26• Service Disposal (Mattoon) ............................ 40• Paxton II (Chicago) ........................................ 58• Park Plating (Loves Park) .................................1• Glidden Paint (Collinsville) ............................. 4• Autocrat (New Athens).....................................8• ADE (Tiskilwa)................................................1• EDCO (Grayslake)......................................... 19

Total Acres Remediated = 157

Sediment basin on Western Lion Landfi ll to control runoff into Riley Creek.

Welcome

Renee Cipriano, Director

page 2

H&L Landfi ll. Rust colored liquid

fl owing from landfi ll into drainage ditch

(1999).

In 2001, the Illinois EPA’s Response Action Program continued its mission to investigate and clean up sites where the soil and groundwater is threatened by abandoned industrial sites and landfi lls and where no viable party is found to fund the cleanup.

While our goal is to have responsible parties perform and pay for investigations and cleanups, the Illinois EPA has the authority to draw on the Hazardous Waste Fund, then seek cost recovery, whenever possible.

It is essential, however, that the Illinois EPA take necessary measures to protect human health and the environment from the problems caused by these abandoned sites. Our efforts last year ranged from placing caps and fi nal cover on landfi lls that had been contaminating local waterways to sampling private water wells as part of an investigation of the source of contamination. The added benefi t of this private well sampling effort was that we were also able to inform affected citizens about possible contamination in their drinking water.

The fundamental goal of the Response Action Program continues to be protection of our environment and of the people of the state.

Table of Content

Welcome ..................................................... 2

2001 at a Glance .......................................... 3

• Response Actions • Enforcement & Cost Recovery

About the Program ...................................... 4

Our Environmental Partners ....................... 5

Enforcement & Cost Recovery .................... 5

Funding Cleanup Activities ......................... 6

Illinois FIRST Abandoned Landfi ll Program ................. 7

Response Action Program Conducts its Largest Residential Well Sampling Event ................. 8

• DuPage County Groundwater Investigation

Illinois FIRST Projects................................ 9

• Chicago: Paxton II

• Centralia: Centralia Environmental Services Incorporated

• Belleville: Bi-State Disposal Inc. Landfi ll

Other Response Actions Taken.................. 12

• Loves Park: Park Plating & Metal Finishing

• New Athens: Autocrat

• East St. Louis: Arkansas Post & Pole Company

The Future ................................................ 14

For More Information ............................... 15

page 3

Western Lion Landfi ll with Numerous Gas Vents in Concrete Bases.

Response Actions

In 2001, the Illinois EPA conducted signifi cant activities in the following communities:

Belleville: Investigated, designed and began construction of fi nal cover system at Bi-State Disposal, Inc. landfi ll. (See page 11)

Centralia: Investigated, designed and began construction of fi nal cover system at Centralia Environmental Services, Inc. Landfi ll. (See page 10)

Chicago: Installed a permanent leachate collection system and a gas extraction system at Paxton II Landfi ll. (See page 9)

Coffeen: Performed a site investigation, prepared a Site Investigation Report, a Screening Level Ecological Risk Assessment Report and a Remedial Options Report for White & Brewer Landfi ll.

Danville: Performed an investigation to fi nd the extent of waste at the H&L Landfi ll, and locate a soil cover source for a fi nal cover system.

Decatur: Investigated and designed a fi nal cover system at Waste Hauling, Bath and Rhodes landfi lls.

DuPage County: Sampled 479 residential wells in unincorporated Downer’s Grove to defi ne extent of solvent contamination in groundwater. (See page 8)

Havana: Investigated and remediated hazardous lead dust on concrete surfaces at Prairieland Steel.

Lisle: Sampled 287 residential wells in Lisle to determine the extent of groundwater contamination.

Mattoon: Completed fi nal cover system over 44 acres at Western Lion and Service Disposal Landfi lls.

Pana: Opened dialogue with community offi cials to respond to environmental problems from lead, asbestos and benzene.

Villa Grove: Collected and disposed of 1.3 million gallons of leachate from Multi-County Landfi ll.

See Case Studies for further signifi cant activity conducted during 2001.

Enforcement & Cost RecoveryBetween July 1, 2000 and June 30, 2001, $569,689 was recovered by the state from potentially

2001 at a Glance

About the Program

page 4

The Response Action Program cleans up hazardous substances at sites that present an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health and the environment but may not be addressed by another federal or State cleanup program.

The cleanup process is structured around elements common to other Illinois EPA cleanup programs:

• Site discovery• Site investigation & characterization• Analysis & selection of cleanup options• Implementation of the fi nal response action

The sites handled by the Response Action Program include abandoned landfi lls, old manufacturing plants, former waste oil recycling operations, contaminated agrichemical facilities and other areas where surface water, groundwater, soil and air may be contaminated with hazardous substances.

Before response actions are conducted at a contaminated site, the Illinois EPA considers many factors including:

• Nature & extent of contamination• Risks to human health• Ecological concerns• Availability of funds• Releases or threatened releases at other sites

with greater urgency• Public concerns about the site• Benefi ts of the investigation or cleanup

(e.g., potential for redevelopment)• Potential for cost recovery

Response actions that may be taken by the Illinois EPA at contaminated sites include:

• Investigations to determine the nature & extent of contamination

• Performance of removal actions to eliminate or stabilize a threatening situation (e.g., building a fence to limit access to the site and prevent direct contact with hazardous substances)

• Removal of hazardous substances from the site (e.g., removing hazardous waste drums or contaminated soil)

• Containment of hazardous substances (e.g., installing and maintaining a landfi ll cap & leachate collection system)

• Treatment of hazardous substances (e.g., neutralizing contaminated soil)

• Post-construction activities (e.g., groundwater monitoring)

• Administrative activities (e.g., enforcement and cost recovery).

Comparison of Cleanup Programs

Superfund Program

Investigates and cleans up uncontrolled, abandoned, hazardous waste sites as authorized by the Comprehensive Environmental Reponse, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980.

Leaking Underground Stoarge TanksProgram

Directs the cleanup of properties where petroleum or hazardous substances have leaked from underground storage tanks and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency has been notifi ed.

RCRA Corrective Action Program

Directs the investigation and cleanup of hazardous wastes at RCRA facilities.

Site Remediation Program

Provides people with the opportunity to voluntarily clean up contaminated sites with Illinois EPA direction.

Federal Facility Program

Provides assistance to federal agencies responsible for conducting cleanups and provides assurances to local communities that federal facility sites have been cleaned up satisfactorily.

Response Action Program

Directs cleanups not addressed by other programs.

page 5

Our Environmental Partners

Governor and General Assembly

• Appropriate funds for the Response Action Program activities

• Enact, amend or repeal environmental laws

Illinois Attorney General

• Seeks cost recovery on behalf of the State• Seeks orders requiring the responsible party to

perform the response actions

Illinois Pollution Control Board

• Adopts environmental rules and regulations• Hears environmental cases, including those cases

involving cost recovery• Issues orders requiring responsible parties to

perform the response actions

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Provides assistance in conducting response actions at the request of the State

Court System• Hears cases, including those cases involving cost

recovery• Issues orders requiring responsible parties to

perform the response actions• Provides injunctive relief

Local Governmental Agencies• Provide funding, information, and other

resources

Citizens and Public Interest Groups• Offer input on the development and

implementation of response actions

The Illinois EPA relies on partnerships when administering the Response Action Program. Below are some examples of the services provided by some of our environmental partners:

Enforcement & Cost RecoveryOne of the major goals of the Response Action Program is to ensure responsible parties pay for and conduct cleanups. The Response Action Program accomplishes this directive using the following enforcement process:

Identify Responsible PartiesIllinois EPA begins searching for responsible parties when a contaminated sites is discovered. Responsible party searches include reviewing State and federal records, conducting title searches, interviewing property owners, and site operators, and other information gathering activities.

Negotiate with Responsible Parties to Perform the CleanupWhen Illinois EPA has enough information to identify a party as potentially responsible for the site, Illinois EPA issues a notice to the party identify his or her potential responsibility. The letter provides information on site conditions, the party’s alleged responsibility for site conditions, and information on other responsible parties. The notice also identifi es necessary response actions and provides the responsible party with the opportunity to perform

those actions.

If the responsible parties are willing and able to complete the identifi ed response actions, the Illinois EPA monitors the progress of the cleanup to ensure that the actions are performed properly.

Recover the Costs Spent by the State from the Responsible PartiesIf the responsible parties are unwilling or unable to complete the identifi ed response actions, the Illinois EPA will perform the response actions by spending money from the Hazardous Waste Fund (45 ILCS 5/22.2). Costs incurred by the state are then sought by the Illinois Attorney General from responsible parties who fail, without suffi cient cause, to provide the identifi ed response actions. All costs recovered and all punitive damages are paid back into the Hazardous Waste Fund.

Alternatively, the Illinois EPA may seek injunctive relief for violations of Illinois laws and regulations. Alleged violations and the scope of the response actions requested by the Illinois EPA are frequently resolved through consent orders, with settlement amounts paid into the Hazardous Waste Fund.

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Funding Cleanup ActivitiesIn 1984, the General Assembly appropriated $19 million from the General Revenue Fund to create the Response Action Program. Between 1985 and 1991, the General Assembly appropriated an additional $33 million to the Program through the sale of bonds. After 1991, the Program was funded primarily from cost recovery from past response actions and the Hazardous Waste Fund (45 ILCS 5/22.2). In 1999, the General Assembly approved Governor George H. Ryan’s Illinois FIRST program, which appropriated $10 million per year, for the next fi ve years, to clean up 33 abandoned landfi lls.

Major Response Action Programs Expenditures in 2001:

Site Name (City) Investigations & Remedial Actions Taken CostCentralia Environmental Services (Centralia) Construction of fi nal cover system $460,799.50

Park Plating (Rockford) Removal of hazardous soils $591,187.30Waste Hauling (Decatur) Investigation & design of fi nal cover system $204,912.45Bi-State (Belleville) Construction of fi nal cover system $672,580.62

Autocrat (New Athens)Excavation & disposal of arsenic contaminated sands, removal of underground storage tank, site survey and restoration

$413,300.83

Western Lion & Service Disposal (Mattoon) Construction of fi nal cover system $1,813,556.80

Paxton II (Chicago) Completed cap construction, installation of leachate & gas collection system $7,134,663.63

Prairieland Steel (Havana) Investigation & remediation of hazardous lead dust $77,702.87ADE (Tiskilwa) Removal of hazardous materials $51,977.55Downer’s Grove Groundwater Investigation (Downer’s Grove)

Sampling of private wells & investigation of potential sources $511,896.09

TOTAL $11,932,577.64

Installation of stormwater down chute on Paxton II.

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Abandoned Landfi lls Program

Through 2001, Governor Ryan’s Illinois FIRST legislation appropriated $20 million out of a total of $50 million allotted to clean up 33 abandoned landfi lls. Although these landfi lls stopped accepting waste, they were not properly closed. Resulting risks include contaminated drinking water, surface waters pollution from runoff, disease carrying animals, explosions from methane buildup, potential exposure to hazardous materials present in the exposed refuse, and landslides due to differential settling or unstable slopes.

In 2001, response actions were completed at the Paxton II Landfi ll, Western Lion and Service Disposal Landfi lls. Construction was initated at two landfi lls in 2001: Bi-State Landfi ll (Belleville) and Centralia Environmental Services (Centralia). Site investigations were conducted at Waste Hauling, Bath and Rhodes landfi lls (Decatur), Prior 1,2,3,4 and Prior Landfi lls (Centralia) and H&L Landfi ll (Danville). Operation and maintenance activities continued at Carlinville Landfi ll (Carlinville), Steagall Landfi ll (Galesburg) and Multi-County Landfi ll (Villa Grove).

In 2002, fi nal cover systems will be constructed at Waste Hauling Landfi ll, Bath Landfi ll, Rhodes Landfi ll, H&L Landfi ll, Anna Landfi ll, Centralia Environmental Services Landfi ll, Prior Landfi ll, Prior 1,2,3,4 Landfi ll and Lewis Landfi ll. Site investigations are proposed at the Ocoya Landfi ll, McHenry County Landfi ll, Morrison City Dump, Delta Regional Landfi ll, Anna Landfi ll, Lewis Landfi ll, Chicago

While the Centralia Environmental Services landfi ll was in operation (1988), foam was used to cover the wall of exposed garbage instead of soil for daily cover.

page 8

Response Action Program Conducts Its Largest Residential Well Sampling EventDuPage County Groundwater Investigation

The Illinois EPA Response Action Program began its largest groundwater investigation during 2001, in an area of unincorporated DuPage County near Downers Grove. This investigation was conducted in response to citizen concerns related to groundwater contamination identifi ed through private well sampling in neighboring Lisle. Consequently, the Illinois EPA immediately initiated a separate investigation in the Downers Grove area to identify contaminated wells and locate potential sources. These sampling events continued from July to December 2001, with a total of 479 residential wells sampled.

Illinois EPA accommodated all residents in the area of concern who were interested in having their wells sampled. This sampling event not only involved Illinois EPA, but also required services from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Illinois EPA paid for the cost of this sampling and analysis, while the Illinois Department of Public Health advised residents of well contamination and recommended changes in water use.

More than two-fi fths of the samples tested above the federal drinking water standards for public water supplies of 5 parts per billion for two possible carcinogens trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene or a mixture of the carcinogens. The U.S. EPA has joined with the Illinois EPA to conduct an area-wide investigation to determine the nature and extent of contamination and locate the source or sources of contamination. Sampling continued into the spring of 2002.

From July to December 2001, a total of 479 residential wells were sampled.

page 9

Chicago: Paxton II (58 acres)

Due to the threats of collapse of Paxton II Landfi ll, which towers 170 feet high, the Illinois EPA began emergency work during March 1999 to alleviate the immediate risk. Paxton’s most serious problem was steep, eroded and unstable slopes that progressively became weaker due to continued erosion and the buildup of landfi ll leachate. The State’s successful stabilization efforts at Paxton II Landfi ll reduced the threat of a 300,000 cubic yard catastrophic slope failure that could have shut down businesses and closed local highways.

Since December 1999, the state fi nished capping the most critical 19 acres and has pumped out more than six million gallons of contaminated liquids from within the landfi ll. The state has spent approximately $15 million since 1999 at Paxton II. The project is funded through the Illinois FIRST program and a special General Revenue appropriation.

During 2000, the Illinois EPA improved the side slopes and planted a vegetative cover, consisting of native prairie grasses. During the Summer of 2001, Illinois EPA installed a permanent leachate collection system around the base of the landfi ll. A 6,000-foot force main carries leachate to the Metropolitan Water and Reclamation District of Greater Chicago for treatment. During construction activities, challenges such as excessive groundwater had to be overcome. Leachate removal will continue for several years.

A gas extraction system, comprised of 24 gas extraction wells, two manifolds, two compressors and a gas fl are, was installed to remove excess landfi ll gases. The system began operating in August 2001 and burns approximately 800 to 1,000 cubic feet per minute of landfi ll gases (55% methane, 40% carbon dioxide, 5% nitrogen gas).

The Response Action Program’s cleanup efforts have the strong support of local community groups, the City of Chicago and the U.S. EPA. State efforts at Paxton II have provided an impetus for increased open space restoration and wetland development in the entire Southeast Chicago area.

Paxton II gas extraction system removing 800 - 1,000 cubic feet per minute of landfi ll gases.

Centralia: Centralia Environmental Services Incorporated (40 acres)

Centralia Environmental Services, Inc., Landfi ll (CESI) is located approximately two miles south of Centralia on Perrine Avenue just south of Webster Creek. This is a rural area with some homes located just to the south. Residents in and around Centralia have always had a strong interest in conditions at the CESI landfi ll.

This 35-acre landfi ll, which was privately owned and operated, was permitted for municipal waste and special non-hazardous waste disposal from 1986 to 1989. CESI had a history of violating permit conditions. There was signifi cant erosion and a steep wall, about 30 to 50 feet high by 500 feet long, of exposed trash. The landfi ll cap was very thin in places with steep sides. The site was never certifi ed closed by the Illinois EPA. The owner fi led bankruptcy during October 1993.

CESI needed cover material, contouring, capping, a buttress wall construction for slope reinforcement and fencing. In 2001, Illinois EPA placed a new clay cover on the entire site. The “wall of trash” is now covered with clay. This has greatly improved the conditions by reducing erosion, stabilizing steep slopes and mitigating leachate seeps. Topsoil will be placed and the site will be seeded in the spring of 2002. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2002 and is being funded through Illinois FIRST.

When CESI is completed, work will begin on the adjoining Prior and Prior-Blackwell landfi lls, two adjacent landfi lls with similar environmental problems.

page 10

Before: Wall of Exposed Trash

After: New Clay Cover

Belleville: Bi-State Disposal Inc. Landfi ll (40 acres)

Bi-State Disposal Inc. Landfi ll operated as a permitted, non-hazardous solid waste landfi ll from March 10, 1978 until June 7, 1990. In addition to municipal waste, the site also accepted industrial-process liquid wastes. The majority of this landfi ll initially received two or more feet of fi nal cover 10 years ago. Since no post-closure care was ever performed, settlement and erosion compromised the original closure. The landfi ll is also plagued by leachate seeps, gas emissions and ponded water. This abandoned landfi ll also attracts trespassers and open dumping.

The St. Clair County Health Department has helped fund and remained involved in all phases of this project. Drainage improvements and road construction were initiated in October 2000. Construction will be completed in the spring of 2002 with the installation of gas wells, groundwater monitoring wells, fencing, and a vegetative layer over the landfi ll. The project is also being funded through Illinois FIRST.

Installation of gas wells on Bi-State Disposal Inc. Landfi ll.

page 11

Other Response Actions Taken

page 12

Loves Park: Park Plating & Metal Finishing (1 acre)

Park Plating began operation in 1954 as a facility that plated metal screws and fasteners with zinc and cadmium. The building was destroyed by fi re in 1990. Water used for putting out the fi re spread cadmium and chromium contamination into the soil and contaminated the groundwater. In 1992, an emergency removal action was conducted by the U.S. EPA to remove contaminated building debris and 150 drums containing high concentrations of cadmium, chromium, and cyanide. However, the U.S. EPA’s action focused on problems only at the surface of the site and did not address soil and groundwater conditions.

A state-funded site investigation, conducted under the direction of the Illinois EPA, revealed excessive metals concentrations in the soil. Several of the soil samples revealed characteristically hazardous levels of cadmium. In addition, groundwater samples collected from all three off-site monitoring wells revealed chromium concentrations exceeding the Class I groundwater quality standards.

The Illinois EPA initiated a remedial action in October 2001 to address soil and groundwater contamination. The cleanup was completed in December 2001, except for the restoration of two asphalt driveways and concrete curbing. The remaining site restoration work will be completed in May 2002, when the local asphalt plants are in production again.

At least two parties have shown interest in purchasing and redeveloping the property. This redevelopment should bring tax revenue and employment opportunities to the Loves Park area.

page 13

New Athens: Autocrat (8 acres)

This site is a former stove manufacturing foundry located in the Village of New Athens. The foundry operated from the early 1900’s until it was closed and abandoned in 1979. The Autocrat Corporation fi led bankruptcy in 1988. Paint waste drums and transformers were removed by U.S. EPA in 1989. Illinois EPA conducted site investigations and confi rmed arsenic heavy metal contamination.

Between January 2001 and May 2001, the Illinois EPA removed contaminated foundry sands, over 7,00 cubic yards of contaminated soils, a 250-gallon underground storage tank, and installed a clay cap. This cleanup occurred within 450 feet from the drinking water supply source for the area.

The site is owned by New Athens and the Kaskaskia Port District. Offi cials plan to redevelop the site into a grain distribution facility. They have agreed to place a deed restriction on the property and prevent any future owners and operators from disturbing the clay cap overlying the contaminated soils excavation area.

East St. Louis: Arkansas Post & Pole Company (10 acres)A June 2001 site investigation conducted by the Illinois EPA showed the Arkansas Post & Pole (AP&P) site to be highly contaminated with lead. The Warehouse & Store Fixture Company, currently occupies the AP&P site. AP&P sold the property in the mid 1990s. The site is located in a commercial area of East St. Louis, in St. Clair County. In the early 1900s, Hammer Bros. White Lead Company, operated on this site followed by the Eagle-Picher Company, a paint manufacturer. In 1991, the property was owned by AP&P, who approached the Illinois EPA regarding high levels of lead detected on the property after bankruptcy proceedings by Eagle-Picher led AP&P to investigate the property. A 1991 soil investigation detected lead as high as 130,000 ppm on-site.

A June 2001 Illinois EPA site investigation verifi ed that lead levels in soil on the former AP&P property do exceed the cleanup objectives.

After

During Remediation

The Future

page 14

During 2002, the Illinois EPA will conduct response actions at the following locations:

Anna – Investigate and construct fi nal cover system at the Anna Landfi ll. *Bartonville – Remove PCB contaminated soils from the Bartonville Industrial Park Site. Beardstown – Construct a cover system at the Lewis Landfi ll in conjunction with Illinois Department of

Natural Resources. *Belleville – Construct fi nal cover system at the Bi-State Landfi ll. *Centralia – Construct fi nal cover system at Centralia Environmental Services*, Prior 1,2,3,4* and Prior*

Landfi lls. Chicago – Construct fi nal cover system at the Paxton I landfi ll. *Chicago Heights – Investigate and design fi nal cover system at the Chicago Heights Refuse Depot* and the

Triem Landfi ll*. Danville – Construct fi nal cover system at the H&L Landfi ll. *Decatur – Construct fi nal cover systems at Waste Hauling*, Bath* and Rhodes* Landfi lls. Downer’s Grove – Continue sampling residential wells and investigate source of contamination in

unincorporated Downer’s Grove. Havana – Remove hazardous materials from the Prairieland Steel site. Lisle – Clean up the trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene contamination. Mounds – Investigate and design fi nal cover system at the Delta Landfi ll*. Ocoya – Investigate and design fi nal cover system at the Ocoya Sanitary Landfi ll*. Ottawa – Construct fi nal cover system at Brockman Landfi ll. Pana – Conduct lead sampling, exploratory test pits and decommission power lines at South Central

Terminal. Rockdale – Investigate and design fi nal cover system at the Bennitt Landfi ll.*

Paxton II

Where to Go for More Information

For questions about the Response Action Program:

Illinois EPA - Remedial Project Management Section

1021 North Grand Avenue East P.O. Box 19276 Springfi eld, Illinois 62702 Phone: 217-782-6762 Fax: 217-782-3258

http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/cleanup-programs/Cleanups-state-authority.html

To obtain information about individual

Response Action sites:Illinois EPA - Freedom of Information Act Unit

Phone: 217-782-9878 Fax: 217-782-9290 e-mail: FOIA@epa.state.il.us

For more information on Illinois EPA’s response to the 33 Abandoned Landfi lls,

see the following publication:

Bureau of Land. 2000. Illinois FIRST Abandoned Landfi ll Program. Publication IEPA/BOL/00-021. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Springfi eld, IL.

http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/cleanup-programs/33-abandoned-landfi lls-book/

abandoned-landfi ll-book.pdf

Printed by the authority of the

State of IllinoisJune 2002 100

Printed on Recycled Paper

page 15

CreditsThe Response Action Program Annual Report is produced by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Renee Cipriano, Director, and is published by the Agency’s Offi ce of Public Information, Dennis McMurray, Manager.

Editors: Jody Kershaw and Neelu Reddy

Layout: Shirley Baer