The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), prepared this fact sheet to address concerns about groundwater contamination originating from the former Monterey Coal Mine #2, now known as ExxonMobil Coal USA, Inc. (ExxonMobil), and potential effects on the surrounding private wells. The two printable maps referenced in the fact sheet will be included in separate pdf attachments.
For many years, this 124-acre site has been the location of fertilizer manufacturing which used naturally-occurring phosphates found in gypsum. The process used acid to free the phosphates to use in fertilizer production, and it resulted in a 25-40 acre pile/stack of acidic gypsum waste. The gypsum waste was piled into a strip mine pond and rises more than 60 feet above the pond surface. In 1989, Illinois EPA spent $500,000 to perform an immediate removal of hazardous waste at the site. The Agency is now faced with emergency cleanup and stabilization work. One of the previous owners has agreed to assist with the most immediate problem to safeguard surrounding residents and the environment. The printable map referenced in the fact sheet will be included in a separate pdf attachment.
From March 19, 2001, to April 26, 2001, Illinois EPA's Site Assessment Unit collected soil, waste, sediment, and groundwater samples throughout the Rosiclare area. The preliminary results indicated varying levels of a number of metals (including lead) in residential properties, non-residential properties, creeks, and ditches.
La EPA de Illinois realiz investigaciones ambientales afuera de este sitio en el otoo de 2001 y no encontr impacto a la salud continuo o residual a las comunidades residenciales cercanas debido a pasadas descargas catalizadoras de la refinera al aire. Las operaciones de la refinera habran podido impactar la superficie de los cuerpos de agua cercanos, no obstante, se necesitan estudios adicionales para determinar la fuente de estos contaminantes identificados por encima de los niveles de fondo. The printable map (mapa imprimible) referenced in the fact sheet will be included in a separate pdf attachment.
The landfill is bordered by Rooks Creek to the east, which is within the Vermilion River Illinois Drainage Natural Area. Wetlands are also present just northwest of the landfill. Illinois EPA recently completed a site investigation to determine what work, if any, is needed at the landfill. Illinois EPAs initial evaluation of this site revealed problems such as erosion, exposed waste, low areas at the surface that allowed water to pond, and leachate seeps (water that becomes contaminated after contact with landfill waste). The printable map referenced in the fact sheet will be included as a separate pdf attachment.
Based on the human health threat from exposure posed by the dilapidated, asbestos-containing former school located at the corner of Maple and Monroe in Magnolia, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) will demolish the building and cleanup the site using both Federal and State funding. Due to the condition of this former school, it is highly likely that asbestos fibers are being released to the environment allowing for an exposure to humans. Therefore, this exposure warrants corrective action.
The DePue/New Jersey Zinc/Mobil Chemical Corporation site is located along the north side of the Village of DePue and constitutes roughly one half of the village land mass. Initial plans for investigation and cleanup of the site were organized by unit, e.g., plant site soils, Interim Water Treatment Plant, Phosphogypsum Stack, Zinc Slag Pile, Lithipone Ridges and South Ditch. As the cleanup plans for the South Ditch progressed, this organization was found to be inappropriate for the complex site and the site was divided into five operable units (OUs) for investigation and remediation. The printable map, records of decision, site schedule, and legislative updates referenced in the fact sheet will be included as separate pdf attachments. The numbered fact sheets and responsiveness summary will be cataloged separately.
The imminent threat from the former Milton School is the potential for asbestos exposure and the physical hazards to trespassers and nearby residents. Currently collapsed floors, roofs and walls make it impossible to secure or abate this building; therefore removal is the only option for eliminating the threat.
Matthiessen and Hegeler is an inactive zinc rolling mill and smelter that operated from 1858 to 1978. The 160 acre property is located on the west side of the Little Vermilion River in LaSalle, Illinois. In December 1993, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) collected soil and sediment samples from the site and from surrounding properties. These samples included three sediment samples from the Little Vermilion River, seven soil samples from the site property, 13 off-site soil samples, and two background samples 1 1/2 miles north of the site. The sample results will be used to make a preliminary evaluation of possible environmental impacts from past Matthiessen and Hegeler operations.
Winnebago County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) worked together to collect samples from private wells in the area on three occasions during June, August and September after being informed of fuel-like odors from private well water. Contaminants discovered in some private wells are from a family of chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are commonly found in fuels such as gasoline, diesel and home heating fuel. The most recent set of well water samples was taken on September 14, 2011. Twenty-five wells have been tested in all, some more than once. The larger image referenced in the fact sheet will be included in a separate pdf attachment.