Many of the plant operations took place before most environmental regulations (see chart), so a potential existed for releases to air, water, and land. Preliminary Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) sampling, conducted in 1992 and 1993, indicated the presence of metals in onsite and offsite soil (including residential yards), surface water, and sediments. These metals include arsenic, barium, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, silver, sodium, and zinc. These metals occur naturally in the environment, but the samples from the facility indicate elevated levels when compared to samples collected from a nearby community. The larger map referenced in the fact sheet will be included as a separate pdf attachment.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
After a history of environmental violations at the Western Lion and Service Disposal #1 Landfill sites, the Illinois EPA learned in May 1994 that the owner/operator of the site had begun excavating a trench in an area of buried waste without a permit. A temporary order from the Attorney General's Office required all operations to stop by January 20, 1996. During an inspection by Illinois EPA in June 1997, field personnel discovered that the open trench had filled with 35-40 feet of leachate (rainwater that has traveled through the landfill and contacted waste). This leachate pit occasionally overtopped its banks and flowed into the nearby Riley Creek, which is a Class "A" Stream.
Based on the human health threat from exposure posed by the dilapidated, asbestos-containing school located at 708 North Broadway in Newman, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) will abate the asbestos where safe to do so and remove the building using State funds. Due to the condition of this former school, it is highly likely that asbestos fibers are being released to the environment and coming in contact with trespassers. Health concerns for human exposure warrants corrective action at this location.
Through Illinois EPA's investigation and evaluation of abandoned landfills in the state, we discovered that the Ocoya Landfill site has severe erosion problems, exposed waste, low spots that allow 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 in a separate pdf attachment.