On April 29, 2014, EPA moblilized with its removal contractor to initiate an Emergency Removal (ER) at the former Lawrence Hardware Site located in Sterling, Illinois. The objective of the ER is to secure and properly dispose of hazardous substances including drums and containers of acid, solvents, reactive solids, and lab waste including cyanide. The Site was referred to EPA from Illinois EPA in September 2013 after arsonists set fire to the facility which consumed at least two drums containing acid. EPA later completed a site assessment with plans for a time-critical removal action. In early April the City of Sterling reported another break-in by trespassers at the Site and EPA subsequently decided to conduct the ER.
