U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Pilsen Soil OU1 Railroad Spur and Alley Site

 
Site Contact:
Ramon Mendoza
On-Scene Coordinator

(mendoza.ramon@epa.gov)

Site Location:
1345 W. 21st Street (adjacent to address)
Chicago, IL 60608
 response.epa.gov/PilsenSoilOU1RailroadAlley

On September 29, 2015, The EPA signed a settlement with H. Kramer and Co., The City of Chicago, and the BNSF Railway Co. to remove lead contaminated soil along a railroad spur near the Benito Juarez Community Academy and in a city owned alley between 21st Place and Cermak road in Chicago, Illinois. The remedy also includes placement of an asphalt cover in most areas of the Site. The objective of the removal action is to eliminate the threat that the surface soils present to residents, students, and workers. Work is scheduled to start on November 16 with a planned completion of the asphalt cover in April 2016.


Area 5 asphalt cover. Areas 1 east and Area 2 asphalt cover complete. Area 6 and 7 asphalt cover complete. Area 10 asphalt cover complete. Paving Work Area 2 and Area 1 east. Paving work in Area 2. Area 4 asphalt cover and fence installed complete. Traffic bollards installed (complete) in Area 2. Completed asphalt cap in Areas 8 and 9 (looking west). Chicago DOT paving work crews laying down asphalt to Area 7 Area 8 soil being loaded for disposal offsite at a solid waste landfill Final subgrade gravel preparation in Area 8 west end. Geotextile installation in Area 8. H.Kramer contactors setting up water pump in Area 8 to removed ponded water in excavation. Excavation activities in Area 8 H. Kramer contractors laying down initial gravel layer in Area 8 excavation. H.Kramer contractors conducting subgrading operations in Areas 6 & 7. H. Kramer contractors excavating treated TCLP Lead soil in Area 8. H. Kramer contractors removing concrete slabs in Area 6 as part of grading operations. H.Kramer contractors collecting soil excavated from Area 1 for offsite transport to Solid Waste Landfill. BNSF collecting rails for off-site recycling. Area 10 gravel grading activities. Area 2 and Area 1 east areas with completed grading work. Area 2 Grading activities. Orange geotextile underlaying the gravel is visible. Area1 West. Final Cover Complete. Area 1 view (looking west) of excavation of soil. Soil excavation in Area 1 Removal of vegetation and garbage in Area 2. Abandoned telephone removal in Area 1 EPA OSC observing Rail Tie removal with BNSF and GHD (H. Kramer) contractor. EPA air monitor is in Foreground. Rail Cutting (for removal) operations Area 4 Pilsen Soil OU1 Site Areas 1 to 10 figure
For additional information, visit the Pollution/Situation Report (Pol/Sitreps) section.