R. Lavin and Sons (Site) is located at 2028 S. Sheridan Road in North Chicago, Lake County, Illinois. The Site is in an industrial area with surrounding residential and commercial neighbors, comprising appoximately 17.5 acres. Surface drainage enters Pettibone Creek which discharges to Lake Michigan. The Site operated as a secondary brass smelter from 1941, and is currently bankrupt and undergoing liquidation. Areas of concern on site include three open top storage tanks, two retention ponds, process water pit and numerous baghouses, containing elevated levels of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc.
Past releases of contaminants to the storm sewer have been and continue to be an ongoing problem at this site. State studies have indicated significant downstream contamination of Pettibone Creek with copper, lead and zinc.
A removal assessment was conducted in May of 2002, and confirmed that the site contained numerous sources of hazardous substances, sludges in the tanks, ponds and pits, and the baghouses had lead levels ranging from 2,830 to 18,700ppm (total) and 11.2 to 110ppm (tclp).
The creditors committee on behalf of the owner entered into an Administrative Order by Consent on October 24, 2002, and agreed to conduct mitigation activities on the three tanks and process pit based on the available resources. Work at the Site has been limited as funds have been tied up in various legal issues.
As of 7/7/04, approximately 1 million gallons of water has been shipped from the storage tanks to facilitate the removal of contaminated sludge which is expected to start the week of July 12, 2004.
