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Economy Plating Inc. (Chicago)

 
Site Contact:
Ramon Mendoza
On-Scene Coordinator

(mendoza.ramon@epa.gov)

Site Location:
2348-52 North Elston Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
 response.epa.gov/economyplatinginc

Economy Plating Inc. is an former plating shop which operated for approximately 70 years. The site was discovered vacant and abandoned by the Chicago Department of the Environment (DOE) in January 2009. DOE's inspection indicated the presence of numerous drums and containers which were filled with unknown liquids and solids. Markings on the drums/containers include chromic acid, hyrdrochloric acid, methyl acetate, and oxidizer. DOE ordered the owner/operator to clean up the site. However, the owner/operator was unable to pay for the cleanup. The site was referred to USEPA for cleanup in May 2009.


Permanent Fence Facing Winchester Avenue. Fresh Gravel Cover Applied On Site. 16 Foot Wide Locked Gate Facing the Alley. New Retaining Wall Which Replace Chromium Contaminated Wall Adjacent to Occupied Condominium. Permanent Fence Where Economy Plating Site Once Stood. Fresh Gravel Cover Applied. Basement after backfilling Backfilling activities Load out of demolition debris Basement after demolition Basement after demolition Stained brick Demolition activities Demolition activities Demolition activities Demolition activities Demolition activities Demolition activities Demolition activities Demolition activities Demolition activities Demolition activities Perimeter air monitoring Removal of windows with ACM caulking Drums of Chrome contaminated waste ready for shipment to disposal facility. EPA contractor cutting holes in metal vat to facilitate its removal from the site. EPA contractors cleaning up vat pit in main plating shop area. Vats were removed, decontaminated and shipped to a recycler. Overpacking of chromic acid drums. Cleanout of vats in old plating shop area. Transfer of hazardous liquids from basement to drums. Hazardous drum pickup Concrete core sampling in vat area to determine hazardous status. Soil in Basement contaminated with high levels of hexavalent chromium, gathered for removal. Hazardous waste box filled with haz debris from facility EPA contractors applying epoxy based sealant on north wall as an interim measure to block dermal exposure pathway the hexavalent chromium. EPA contractors collecting chromic acid waste and consolidating into 55 gallon drums. EPA contractor collecting sample from Northwest wall (outside) of former plating shop EPA Contractors cutting up RCRA-empty Drums Drums organized for hazard identification Installation of Security fence to close sidewalk and Street Suspected Chromium waste leaching to outside of building. Residential homes adjacent Securing rear door access and window Posting removal action signage on building exterior walls Disposal of drums containing Cyanide material Over-packs of Nitric Acid and Chromic Acid flakes staged in basement Drums of cyanide containing material staged on building ground floor Yellow waste and stained bricks sampled from basement SW corner Unknown solid waste powder sampled from 2nd floor SW closet Unknown solid waste sampled from 2nd floor closet Solid waste containers leaking found in basement Drums leaking found in basement Drums labeled chromic acid found in new plating shop area Vat of unknown waste
For additional information, visit the Pollution Report (POLREPS) section.