U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
River Forest Cleaners Site - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
Subject: POLREP #1
Initial
River Forest Cleaners Site
B5UP
River Forest, IL
Latitude: 41.8883032 Longitude: -87.8156045

To:
From: Bradley Benning, OSC
Date: 12/3/2010
Reporting Period: 11/20/2009 thru 12/03/2010

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: B5UP    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: PRP Oversight
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Assessment
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 12/1/2010    Start Date: 12/1/2010
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category

Removal Assessment

1.1.2 Site Description

The Site is a residential and commercial area in River Forest, Cook County, Illinois (see Figure
2-1). The Site contains the My Gym Childrens Fitness Center at 7625 Lake Street and the St.
Luke Parish School at 519 Ashland Avenue. The Site’s meridian coordinates (taken at the
intersection of Lake Street and Lathrop Avenue) are 41° 53’17” North and 87°48’43” West. The
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) data indicate that a volatile organic compound
(VOC) plume source is located below the River Forest Dry Cleaners facility located at 7613
Lake Street. The My Gym Childrens Fitness Center, a children’s gymnasium and play center, is
located approximately 150 feet west of the River Forest Dry Cleaners. The St. Luke Parish
School, an elementary school, is located directly across Lake Street from the River Forest Dry
Cleaners.The Site is a residential and commercial area in River Forest, Cook County, Illinois .

1.1.2.1 Location

7613 Lake Street, River Forest, Illinois

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

The River Forest Dry Cleaners has been in operation since 1928. The owner/operator of the dry
cleaning facility conducted a private environmental assessment of the site in 2001 and enrolled
the site in IEPA’s voluntary Site Remediation Program (SRP) in June 2004. The Site continues
to be actively investigated pursuant to the Site Remediation Program and the Illinois Drycleaner
Environmental Response Trust Fund. The IEPA data indicate that the area under the dry
cleaning facility is the source of a VOC contaminant plume. All drinking water in the area is
supplied by the Village of River Forest public water system.

Based on citizen requests, U.S. EPA conducted a vapor intrusion investigation focused on subslab
and indoor air. On November 20, 2009, U.S. EPA tasked WESTON START to initiate 24-
hour sub-slab vapor probe and indoor air sampling at the My Gym Childrens Fitness Center and
St. Luke Parish School. Samples were retrieved on November 21, 2009 and sent for analysis.
 
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

To evaluate whether vapor intrusion from VOC contamination is migrating into buildings and
posing a threat to human health, WESTON START installed vapor probes and collected sub-slab
air samples and indoor air samples from the fitness center and school buildings.  All sub-slab
vapor probe and indoor air sampling activities were conducted in accordance with the U.S. EPAapproved
WESTON field sampling plan dated November 19, 2009. The sub-slab vapor probe
samples were collected in the basement of both buildings. The indoor air samples were collected
from the breathing zone in the basement and on the main floor of the fitness center and in the
basement of the school. All samples were collected using pre-cleaned, laboratory-supplied
SUMMA canisters fitted with regulators to allow sample collection over a 24-hour period.

November, 2009

Sample results showed methylene chloride and TCE present in the indoor air of My Gym.  The methylene chloride was detected in the subsurface (19.5 ppb), basement (0.27 ppb), and the first floor closet (12.2 ppb) of My Gym.  The levels of methylene chloride were below the long term screening level for both sub-slab and indoor air samples.  TCE was detected in the first floor closet (5.51 ppb) of My Gym at a level was greater than the long term screening level. Sample results of St. Luke’s School showed methylene chloride present in the indoor air of the computer lab (15.4 ppb) at a level that slightly exceeded the long term screening level.

 

Based on these results ATSDR recommended the U.S. EPA conduct follow-up indoor air sampling after My Gym and St. Luke’s School assess their chemical storage procedures and remove any potential contaminants. ATSDR also recommend more site characterization to determine the extent of the contamination.  U.S. EPA conducted further sampling on February 18 and February 25, 2010.

 

 

Site assessment activities were conducted on February 18 and 25, 2010. Sub-slab vapor probe
sampling was conducted at Santelli Cabinets, the condominium building, Coldwell Banker,
Newport Audiology, Annie’s Beef, and the vacant residence. Indoor air sampling was conducted
at the St. Luke Parish School and My Gym Children Fitness Center. The site assessment was
conducted to evaluate potential threats to human health and the environment. 

Sampling February 2010

 

7625 Lake St. (My Gym):

Based on the results of the EPA sampling conducted on February 25, 2010, there are no immediate health concerns for the patrons and personnel of My Gym. The results did show exceedances of long-term residential screening levels for tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and methylene chloride.   Methylene chloride was detected at 49.8 ppb and PCE was detected at 0.62 ppb on the first floor of My Gym. 

 

The detection of PCE at My Gym is consistent with the documented subsurface soil and groundwater contamination from 2001-2009 samples and methylene chloride was detected in both the November 2009 and February 2010 samples.  The February results confirm PCE and methylene chloride contamination at 7625 Lake St.  The levels of PCE and methylene chloride in the indoor air need to be reduced.

 

423 Ashland (Vacant house):

Sub-slab sample results from February 25, 2010 for the vacant house at 423 Ashland showed a residential long term screening level exceedence for methylene chloride in the subsurface of the building at 212 ppb.  Since the building is currently vacant, there is no completed exposure pathway.  However, the building should not be occupied until there is further site characterization to evaluate exposure from potential vapor intrusion.

 

519 Ashland (St. Luke Parish School):

Indoor air sample results from February 25, 2010 for 519 Ashland St. did not show any exceedances for residential long-term screening levels.

 

Additional Sites Sampled:

Sub-slab sample results from February 18th and 25th, 2010 did not show any exceedances for long-term screening levels at:

  • 7621 Lake St. (Santelli Custom Cabinetry),
  • 7611 Lake (Digital Hearing Center),
  • 7601 Lake (Annie’s Ice Cream),
  • 7577 Lake (Coldwell Banker), and
  • 417/411 Lanthrop (Condo units).

 

Sampling March 2010

The EPA conducted indoor air sampling at Annie’s Ice Cream (7601 Lake), at the request of the proprietor.  The sample results for PCE (54.2 ppb) exceeded the commercial screening level for PCE.  It is recommended that efforts be initiated to reduce the level of PCE in the indoor air in this building.

 

 

 
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

No operational activities were conducted by USEPA

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

No response activities have been conducted by USEPA

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

PRP for this investigation has voluntarily agreed to conduct the mitigation activites.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
           
           
           



  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

PRP will implement mitigation recommendation by ATSDR.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

PRP began installation of the vapor mitigation system at Annie's on December 1, 2010.  Mitigation system being developed for the My Gym facility.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Complete installation at Annie's and My Gym sites.  Complete followup sampling after 90 days of system operation.

2.2.2 Issues

Redevelopment of the property is pending, which may provide remediation of the source contamination.
  2.3 Logistics Section
    No logistic activities.

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
No Safety Officer activites.

2.6 Liaison Officer
No Liason Officer activites.

2.7 Information Officer


2.7.1 Public Information Officer

PIO has been assigned, and a Fact Sheet has been developed.

2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator

Possible public meeting in the future.
3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
USEPA is conducting the assessment activities, with ATSDR providing health based recommendations.

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
ATSDR
Illinois EPA
Village of River Forest
Illinois Dept. of Public Health

4. Personnel On Site
  EPA - 1
Weston - 3

5. Definition of Terms
  ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DCE Dichloroethylene
FSP Field sampling plan
HASP Health and safety plan
IEPA Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
NCP National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan
PCE Tetrachloroethylene
ppbv Part per billion by volume
RFC River Forest Cleaners
SRP Site Remediation Program
START Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team
TCE Trichloroethylene
TDD Technical Direction Document
U.S. EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
VOC Volatile organic compound
WESTON Weston Solutions, Inc.

6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
USEPA website:  www.epaosc.org/riverforestcleaners

6.2 Reporting Schedule
Sitreps as needed.

7. Situational Reference Materials
  Contact USEPA and ATSDR