U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Loewenthal Metals - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
Subject: POLREP #1
Initial
Loewenthal Metals
C5C2
Chicago, IL
Latitude: 41.8552702 Longitude: -87.6498706

To:
From: Steven Faryan, On-Scene Coordinator
Date: 6/27/2013
Reporting Period: 6/21/2013 - 6/28/2013

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: C5C2    Contract Number: EP-S5-09-05
D.O. Number: 0121    Action Memo Date: 4/22/2013
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 6/24/2013    Start Date: 6/24/2013
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID: ILP00510081    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
Time Critical Removal Action

1.1.2 Site Description
Based on historical aerial photos, the Site was home to a large smelting facility and associated railroad spur which operated during the 1940s.  In the 1940 Standard Metal Directory, Loewenthal Metals Corporation is listed under aluminum, antimonial lead, and zinc smelter, as well as under Babbitt and solders manufacturer, and ingot metal and scrap metal dealer.  The company is also listed in the 1948-49 Standard Metal Directory under aluminum and battery lead smelter, and scrap iron and metal dealers, as well as importers and exporters of scrap metal.  The smelter ceased operations in the early 1950s.  Additional information regarding the demolition of the facility is not available.  
 
The Site was one of 464 potential unknown battery lead, babbitt metal, and solder smelters that were identified in a report by William P. Eckel in April 2001.  The sites were identified based on historical literature searches for potential smelters and cross-checking findings against U.S. EPA and state environmental databases.  This Site was identified by U.S. EPA as a site which may be in need of additional assessment.

1.1.2.1 Location

The Site is located at 947 West Cullerton Street in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois (Figure 1-1).  It is situated near the center of the Pilsen neighborhood, a primarily residential area.  The coordinates of the Site are 41°51’19” North latitude and 87°39’0.6” West longitude.  The Site is bordered to the north by West Cullerton Street with residential properties beyond, to the east by a recreational trail and South Sangamon Street with railroad tracks and commercial properties beyond, and to the south and west by residential properties (Figure 2-1).  The Site currently consists of an empty lot, with grass surface cover, which comprises approximately 0.42 acres of land.  The southern portion of the site is elevated approximately 4 to 5 feet above grade and contains evidence of a concrete foundation.  Included in this elevated area are the remnants of an abandoned railroad spur which serviced the former facility.  The Site is unsecured.

Sensitive populations near the Site include numerous residential properties, two elementary schools, one high school, and two churches that are located within 1.0 mile of the Site.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
According to historical documents, this Site was home to a metal smelting facility which began operations in the 1940s.  Metal constituents found at the Site which exceeded the U.S. EPA Regional Screening Levels (RSLs) include lead, arsenic, copper, mercury, and zinc.  

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

On July 15, 2006, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) visited the Site to conduct reconnaissance of current Site conditions.  During the visit, it was observed that access to the Site was not restricted in anyway.  Evidence of transient individuals living on the property was also observed.  Additionally, IEPA took 12 surface soil X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer readings which revealed elevated levels of arsenic, copper, manganese, and zinc in the soil.  Lead was also observed in excess of the U.S. EPA Regional Screening Levels (RSLs) for residential soil of 400 parts per million (ppm).  The site did not qualify for further remedial investigation based on these results.

The IEPA referred the Site to the U.S. EPA to conduct a removal investigation in January of 2012.  U.S. EPA was unable to get access from the owner James Connel and after many attempts to contact Mr. Connell had to get a warrant for access from a U.S. Magistrate.  The warrant for access was obtained in November and allowe U.S. EPA to enter the site to collect samples and conduct the investigation.

On November 26, 2012, U.S. EPA and the START contractor conducted an additional Site Assessment which included soil borings and sampling.  START and U.S. EPA collected 69 soil intervals from 19 soil borings across the Site.  Based on the site assessment soil analytical results, arsenic, copper, lead mercury, and zinc were found to exceed the U.S. EPA RSL - Inhalation for Residential Soil. 
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative
On June 21, U.S. EPA and BNSF contractor collected soil borings from the railroad property which lies east of the former Loewenthal property and the property runs to the south to 21st street.  The samples were shipped to the lab and USEPA is awaiting results and will plot the data on a map.

On June 24, 2013, U.S. EPA OSC Steve Faryan, START Contractor Weston Solutions, Inc., and Emergency and Rapid Response Services Contractor Environmental Restoration mobilized to the Site.  ERRS extended the Site fencing and border in to the parking lane along W. Cullerton Street per the permit obtained from the City of Chicago.  ERRS mobilized a large excavator to the Site in preparation for excavation activities at the Site.

On June 25, 2013, ERRS began removing and staging the trees on the South portion of the Site.  A cable wire which connects a telephone pole on the railroad property to the east of the Site to the apartment building on the west of the Site was found to have become intertwined with some of the trees designated for removal.  Comcast has been contacted and asked to move the cable.  ERRS mobilized a Conix storage box to the Site for equipment storage.

OSC Faryan and U.S. EPA community relations hosted a "open house" at the Casa Morales condos South of the Site.  Local community members and groups were invited to the information session.

On June 26, 2013, ERRS mobilized a tree mulching sub-contractor to the Site to chip the removed trees.  A man-lift was also mobilized to the Site to allow the tree service to remove the tops of the remaining trees as to avoid disturbing the Comcast cable.

During all Site operations, START has set-up DataRam units and Personal DataRam (PDR) units to monitor all dust/particulates on and off Site.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
Mobilization of ERRS and START contractors began on June 24, 2013. 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
A PRP has been identified, but they have been unresponsive to repeated attempts to contact them.

The U.S. EPA has obtained a warrant to conduct the Site Assessment and Emergency Removal Action.
  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
ERRS contractors will continue removal of the trees on the Southern portion of the Site.

ERRS will use the excavator with a hydraulic hammer attachment to break-up and remove the former concrete loading dock on the Southern portion of the Site.  

ERRS will excavate the top 1 foot of soil off the property and stage it while awaiting analysis and disposal. 

Disposal profiles are prepared and submitted for the non-hazardous soil, concrete, and treated hazardous soil.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
ERRS will excavate the Site down to 3 feet and it will be back-filled with clean material.  The excavated material will be fixated on-Site and shipped off for disposal. 

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
ERRS contractors will continue removal of the trees on the Southern portion of the Site.

2.2.2 Issues
Inclement weather at the Site has slowed operations during the first week.  Monitoring of weather forecasts will be included in the morning Site Health and Safety Meeting.
  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
- ERRS Health And Safety Officer
Tonya Balla - START Health And Safety Officer

2.5.2 Liaison Officer

2.5.3 Information Officer
3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
US EPA is the lead agency on Site.

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
4. Personnel On Site
  US EPA (1)
ERRS (4)
START (1)
5. Definition of Terms
  RSL - Regional Screening Level
RML - Removal Management Level
ERRS - Emergency Removal and Response Services
START - Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team
6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report

6.2 Reporting Schedule

POLREPs will be generated on a weekly basis during removal activities on-Site. 
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.