POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Loewenthal Metals - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
Progress
Loewenthal Metals
C5C2
Chicago, IL
Latitude: 41.8552702 Longitude: -87.6498706
| 1. Introduction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
1.1 Background |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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. The smelter ceased operations in the early 1950s. It appears that the building was razed after that time and all of the demolition debris was buried on site and covered with soil. 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. 1.1.2.2 Description of Threat Metal constituents found at the Site which exceeded the U.S. EPA Regional Screening Levels (RSLs) include lead, arsenic, copper, mercury, and zinc. Lead and Cadmium were detected in the soil above the RCRA characteristic values.(See Action Memorandum for Threats) 1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results See POLREP 1 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. Current Activities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2.1 Operations Section | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.1.1 Narrative On July 15, 2013, ERRS continued the loading and shipment of non-hazardous soil from the top 1-foot of soil on Site. In total, five 18 cubic-yard transport trucks of non-hazardous soil were shipped for disposal at Waste Management's Laraway landfill in Joliet, Il. One truckload of crushed stone was delivered to the site for the construction of a loading pad on the east side of the site near the site entrance. On July 16, 2013, ERRS began loading hazardous solid waste (broken concrete and debris) in to trucks for shipment to Envirosafe Services in Oregon, OH. In total, three 18 cubic yard transports trucks of hazardous waste concrete and debris were shipped off-site. A second load of crushed stone was delivered to the Site for extension of the loading pad. ERRS continued breaking up concrete chunks in preparation for shipping off tomorrow. On July 17, 2013, three 18 cubic-yard loads of non-hazardous soil were shipped off-site to the Waste Management landfill in Joliet, Il. Three loads of hazardous concrete and debris were also shipped off-site to Envirosafe Services in Oregon, OH. All currently staged hazardous concrete and debris and non-hazardous soil has been shipped off-site. Results were returned for the 3% fixating agent/soil bucket test. The sample failed for TCLP lead. A 5% mix of the Free Flow 100 which has added phosphate was used on the high concentration lead soil and this was successful in reducing the TCLP concentrations for lead to non-detectable. The Free Flow 100 agent will be used to stabilize the hazardous soil excavated on site. On July 18. 2013, twenty-two 1-ton super sacks for Free Flow fixating agent was delivered to the site. A representative from Free Flow came on site to discuss additional options and mixing ratios for the fixation agent in on-site soils. ERRS continued the excavation and staging of contaminated soil from the area beneath the former concrete pad on the south side of the site. ERRS also conducted a surficial XRF screening of the western portion of the site. During all Site operations, START has set-up DataRam units and Personal DataRam (PDR) units to monitor all dust/particulates on and off Site. All data Ram and personal data ram readings have been near or at back ground dust levels for the area (10-100 ug/m3). Average concentrations of dust have been 45-50 ug/m3. All site operations are being conducted using a water fog with a fire hose to minimize dust levels. The action level for nuisance dust is 500 ug/m3. A personal data ram has been deployed in the cab of the excavator to monitor dust levels for on site personnel. 2.1.2 Response Actions to Date US EPA's contractor Environmental Restoration removed the top 1 foot of soil and staged the material for disposal. The concrete pad and foundation have been broken and segregated for disposal. Disposal Approval has been received for the non-hazardous and hazardous waste streams. Shipping of non-hazardous soil began on July 11 and was completed July 18. The ERRS contractor shipped off eight 18 cubic-yard trucks of non-hazardous soil and debris and six 18 cubic-yard trucks of hazardous concrete and debris. Twenty-two 1-ton super sacks of Free Flow fixating agent have been delivered to the Site. 2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) The owner of the property has been identified, but has been non- responsive to repeated attempts to arrange for access to the property. The U.S. EPA has obtained a warrant from a U.S. Magistrate to conduct the Site Assessment and Emergency Removal Action. U.S. EPA has recently identified that an investment firm, Sabre Investments LLC, has purchased the back taxes for the property but has not yet filed the deed. U.S. EPA will send certified letters to Sabre Investments to obtain their access if they proceed to take possession of the property. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.2 Planning Section |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.2.1 Anticipated Activities ERRS contractors will continue segregation of concrete into "hazardous" and "non-hazardous" piles while awaiting disposal. ERRS will continue to break-up the concrete slab under the remaining layer of soil and will begin excavation of contaminated soils that remain on site. ERRS will begin excavating the contaminated soil on the western portion of the Site in preparation on-site fixation. The excavation will be back-filled with IDOT compliant recycled concrete from a local manufacturer. 2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities ERRS will excavate the Site down to approximately 3 feet and it will be back-filled with clean material. The excavated material will be fixated on-Site and shipped off for disposal. The XRF unit will be used to screen the soil after excavation to field verify removal clean up standard. Post removal samples will be collected and sent to lab. 2.2.1.2 Next Steps ERRS contractors will continue the disposal of non-Hazardous soil and concrete as necessary. Free Flow 100 will be used at a 5 % mix rate to stabilize on site hazardous soil to render the material non-hazardous. Stabilization will begin on July 22 during the excavation of the hazardous soil. 2.2.2 Issues Inclement weather at the Site has continued to be a concern on site. 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 Nick Michaileas- ERRS Health And Safety Officer Tonya Balla - START Health And Safety Officer 2.5.2 Liaison Officer 2.5.3 Information Officer Heriberto Leon has been meeting routinely with the neighborhood community groups. Fact Sheets were handed out in the 1/2 mile square area around the property. A public meeting and open house were held to provide facts and answer questions from the residents. An open house was held at the neighboring Resurection project apartments to brief the residents and media and answer questions. U.S. EPA has provided fact sheets, lead fact sheets and protecting your family from lead, gardening with lead contaminated soil to the local farmers market. All of the fact sheets have been reproduced in English and Spanish. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 XRF - X-Ray Fluorescnece |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6. Additional sources of information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
6.1 Internet location of additional information/report www.epa.gov/region5/cleanup/loewenthal/ 6.2 Reporting Schedule POLREPs will be generated on a weekly basis during removal activities on-Site. The POLREPS are posted to the website under a public view. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7. Situational Reference Materials | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
No information available at this time. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||