United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region V
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The Lennon Wallpaper site is located at 807 4th Ave. in Joliet, Will County, Illinois.  The site consists of 7 parcels of land occupying approximately 12 acres.  Site removal activities are being conducted on Parcel 5.  Parcel 5 is bordered on the north by a wetland, on the west by railroad tracks, on the south by Grant Avenue (vacated), and on the east by Preston Place (vacated).

Parcel 5 of the Lennon Wallpaper site contains and estimated 1,500 to 3,000 cubic yards of lead contaminated soil.  The contaminated soil is located in a low lying wet area located on Parcel 5.  The soil was contaminated by waste paints or pigments coming from the Lennon Wallpaper facility formerly located next to the property.  Parcel 5 is located near a wetland and residential area and is unsecure to both human and animal populations and shows evidence of trespassing.

Site characterizations and inspections conducted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) in 1990, 1992, 1995, and 2000 showed elevated levels of lead.  Site assessments conducted on Parcel 5 in 2001 and 2002 by START and the U.S. EPA demonstrated elevated levels of lead, with the highest total lead concentration being 10,900 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) and the highest toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) lead concentration being 100 milligrams per liter (mg/L).  The screening level for total lead is 750 mg/kg and the regulatory limit for TCLP lead is    5.0 mg/L  

On August 11, 2003, U.S. EPA OSC Mike Harris, Tetra Tech EMI START contractor Lee Christenson, and ERRS contractor Earth Tech mobilized to the Lennon Wallpaper Parcel 5 site.  ERRS mobilized site trailors, a fuel tank, a loader, and a wood chipper to the site.

On August 12, 2003, ERRS began chipping wood fencing using a wood chipper.  Electric generator and phone lines were hooked up to the site trailer.  START collected background air samples for lead in order to determine if lead was present in the ambient air prior to beginning excavation of lead contaminated soil.  

On August 13, 2003, the chipping of wood material continued.  START collected samples LW-topf-01 and LW-topf-02 from fill material placed over site to determine if the material contained any hazardous constituents.  Samples of the fill material were sent to a laboratory for total metals, TCLP metals, SVOC, VOC, PCB, pesticide, and herbicide analysis.  START also collected three, 1-gallon bags full of the lead contaminated soil for bench tests in order to determine the product that will be used to treat the soil onsite.

On August 14, 2003, ERRS began moving debris to the far east portion of the site, which is not believed to contain contaminated soil.  Gravel was placed on site roads and graded.

On August 15, 2003, ERRS continued moving soil and debris to the east side of Parcel 5.  Spreading and grading on the site roads continued.  Trailers left by owner were moved to the east side of the site, away from the proposed excavation area.

The removal action for the Lennon Wallpaper site consists of excavation, treatment, and disposal of lead contaminated soil on the Parcel 5 property.

Continue moving fill and debris
Begin excavation of lead contaminated soil
Treat soil onsite
Begin load out and disposal of lead contaminated soil

None