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 October 20, 2003, ERRS continued to load-out treated soil for disposal off site.  Excavation of the treated staging area in grids A1, A2, B1, and B2 began.  The grids will be excavated to two feet bgs.  ERRS used a water truck to wet down roads leading to the site and used a Bobcat with street sweeping equipment to clean the roads.  START continued to collect perimeter air samples.  A total of five air samples including one duplicate sample was collected for lead analysis.  

On October 21 2003, ERRS continued to load-out treated soil for disposal off site.  Excavation of the treated staging area continued.  ERRS continued to use a water truck and a Bobcat with street sweeping equipment to clean the roads.  START continued to collect perimeter air samples.  A total of five air samples including one duplicate sample was collected for lead analysis.

On October 22, 2003, ERRS continued to load-out treated soil for disposal off site.  Excavation of the treated staging area continued.  ERRS continued to use a water truck and a Bobcat with street sweeping equipment to clean the roads.  START continued to collect perimeter air samples.  A total of five air samples including one duplicate sample was collected for lead analysis.  Backfilling of the excavated grids on the south end of the site began.  ERRS spread one foot of clay over the excavated grids.

On October 23, 2003, ERRS continued to load-out treated soil for disposal off site.  Excavation of the treated staging area was completed.  ERRS continued to use a water truck and a Bobcat with street sweeping equipment to clean the roads.  START continued to collect perimeter air samples.  A total of five air samples including one duplicate sample was collected for lead analysis.  Backfilling of the excavated grids on the south end of the site was completed.  ERRS began scraping off one foot of top fill placed by site owner in the north half of grids A4 and B4 and the south half of grids A3 and B3.  These are the final areas of Parcel 5 that require treatment.

On October 24, 2003, there was no site activity.  Site activity will resume on November 3, 2003, after OSC training.

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

Continue excavation and treatment of lead contaminated soil
Continue load out and disposal of lead contaminated soil
Begin Backfilling with clay

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