United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region V
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

See Initial POLREP.

Since the last reporting period, ERRS has continued to stabilize site buildings.  Portions of Buildings 912 and 924 have been removed in order to ensure building stability.  The integrity of remaining buildings has been assessed. ERRS has begun soil excavation in the area of concern south of building 912 as identified by the subsurface soil assessment. Basements and vaults within and north of building 912 have been cleaned by ERRS, but rain events have caused them to fill with varying degrees of water and oil of which the oil sources are unknown.

On September 10, 2008 START completed a cross-sectional summary of subsurface analytical results to determine lateral and horizontal extent of metals, PCBs and petroleum hydrocarbons.

On September 12, 2008 a site walk with representatives from the City of Chicago was completed.   The purpose of the site visit was to provide a site update and identify potential site issues with basements and subsurface vaults refilling with oil product and water.  A start date for Demolition work to be completed by the city has not yet been determined.  So in order to maintain U.S.EPA site schedule and planned activities, U.S. EPA will perform site specific demolition in  buildings 1014.  

SAMPLING ACTIVITIES

On September 9, 2008 START collected 21 wipe samples from the concrete pad area in Building 1014 for PCB analysis. A grid was established over the building area, and samples were collected in a systematic pattern. START also collected 13 liquid samples from the vault south of building 912 for PCBs (aqueous and in oil) and VOCs analysis. The samples were sent to Test America in North Canton, OH and analytical results are pending.

Planned removal activities include the following:

•    Continued building stabilization,
•    Building 1014 demolition,
•    Continued surgical soil excavation in areas of concern as identified by the subsurface soil assessment, and;
•    Cleaning and sealing of PCB impacted floors pending safe building entry

The following actions are anticipated to occur during the next reporting periods:

•    Reassess buildings for structural integrity,
•    Review subsurface analytical results to determine lateral and horizontal extent of metals, PCBs and petroleum hydrocarbons,
•    Waste profiling to ensure proper disposal, and;
•    Building 1014 demolition by ERRS in order to begin cleaning and sealing of the concrete floor.

•    Documentation and photo-documentation of all EPA and city work,
•    Address contaminants of concern throughout the site based on findings from the subsurface investigation, and;
•    Tracking of excavation and disposal quantities, including soil and water.