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The property is located at 2028 South Sheridan Road in North Chicago, Lake County, Illinois. Coordinates for the site are latitude 42 degrees 19' 22.6" North and longitude 87 degrees 50' 30.1" West, as determined by Arcview or Landview III. It is located in an industrial neighborhood with surrounding residential and commercial areas. The Site is approximately 17.5 acres and is located adjacent to Pettibone Creek which discharges to Lake Michigan.
R. Lavin & Sons, Inc. began operating a secondary copper and brass recovery facility in 1941. Scrap copper and brass in many forms were imported from off-site sources, melted and refined in furnaces, and then poured into ingots that were shipped to customers. R. Lavin & Sons, Inc. fell under SIC Code 3341 and had approximately 200 employees. The facility was upgraded several times in advance of and in response to environmental regulations. Upgrades included installation of several baghouses; improvement of a closed-loop, cooling water recirculating system; implementation of surface run-off containment and control measures. Currently R. Lavin & Sons, Inc. is non-operational and in a liquidating bankruptcy with its assets being sold for cash by its creditors. Areas of concern on-site include the three open top storage tanks with 2.6 million gallons of capacity, the two retention ponds that directly discharge to the storm sewer, the process pit, the slag piles most of which are outside and uncovered, and the numerous baghouses throughout the facility.
Releases of contaminants to the storm sewer have been and continue to be an ongoing problem at this Site. Wastes generated by furnace clean-outs, flue dust collection, and contact cooling water treatment have been subject to heavy precipitation that has resulted in contaminated runoff being released to the ground and then to the groundwater and/or storm sewer that runs to Pettibone Creek and then to Lake Michigan. In addition, large volumes of slag were stored outside and were exposed to rainfall. A 1994 study by Illinois EPA compared sediment concentrations of certain metals upstream and downstream of the Site’s outfall into the Creek. The contaminants, copper, lead, and zinc were increased by 2387%, 3932%, and 2769%, respectively, downstream of the Site.
From 7/19/04 thru 7/26/04, K Plus Consulting worked on removing sludge from the south, northwest tank and the process pit. A Super-Vac unit was utilized to pump the sludge as cleanup techs used a power washer to clean down the sides and base of the units. All sludge and water were transferred to the northeast for holding. The three units that were completed visually appeared clean, wipe samples were collected from the sides and base to check effectiveness of the decon action.
K Plus plans to allow the material in the northeast tank to settle then decant off additional water for possible disposal to a WWTP. The remaining sludge will be stabilized with lime prior to off-site disposal.
Completion of the northeast tank and submittal of a Final Report will fullfill the actions under the AOC.
Sale of the property is still pending, and the creditors committee is apparently running out of resources to maintain site security.
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