On this page:
Updates
Final Update
U.S. EPA has received all
validated sample results and has posted them in the Documents section of this
website. Validated sample results include: air samples for metals and
VOCs and water samples, including PFAS samples. U.S. EPA also posted results of
asbestos testing of debris at the site and in the neighborhood. U.S. EPA is not
awaiting any outstanding information for the ChemTool site. U.S. EPA has
provided all sample results to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry for their evaluation of the health impacts from the fire.
Illinois EPA is the lead agency determining next steps at the Chemtool
facility. Please visit their website for more information: https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/community-relations/sites/Chemtool/Pages/default.aspx.
If you
are a member of the community and you have questions regarding your home or the disposal of
debris, please reach out to the Winnebago County Health Department:
815-972-7300 or email: rocktonchemfire@wchd.org or their
website: https://wchd.org/fire.
July 28
U.S. EPA is aware of the recent reports of elevated metals
in Beloit Corp. Superfund site monitoring wells. U.S. EPA is working with
Illinois EPA to assess and determine if additional actions are necessary. These
assessment efforts are being conducted as part of the Beloit Corp. Superfund
site and are separate from the ChemTool Fire emergency response. More
information about these assessment efforts and the Beloit Corp. Superfund site
are available at: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/beloit-corp.
June 24
After more than a week, the
fire was extinguished yesterday at the Chemtool facility in Rockton. U.S. EPA
has completed air monitoring and sampling in the area and has made most data
public on the website. We will post all validated data when available. The most
recent data shows no sustained exceedances for any particulates or chemicals
near the site or the surrounding communities. A lingering odor may continue for
some time, but air monitoring results indicate that despite the odor, the
current air quality is not a health concern.
U.S. EPA also monitored the
threat of discharge of oil throughout the incident. A recently constructed
clay berm, interceptor trenches, and oil boom placement in the Rock River have
mitigated this threat. The last clay berm that was part of this containment
system was put in this afternoon.
The federal agency is no longer
on-site but will continue to support Illinois EPA per request and will provided
input to Illinois regarding the proper disposal of wastewater generated during
the fire, as requested by the state. The wastewater is currently stored in
tanks onsite and will be characterized for disposal before being shipped to an
appropriate facility. All state and federal regulations for waste disposal will
be followed.
Illinois EPA is the lead agency
at the Chemtool facility to determine next steps. Please visit their website for more information: https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/community-relations/sites/Chemtool/Pages/default.aspx.
If you are a member of the community and you still have
questions regarding your home or the disposal of debris, please reach out to
the Winnebago County Health Department: 815-972-7300 or email: rocktonchemfire@wchd.org or
their website: https://wchd.org/fire.
June 21
The number of hot spots remaining at the site dropped from
13 on Sunday to five as of this morning. U.S. EPA continues to conduct
stationary and roaming air monitoring near the fire and in nearby
neighborhoods. Overnight inclement weather caused U.S. EPA to temporarily
suspend air monitoring for several hours. Air monitoring is back up for daytime
operations.
After the fire is extinguished, Illinois EPA and U.S. EPA
will oversee the cleanup of the site. All wastewater from the site is currently
stored in tanks onsite and will be characterized for disposal before being
shipped to an appropriate facility. All state and federal regulations for waste
disposal will be followed.
June 19
The
evacuation order has been lifted but U.S. EPA continues to conduct stationary
and roaming air monitoring near the fire and at the Old Settlers Day festival.
Overnight neighborhood data showed exceedances of particulates during flare-ups
of the fire. Festival preliminary data indicate no elevated levels of concern
yesterday.
After the
fire is extinguished, Illinois EPA and U.S. EPA will oversee the cleanup of the
site. All wastewater from the site is currently stored in tanks onsite and will
be characterized for disposal before being shipped to an appropriate facility.
All state and federal regulations for waste disposal will be followed.
June 18
Due to inclement weather and lightning activity last night,
U.S. EPA suspended air monitoring for several hours.
Air monitoring equipment is back up for daytime operations. Overnight data showed exceedances of particulates during
flare-ups of the fire.
Yesterday, U.S. EPA conducted stationary and roaming air
monitoring activities in support of the Old Settlers Day festival. Preliminary results indicate no elevated levels of concern.
After the fire is extinguished, Illinois EPA and U.S. EPA will oversee the
cleanup of the site. All wastewater from the site is currently stored in tanks
onsite and will be characterized for disposal before being shipped to an
appropriate facility. All state and federal regulations for waste disposal will
be followed.
Although the evacuation order has
been lifted, U.S. EPA will continue to conduct air monitoring near the fire and
at the Old Settlers Day festival.
June 17
At the request of the Rockton mayor, U.S. EPA is operating
an air monitoring network during the Old Settlers Day celebration this weekend.
The agency has set up fixed monitors in and around the area to monitor for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oxygen
(O2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon monoxide (CO), lower explosive limit
(LEL), and particulates. U.S. EPA will provide the data in real-time to
village and county health officials so they can make any decisions necessary to
protect the health of festival-goers. Questions should be directed to the
Winnebago County Health Department: 815-972-7300 or rocktonchemfire@wchd.org.
June 16
U.S. EPA continues to provide guidance and support to the
Rockton Fire Department, the lead agency at the response. Data from the fixed
and roaming air monitors is being evaluated and new data is posted below.
Preliminary overnight sampling results show no exceedances for hydrogen
cyanide. The agency deployed additional air monitors into the nearby
neighborhood and continues to provide all data to the health agencies for their
evacuation determination.
On June 15, U.S. Fire Pump, firefighter contractors for Chemtool, used PFAS-containing foam for roughly three hours to help suppress the fire. U.S. EPA and Illinois EPA had initially raised concerns to Chemtool on June 14 about using PFAS-containing foam and both agencies requested that the company discuss it with the unified command. On June 15, upon realizing that pumping operations were beginning before that discussion had happened, the agencies requested that the operations be halted so containment controls could be reviewed. The fire chief had not been previously informed that the foam contained PFAS. He directed that operations be stopped while the company implemented steps recommended by U.S. EPA and IEPA to contain runoff. Since then, foam which does not contain PFAS has become available onsite and that is what is being used for fire-suppression operations.
The Rockton Fire Department remains the lead agency for the response. U.S. EPA provides support and guidance, but the fire chief has the final say how to best fight the fire.
June 15
U.S.
EPA is responding to the Chemtool fire in Rockton, Illinois, to provide
guidance and support to the Rockton Fire Department, the lead agency at the
response. As of 2 p.m. on June 15, there are four U.S. EPA responders on-site,
supported by eight contractors. They have set up a network of fixed and roaming
air monitors at the site and downwind. As the wind direction changes, the
roaming monitors are moved to follow the plume and to provide real-time data to
the responders. U.S. EPA has 12 AreaRAE Pro monitors, 15 DustTrak monitors and
8 Summa canisters available for site use. The air monitoring network looks for
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oxygen (O2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon
monoxide (CO), lower explosive limit (LEL), and particulates in coordination
with the Illinois Civil Support Team. U.S. EPA is currently evaluating the data
received. Current data have not shown levels above Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry and Illinois Department of Public Health thresholds,
except for elevated hydrogen cyanide near the fenceline. This will be further
evaluated.
EPA Data
Air Monitoring Data Summaries
- Fixed stations 6/23/21 - 6/23/21, and mobile monitoring 6/23/21 - 6/23/21
- Fixed stations 6/22/21 - 6/23/21, and mobile monitoring 6/22/21 - 6/23/21
- Fixed stations 6/22/21 - 6/22/21, and mobile monitoring 6/22/21 - 6/22/21
- Fixed stations 6/21/21 - 6/22/21, and mobile monitoring 6/21/21 - 6/22/21
- Fixed stations 6/21/21 - 6/21/21, and mobile monitoring 6/21/21 - 6/21/21
- Fixed stations 6/20/21 - 6/21/21, and mobile monitoring 6/20/21 - 6/21/21
- Fixed stations 6/20/21 - 6/20/21, and mobile monitoring 6/20/21 - 6/20/21
- Fixed stations 6/19/21 - 6/20/21, and mobile monitoring 6/19/21 - 6/20/21
- Fixed stations 6/19/21 - 6/19/21, and mobile monitoring 6/19/21 - 6/19/21
- Fixed stations 6/18/21 - 6/19/21, and mobile monitoring 6/18/21 - 6/19/21
- Fixed stations 6/18/21 - 6/18/21, and mobile monitoring 6/18/21 - 6/18/21
- Fixed stations 6/17/21-6/18/21, and mobile monitoring 6/15/21 to 6/18/21
- Fixed Station: 06/16/21 17:00 through 06/17/21 05:00
- Fixed station: 06/16/21 05:00 through 06/16/21 17:00
- Fixed station: 06/15/21 17:50 through 06/16/21 05:00
- Fixed station: 06/14/21 13:10 through 06/15/21 17:50
Air Monitoring at Old Settlers Day Festival
Background
At
approximately 7 a.m. on June 14, 2021, several fire departments from
both Illinois and Wisconsin were called to a 6-alarm fire at the Chemtool
facility in Rockton, Illinois. Chemtool is a company that makes greases,
additives, and other fluids including: industrial cleaners, corrosion
inhibitors, and metalworking fluids. Immediately upon arrival, the Rockton Fire Chief
implemented a mandatory evacuation of a one-mile radius surrounding the
facility due the presence of hazardous substances and oils within the building.
At approximately 9 a.m., Illinois EPA requested assistance from U.S. EPA due to the
large scale of the fire and the proximity to residential areas.
At the request of Illinois EPA, U.S. EPA is providing air monitoring and air sampling support in response o the Chemtool fire in Rockton, Illinois. U.S. EPA will continue to update this web page.
