Canton Industrial Corporation / International Harvester

Canton Industrial Corporation/International Harvester Site

Fact Sheet #1
February 1998

Canton, Illinois

Background

The 33-acre site in the center of Canton housed industrial facilities over the last century that operated as foundries, manufacturers of farm implements and other industrial processes. More recently, it was the site of a large tire shredding and recycling operation. International Harvester owned and operated the site from 1919 until 1984. Canton Industrial Corporation (C.I.C) operated at the site from 1984 until 1994 and ran the tire recycling operation during the last few years.

In 1991, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cited C.I.C. for violations relating to improper storage of drummed wastes and failure to implement a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act closure plan at the site. It was noted during a site inspection in October 1993 that many of the drums had been removed from the site. The Illinois EPA is seeking a court order for the analysis and removal of any remaining drummed wastes and the cleanup of any related soil contamination.

During 1995 and 1996, the Illinois EPA was involved in a large clean up of tires at the site.

In August 1997, a serious fire at the site leveled or significantly damaged more than one-half the buildings. The fire left damaged and deteriorating asbestos-containing waste materials open to the environment in many areas. The current condition of the site may represent physical hazards, due to the instability of some of the damaged buildings, as well as potential unknown chemical hazards which will be addressed in future site investigations.

What activities are taking place at the site?

The current site owner, through its consultant and contractors, has begun a cleanup of the disturbed regulated asbestos-containing waste materials that were identified through an asbestos survey of the entire site. As work progresses and debris is removed, additional surveys may be completed throughout the various phases of removal activities and may reveal additional work that needs to be performed.

When did these activities begin?

Asbestos cleanup activities began during the week of January 5, 1998. Work is expected to be completed in all areas by January 1999.

Are precautions being taken to prevent asbestos fibers from traveling off-site?

Yes. The following control measures prescribed by the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants will be taken by the contractor during the cleanup in certain areas as appropriate:

• Wetting or other containment of asbestos-containing waste materials
• Collection and treatment of waste water that contains asbestos
• Off-site disposal of asbestos-containing waste materials to a permitted disposal facility

Will Illinois EPA oversee the asbestos cleanup activities?

During the cleanup activities, Illinois EPA will conduct periodic unannounced inspections to ensure that the contractor is complying with the Illinois EPA-accepted asbestos work plan and federal and state regulations.

Will there be further investigation of possible contamination on the site?

Yes. The Illinois EPA will investigate the site to determine what other contaminants, if any, are present and may require cleanup. This investigation may occur in other areas of the site simultaneously with the asbestos cleanup work. The site assessment will focus on possible contamination from the former industrial processes including metal fabrication, painting and solvent use, and equipment maintenance. These processes could have produced waste products such as heavy metals, persistent chemicals and hydrocarbons which could be classified as hazardous. If they are not properly disposed, they could contaminate soil and groundwater.

Do the current site activities present a potential risk to the residents who live close to the site?

If work activities specified in the Illinois EPA-accepted work plan for asbestos removal are properly carried out, potential exposure to the surrounding community will be minimized.

It is advised that the general public should not enter the site and that children should be kept away from heavy equipment which will be used at the site.

While initial investigations have been performed by the U.S. EPA's Emergency Response Branch and the Illinois Department of Public Health, both agencies agree that further investigation of the site is warranted.

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