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Community Relations - Fact Sheets

Gilberts/Kedzie Property

Former Battery Recycling Facility

Fact Sheet #3
May 2005

Site Location Map, Gilberts/Kedzie Site, Gilberts, Illinois

Gilberts, Kane County, Illinois

Background

In 2004, both Illinois EPA and U.S. EPA investigated the location of a former battery cracking and recycling operation in Gilberts. The main site is located immediately north of the intersection of Railroad and Mill Streets bounded by Galligan Road on the east and the Chicago and Northwestern Railway on the west. It is in an area that is mostly wooded near both industrial and residential properties. Lead acid batteries were cracked open to recover the lead. Some of the lead seeped into the ground along with the acid contained in the batteries. Extensive environmental sampling last summer identified a six-acre area of gross contamination (mainly lead). Later, a second area of contamination was discovered to the southwest, where the Village of Gilberts Public Works building is now located, west of the railroad tracks - this is known as the Tower Hill Road site.

What is the current work happening at the main site (north of the intersection of Railroad and Mill Streets)?	U.S. EPA has a contractor at the main site now, in the process of excavating, consolidating and treating the most contaminated soils. The treatment process stabilizes the lead contamination. Then, the treated soil is disposed in an EPA-approved landfill.
How soon should that work be finished?	U.S. EPA expects that the treatment process on the main site will be complete by early May. Then, work will begin on the property owned by the Village, which is the second area that battery recycling occurred. Work at both locations should be complete by the end of May.
What were the results from the residential sampling Illinois EPA did in November 2004?	Illinois EPA had groundwater samples from private wells analyzed for the presence of several families of chemicals: volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and metals. In addition, soil samples taken from a couple of properties were analyzed for metals. All of the laboratory results were given to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to interpret for health-related implications. While some of the results showed lead at very low levels, none of the site-related contaminants were present at levels that would be expected to cause adverse health effects. Sodium, a naturally occurring metal found in certain soil types, did show up at cautionary levels in some private wells. It is not related to the battery-cracking operations. IDPH sent letters to property owners in February 2005 explaining the results.
What will happen to the site when the current work is completed?	U.S. EPA will take confirmation samples to assure that cleanup objectives are met for this time-critical removal action. Those sample results will be shared with the State of Illinois. If state and federal cleanup guidelines are met, it is possible that no further action would be taken at this site.
After completion of the current removal effort, will the site be safe for children to enter? I know that local children tend to play there.	The remaining residual contamination should be at levels that are below what state and federal cleanup objectives require. Conse- quently, there should be no concern for exposure to site-related contamination by a casual trespasser. Remember, however, that this is still private property.

For more information, contact:

Carol Fuller Community Relations Coord Illinois EPA (217) 524-8807	Jim Salch Project Manager Illinois EPA Office of Site Evaluation (217) 785-8726
Mike Ribordy On Scene Coordinator U.S. EPA Emergency Response Branch (SE-5J) (312) 886-4592 or (800) 621-8431 , weekdays 9 a.m - 4:30 p.m	Joe Munoz Community Involvement Coordinator U.S. EPA Office of Public Affairs (P-19J) (312) 886-7935 or (800) 621-8431, weekdays 9 a.m - 4:30 p.m

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