New Jersey Zinc/Mobil Chemical Superfund
Site
Off-Site Soil Sampling
Fact Sheet #11
May 2005
DePue, Illinois
This fact sheet is a project update about work to be conducted in the
vicinity of the New Jersey Zinc/Mobil Chemical Superfund site in the Village
of DePue beginning in May and extending into the summer of 2005. The results
of historical soil sampling by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
(Illinois EPA) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) indicate
that elevated levels of metals have been detected in residential and non-residential
soils around the DePue site. In 1995, the State of Illinois and the potentially
responsible parties (PRPs)1 entered into an Interim Consent
Order (ICO) to conduct Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS)
activities, including investigation and remediation of off-site soils
surrounding the Former Plant Site Area. Given the existing data, additional
investigations will be conducted in the Village by the PRPs to:
- Determine the nature and extent of potential off-site soil impacts;
- Determine whether waste from the plant site has been used for fill
or other purposes in residential yards or other off-site properties;
and
- Collect information for a human health and ecological risk assessment.
Do you have information about the use of soil or waste from the Superfund
site for fill in yards or other locations off site?
If you have information about soil, waste, or any fill material from
the plant site being used or disposed of off site at any time in the
past, please contact Rich Lange, Illinois EPA, at 815/447-2125. This
information will help to determine which properties will be tested.
Testing can determine whether a property has site-related chemicals
at high enough concentrations to be a problem for human or ecological
health.
Public Availability Session
Illinois EPA will host a public availability session to share information
about the upcoming soil sampling within the Village and answer questions
citizens may have about this work. The availability session will be
held May 26, 2005 at the DePue VFW hall from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Who will conduct the sampling?
This past winter, the Illinois EPA worked with the PRPs to plan for
the off-site soil sampling. In May 2005, the final work plan for a Removal
Action Limit Assessment, detailing methods for sample collection and analysis,
data evaluation, and reporting was approved by Illinois EPA. A copy of
this work plan can be found in the project repository at the Selby Township
Library in DePue. Soil sampling will be conducted by representatives of
the PRPs with direct oversight by Illinois EPA’s Project Manager
and an Illinois EPA contractor.
How will sample locations be chosen?
Sampling will take place in phases. The first round of samples will
be collected from locations that showed elevated concentrations of metals
in the IDPH 1992 sample results. (None of the samples collected by Illinois
EPA in 1992 had levels of metals that pose a risk from short-term exposures.)
If resampling of the IDPH locations shows elevated levels of metals, then
access to adjacent yards may be requested.
How do I give permission to have my property sampled?
No yards will be sampled unless the owners give their written consent.
Prior to sample collection, the PRPs with Illinois EPA support, will meet
with property owners to explain the process and provide a simple access
agreement that, when signed, will allow field technicians to obtain soil
samples from their property. An agreed date will be scheduled for the
sampling activity.
How will the investigation be conducted?
Professional technicians accompanied by Illinois EPA representatives
will use hand tools to collect soil from several small-diameter (2-inch
to 4-inch) boreholes. Typically, five boreholes will be placed in the
front yard and five boreholes in the back yard. In addition, samples will
be collected from play areas, gardens, and around downspouts on the property.
Boreholes will extend to approximately 18 inches below the ground surface
and will be backfilled with soil. Disturbed sod will be replaced at each
location. Measurements of the location of each borehole will be made with
a portable Global Positioning System (GPS) device so a record is kept
of exact sample locations in the yard.
What will the samples analyzed for?
All samples will be analyzed for chromium, arsenic, lead, mercury, selenium,
silver, cadmium, barium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and
zinc. These chemicals were chosen based on the results of previous off-site
sampling in the Village.
How will sample results be reported to me?
The PRPs will submit the analytical results from the initial phase of
sampling to Illinois EPA. The Illinois EPA will provide this data to IDPH,
who will interpret the results and write an explanation letter to each
property owner. The Illinois EPA will communicate to the property owners
an explanation of the results and next steps to be taken, if any.
What will be done if concentrations of metals above Removal Action Limits
are found in a yard?
The PRPs, with approval from Illinois EPA, will design a plan that addresses
soils that exceed established limits. Yards that do not exceed these limits
will be further evaluated in the subsequent Remedial Investigation.
Will there be additional off-site soil sampling after this first sampling
phase?
Yes. The initial sampling will focus on properties where IDPH previously
collected samples and adjacent properties within the village. Plans are
currently being finalized for the next phase of the investigation, which
will include sampling of other residential and non-residential parcels
within DePue and vicinity, and agricultural/forested lands at greater
distances from the Former Plant Site Area. Future investigations will
focus on wind-borne deposition, direct disposal, and other mechanisms.
Fieldwork on these investigations is expected to be completed this summer.
The approved Phase II work plan will be placed in the project repository
at the Selby Township Library in DePue.
Data from all phases of investigation will be used by the PRPs to assess
the potential for remediation. The Illinois EPA will review and approve
this assessment. This assessment will also be placed in the repository
when complete and another fact sheet will be prepared to inform citizens
of the assessment results.
Will I have to disclose sample results if I am trying to sell my house?
The State of Illinois’s Residential Real Property Disclosure Act
(765 ILCS 77/1 et seq. (2002)) contains a list of items that must be disclosed
by the seller of residential property in Illinois. It required the disclosure
of lead in soils, but it does not specifically address the disclosure
of other metals in soils on a residential lot. However, it is always advisable
for a seller to consult with their real estate agent and/or attorney before
making any decision on what does or does not need to be disclosed during
the sale of residential property.
|
