Wasteland II Site
Fact Sheet #1
December 2001
Lockport, Illinois
Location and site background
The Wasteland II Site is an approximately 6½-acre property north and
west of the intersection of Illinois Route 171 (Lockport Road) and W.
Oak Avenue, and south and west of the intersection of Rte. 171 and Fairmont
Avenue, in Lockport. The site is bordered by vacant properties to the
north, a light commercial facility to the south, a railroad spur to the
west and on the east, a bluff approximately 20 feet high and Route 171,
with residential areas beyond.
Currently the property is vacant with evidence of ongoing unrestricted
dumping. A scrap flatbed semi-trailer, gas cylinders and other metals
and glass are scattered throughout the site. The site is overgrown and
a small pond is located in the central part of the property; however,
it is not known whether this water body is present throughout the year
or intermittently due to seasonal rainfall and snowmelt.
The history and uses of this property are mostly unknown, with a few
exceptions. In the late 1800s, the property may have operated as a stone
quarry. In 1974, the property owner was identified as the Globe Oil Company.
In 1981, the property was held in trust and leased to Wasteland, Inc.
In 1981, 45 aboveground storage tanks were on-site at the southwest corner
of the property. These tanks contained a black, oily substance that resembled
used motor oil. The total amount of material present in the storage tanks
was estimated to exceed 50,000 gallons. The storage tanks were corroded
and in poor condition, with no dikes or other secondary containment to
protect against spills. The site more recently operated as a paper recycling
facility that reportedly burned down in the late 1980s or early 1990s,
leaving paper and plastic materials throughout the site. Metal auto parts
and other metal debris attests to scrap yard operations also occurring
at some point in the site's history.
If corrective actions are not taken at Wasteland II, the existing trash
will continue to attract further illegal dumping. The exposed garbage
and ponding water, in turn, attracts disease-transmitting, nuisance animals
(rodents, birds and insects). The ponded water will also provide a source
of rainwater infiltration into any buried wastes that may exist onsite.
Because the scope of environmental problems on the site is not yet fully
known, the Illinois EPA has tasked one of its remedial contractors to
investigate and further characterize environmental conditions, and perform
remedial work to stabilize the site.
Scope of Investigation and Remedy
The Illinois EPA has contracted with the environmental consulting and
construction firm ENSR to perform the following tasks:
- Remove vegetation so that surveys, investigation and fill work can
take place,
- Perform a land survey to find property boundaries and map the site,
- Delineate the extent of any lead contamination,
- Drain and grade the on-site pond,
- Remove all discarded gas cylinders,
- Remove other miscellaneous metal debris.
Schedule and Construction
Construction work is expected to begin at the site in December 2001.
The site work should take approximately one month and will be finished
during the winter of 2002, weather permitting.
Neighbors and passersby may observe on-site workers wearing personal
protective gear. This equipment is required to prevent exposure to any
potential sources of contamination discovered during the course of the
environmental investigation and stabilization. These workers investigate
and remediate many different types of contaminants during the course of
their careers, so every effort is made to prevent the potential for exposures
at every job site.
Filling and grading the pond may require moving additional clean fill
soils to the site. Heavy equipment and trucks bringing fill will generate
dust on site and potentially along nearby roadways. The contractor will
control dust so that it does not become a nuisance for the site's neighbors
and will repair any damage to roads caused by the heavy equipment. Roads
will be restored to pre-project conditions.
For Additional Information
If you have any comments or questions, or can provide any additional
information concerning the site's operating history, please contact any
of the following:
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