News Releases - 2002

Barrie Park Remediation Temporarily Halted

Springfield, Ill. -- After conferring with state and local authorities, Commonwealth Edison halted its remedial activities at the Barrie Park cleanup project in Oak Park due to air sampling results that exceeded established project emissions standards. The halt will allow a review of additional data and implementation of additional protective measures to minimize health risks to the public.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Renee Cipriano stated that protecting the health of nearby residents would remain the Agency's most important consideration during this review. "We will allow work to continue only when we are confident that their health will be protected," said Cipriano.

The Agency's chief toxicologist, Dr. Tom Hornshaw, has conducted a preliminary review of the available data and has stated that benzene levels showed the risk for non-cancer illnesses were extremely low and that the risk for cancer-related illnesses was typical for air in an urban area. Dr. Hornshaw also noted that the adjacent rail lines and the Eisenhower Expressway could contribute to higher benzene readings.

Director Cipriano stressed that halting construction activities was consistent with the plan previously approved by the Illinois EPA. Commonwealth Edison entered the Illinois EPA's Site Remediation Program to clean up contamination at the site.

The Illinois EPA is currently reviewing a plan proposed by Commonwealth Edison to reduce levels of benzene emissions when remedial activities resume. The increase in emissions appeared to have occurred when a large protective dome, called a Sprung structure, was removed to facilitate the removal of impacted soils. Soil at Barrie Park had been contaminated with coal tar residuals from an old manufactured gas plant.