News Releases

Third and Final Remedy Decision Announced for Southeast Rockford Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site

Springfield, Ill. -- Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano and William Muno, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Regional Superfund Director, have signed a Record of Decision pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, known as CERCLA or Superfund, for control of the four major areas that have been sources of groundwater contamination in the Southeast Rockford Groundwater Contamination Superfund Project.

"Remedying the sources of groundwater contamination is an important step in the project. The remedies will remove or treat soils and leachate-eliminating them as a future source of contamination. This action will protect the aquifer, which is the primary source of drinking water in Winnebago County, for future generations," said Director Cipriano.

This is the third and anticipated to be the final Record of Decision, or remedy decision, for the project. This current Record of Decision identifies the chosen remedies for remediation of contaminated soils and leachate in each of four major source areas at the Southeast Rockford site. The agencies reached their decisions after carefully considering oral and written comments received during the public comment period held last summer.

The four areas are sources of industrial solvents, which caused widespread private well contamination in Southeast Rockford. Since 1990, federal, state and city governments have funded 810 connections to the Rockford public water supply for those with private wells contaminated or threatened with contamination from these solvents.

An emergency action was implemented by U.S.EPA in 1989, which provided bottled water, water filters and finally public water connections to those at immediate risk. The first Record of Decision in 1991, connected properties to the local public water supply that had private wells that violated public water supply standards. The second Record of Decision, in 1995, designated natural attenuation as the groundwater remedy; it also provided for: (1) public water supply connections for those not currently affected, but that could potentially be affected by the contamination within 70 years, (2) treatment of Rockford Municipal well #35 and (3) ongoing monitoring and additional public water supply connections, as necessary. The groundwater remedy was based on the contingent that the major sources of groundwater contamination would be controlled. It was implemented by the City of Rockford, with contributions from other parties.

Contamination of the groundwater in Southeast Rockford was caused by direct disposal of industrial wastes, spills, leaks from tanks and from mishandling of various solvents. Industrial solvents leaking from underground storage tanks contaminated source Area 4. Area 7 is a former unregulated disposal area, apparently used for both household and industrial wastes. Area 9/10 has a history of industrial activity extending back to the 1920s, with resulting contamination from a variety of solvents. The history of industrial activity in Area 11 is even older, with activities dating back to at least 1906.

"We also intend to make sure gases in the soils and groundwater do not cause vapors in basements of homes of area residents," said Director Cipriano. "We plan to repeat precautionary sampling of homes near the sources later this year, as part of the upcoming investigation." Previous Illinois EPA sampling in homes found that basement air met conservative guidelines that were protective of residents.

Funding for areas 4 and 11 will be wholly from state and federal funds. The Area 7 remedy has been partially paid for by the City of Rockford, with contributions from other parties. The state of Illinois and U.S.EPA will enter into negotiations with Potentially Responsible Parties for further investigation and eventual remedy of Area 9/10.

"This third and final remedy decision marks an essential step in fully addressing the Southeast Rockford site," said Muno. "It has been a truly collaborative effort. Federal, state and local agencies, as well as public input, have all been critical in reaching this milestone."