IEPA Investigates Former Toastmaster Site in Algonquin

According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune and an Illinois EPA fact sheet, IEPA is investigating soil and groundwater contamination east of the former Toastmaster property at 401 Washington St. in Algonquin, bordered by the Prairie Trail bike path to the west and south, Towne Park to the north, and Route 31 to the east.  The property was historically used for the production of such items as irons, shell casings during wartime, and appliances.

The site had initially been investigated as part of due diligence by the Illinois Department of Transportation, which was looking to purchase the property in preparation for the Western Bypass, a road construction project to alleviate congestion at the intersection of Routes 31 and 62 in Algonquin. 

According to IEPA, soil and groundwater testing at the site revealed the presence of elevated levels of volatile organic compounds ("VOCs"), heavy metals, and other organic compounds.  Further investigation revealed that contamination had migrated offsite to the east of the Toastmaster site. 

At this time, IEPA believes that "no health risk has been identified."  However, the agency will continue its investigation in December 2009 and early 2010.  "The purpose of the continued study is to determine whether a potential for the migration of vapors from groundwater through soil and into basements or crawl spaces exists."

Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.

DNA Testing Shows Asian Carp Within 7 miles of Lake Michigan

There are new fears that Asian carp are getting closer to the Great Lakes.  According to two recent articles in the Chicago Tribune, DNA testing found evidence of the Asian carp within 7 miles of Lake Michigan after apparently leaping an electrical barrier erected to prevent the carp from reaching the Great Lakes. 

Scientists found Asian carp DNA above an electric fish-barrier in the Sanitary and Ship Canal.  Asian carp are now are only one lock and dam away from the Great Lakes.  The articles described the DNA testing:

"The tests sift carp DNA out of suspended particles floating in river currents, and they indicate for the first time that bighead and silver carp are just below the O'Brien lock on the Calumet River, in the Des Plaines River above the Lockport lock and at the confluence of the Calumet Sag Channel and Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. All three locations are above the multimillion-dollar electrified carp barrier built to keep invasive species from moving from the Illinois River to the Great Lakes, and vice versa."

"'There is no reason to think that there aren't carp present when the DNA is detected,' said David Lodge, a researcher with the University of Notre Dame who is conducting the genetic analysis. 'It's hard to come to any other conclusion other than that there are carp somewhere in the region.'"

Please click here and here to access the articles in the Tribune.  Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.

EPA Declares That Chicagoland Met Another Air Quality Standard

Today, U.S. EPA published a final rule in the Federal Register determining that the "Chicago-Gary-Lake County, Illinois-Indiana" areas have met the 1997 fine particle (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS).

As a result of this determination, "the requirements for these areas to submit an attainment demonstration and
associated reasonably available control measures (RACM), a reasonable further progress plan (RFP), contingency measures, and other State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions related to attainment of the standard are suspended for so long as the areas continue to attain the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS."

Today's final rule follows up on U.S. EPA's November 13, 2009 final rule declaring that Chicagoland met the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.

Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.

University of Illinois Receives Grant From EPA to Study Carbon Sequestration

According to an article from the Chicago Tribune, the U.S. EPA awarded the University of Illinois approximately $900,000 in grant funds to study the possible environmental impact of the underground sequestration of carbon dioxide.

The theory of carbon sequestration is that carbon dioxide (a major greenhouse gas) can be captured at stationary sources, such as power plants, and injected underground for long-term storage.  With this grant from U.S. EPA, the University of Illinois plans to study whether injecting carbon dioxide could cause changes in pressure to groundwater aquifers.  Officials want to study whether carbon dioxide sequestration could cause saltwater to migrate from deeper groundwater and contaminate fresh water near the surface.

Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.

Clean-Up To Begin at Manufactured-Gas Plant in Quincy

According to an article from the Chicago Tribune, AmerenCIPS--a central Illinois utility company--will launch a $20 million cleanup of underground contaminants at a defunct gas-manufacturing plant in Quincy.

Manufactured-gas plants were industrial facilities that produced gas from coal, oil and other feedstocks.  The gas was stored, and then piped to the surrounding area, where it was used for lighting, cooking, and heating homes and businesses.  Today, natural gas is used instead of manufactured gas.

People are still concerned about former manufactured-gas plants because of contamination issues.  For example, the Quincy plant's operations ended in 1943.  However, underground contaminants remain, including "coal tar, which contains carcinogens, and could pose a health risk if disturbed."  Workers "will first take precautionary steps, such as putting up a tent with carbon filters to contain dust and vapors.  After that, they will install a new sewer system, remove the contaminants and replace the soil."  The clean-up is expected to take up to two years.

Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.

IEPA Notifies Four Communities of Groundwater Contamination

Today, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency reported that it notified the Fox River Grove public drinking water supply, the Hennepin Public Water District, the Rockford public water supply, and the Six Oaks Mobile Home Park (located south of Pecatonica on Route 20) public drinking water supply that there were confirmed detections of groundwater contamination that pose threats of exposure to the public above the Class I groundwater quality standards.

Specifically, IEPA stated that "trichloroethylene (TCE) has been detected and confirmed" in Fox River Grove, Rockford, and Six Oaks Mobile Home Park's "raw (source) and finished (distributed) drinking water, and the TCE exceeds 2.5 parts per billion (ppb).  This level does not yet exceed the Class I groundwater quality standard for TCE of 5.0 ppb that both federal and State law allows in drinking water.  However, the Right to Know provision of the Environmental Protection Act requires that the public be notified even before this Class I groundwater quality standard is exceeded in their drinking water."

IEPA also stated that "tetrachloroethylene (PCE) has been detected and confirmed" in Hennepin's "raw (source) and finished (distributed) drinking water, and the PCE exceeds 2.5 parts per billion (ppb).  This level does not yet exceed the Class I groundwater quality standard for PCE of 5.0 ppb that both federal and State law allows in drinking water.  However, the Right to Know provision of the Environmental Protection Act requires that the public be notified even before this Class I groundwater quality standard is exceeded in their drinking water.

"The Environmental Protection Act requires the water supply provide notification to its customers of this contamination by mail, email, post card, text message or telephone, within five business days of official receipt of the Illinois EPA’s notice.  The public drinking water supply must provide the Illinois EPA with written proof of the notifications within seven calendar days after they are sent."

Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.

ComEd Beginning to Install Smart Meters

According to ComEd's website and a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, ComEd is beginning to install smart meters this month on homes and businesses in several suburbs, including Bellwood, Berwyn, Broadview, Forest Park, Hillside, Maywood, Melrose Park, Oak Park and River Forest.

This follows the news that Naperville received a grant to install smart meters in that city.  ComEd sees the smart meters as a building block in the overall plan for a "smart grid":

"Imagine an electrical distribution system so smart that it 'heals' itself and never requires customers to call ComEd to report an outage; one that sends a message to your cell phone alerting you of the restoration of power while you are out at dinner; one that employs the most advanced technology to dramatically reduce the number of outages and a communication-and information-rich system that empowers customers with real-time data that lets them make the smartest, most cost-effective energy decisions.

"Long-term, AMI meters will automatically notify ComEd of power outages and restorations, without requiring customers to call us. They can give customers real-time data about their energy use so they can make smart usage decisions. Customer Service Representatives also can more easily resolve bill questions, meter problems and other concerns because they are able to access customers’ meters in real-time. That means customers no longer have to wait for customer service representatives to dispatch a technician to assess a problem.

"These advanced meters will transform the industry and open a world of choice to customers, enabling information-based decisions about energy usage to improve energy efficiency, reduce energy bills and cut greenhouse gas emissions."

ComEd's website also includes a nice video on the new smart meters.

Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.