November 2017 Update
This project has been completed.
U.S. EPA removed, transported, and disposed of asbestos-contaminated waste inside and outside of every building. The site has been turned over to Illinois EPA.
The cleanup, which lasted about nine months, involved removing waste materials after being separated into the following categories:
- Friable asbestos-containing construction debris
- Friable asbestos‐containing pipe wrap and boiler insulation materials
- Unknown drums
- Compressed gas cylinders
- Laboratory chemicals
- Universal wastes
The majority of the asbestos waste was loaded into lined trucks or dumpsters/roll-off containers. Any debris that was too large for transport was mechanically demolished prior to load and transport. Depending on the location, some waste (i.e., drummed and universal waste streams) was temporarily stockpiled inside an “outbuilding” prior to transport and disposal. Nearly 2,200 tons of contaminated debris, 1,160 cubic yards of contaminated pipe wrap and boiler insulation, nine 275-gallon totes of waste/fuel oil, three 55-gallon gallon drums of waste anti-freeze, 3,700 fluorescent light bulbs, and 12 pounds of mercury were removed and shipped off-site.
During the cleanup, U.S. EPA also took measures to keep any asbestos-contaminated dust from blowing off-site. The air was monitored to ensure the asbestos was under control. Security was provided around the clock to prevent trespassing.