&EBA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Information repositories
You may review site documents at:
Sonya Crawshaw Branch
Poplar Creek Public Library District
4300 Audrey Lane
Hanover Park
Poplar Creek Public Library
Main Library
1405 S. ParkAve.
Streamwood
Check out these Web sites:
www.epa.gov/region5/sites/mallard
www. epaosc .net/mallardlake
www.epaosc.net/MallardNorth
www. atsdr. cdc.gov
www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html.
Update on Landfill Activities;
Cleanup Measures Working
Mallard Lake Landfill Site
Hanover Park, Illinois
June 2009
Over the past few months, seven new gas extraction wells were installed west of
the Mallard Lake Landfill to remove underground methane that escaped from the
landfill's property. Methane from all but one of these extraction wells is being
destroyed by thermal oxidizing units strategically placed near the wells (see
photo). One unit is located in Hawk Hollow Forest Preserve and two in
neighborhoods to the west. Because one gas recovery well is near the landfill,
methane from this well is being piped to the facility and used to create energy by
a private company on the landfill's property. All the thermal oxidizing units are
secured by locked fencing, have automatic fire suppression equipment for safety
and are monitored regularly. Each
thermal oxidizing unit also has screens
around it to reduce noise. The extraction
wells and thermal oxidizing units will
continue to operate until the level of
underground methane gas that has left
the landfill's property has reached a level
considered to be safe. However, these
locations will continue to be monitored
until it is determined that elevated levels
will not return. All work and testing at
the Mallard Lake site is being done under Thermal oxidizing units like the one
the oversight of U.S. Environmental pictured here are being used to burn and
Protection Agency and Illinois EPA. destr°y methane being removed by the
extraction wells.
Landfill improvements
Steps continue to be taken to keep methane generated by the landfill within the
facility's boundaries. Five gas extraction wells installed right outside the landfill,
plus 20 new wells installed on the landfill itself, are working with more than 200
existing on-site wells to remove methane. Methane from all of these wells is sent
to the plant on site that creates energy, which is then sold to power companies.
Also, enhancements and repairs continue to be made at the landfill to ensure the
gas-extraction system is performing effectively. Many wells have been repaired or
replaced and improvements have been made to the landfill's cover. The objective
is to make sure methane does not escape the facility's property. Testing indicates
this effort has been successful. Methane is no longer present in several off-landfill
monitoring locations and results show that in many other places methane levels
have dropped.
Investigation northeast of the landfill
Last fall, methane was discovered underground northeast of the landfill near
Greenbrook Elementary School. As a result, an investigation was undertaken to
discover the source. Initial results indicate that it will be difficult to determine if
the source is Mallard Lake Landfill or an older site called Mallard North Landfill.
Sampling has been conducted around the school. Methane has been found in one
monitoring well 16-21 feet underground on the school property, but none has been
found in the school. A gas extraction well and thermal oxidizing unit have been
installed in this area to remove and destroy the methane. Both the monitoring of
the school and the investigation of the Mallard North Landfill will continue.
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For more information
For more information about the site you may contact:
Mike Joyce
Community Involvement Coordinator
Superfund Division (SI-7J)
EPA Region 5
77 W.Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
Phone: 312-353-5546 or
800-621-8431, Ext. 3 5546
8:30 a.m. -4:3Op.m., weekdays
E-mail: joyce.mike@epa.gov
Rafael Gonzalez
Public Affairs Specialist
Land and Chemicals Division (L-8 J)
EPA Region 5
77 W.Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
Phone: 312-8 86-0269 or
800-621-8431, Ext. 60269
8:30a.m. -4:3Op.m., weekdays
E-mail: gonzalez.rafaelp@epa.gov
Steve Faryan
On-Scene Coordinator
Emergency Response Branch (SE-5 J)
EPA Region 5
77 W.Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
Phone: 312-353-935 lor
800-621-8431,Ext. 39351
8:30 a.m. -4:30p.m., weekdays
E-mail: faryan.steven@epa.gov
Michelle Colledge
Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSD-4J)
EPA Region 5
77 W.Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312-886-1462 or
800-621-8431, Ext. 61462
8:30 a.m. -4:30p.m., weekdays
E-mail: colledge.michelle@epa.gov
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