£EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
For more information
EPA Web sites
More information about the Sauget
Area 1 and Area 2 Superfund sites is
available at:
epa.gov/region5/sites/saugetareal
epa.gov/region5/sites/saugetarea2
Local library
EPA invites the public to review
technical reports, fact sheets and
other official documents related to
Sauget Area 1 and Area 2 sites at the
information repository:
Cahokia Public Library
140 Cahokia Drive
Contact EPA
These EPA team members are
available to answer questions or take
comments about the Sauget sites:
Stephanie Linebaugh
Remedial Project Manager
312-353-2315
linebaugh. Stephanie @epa.gov
Patricia Krause
Community Involvement
Coordinator
312-886-9506
krause.patricia@epa.gov
Mailing address:
EPA Region 5
Superfund Division (SI-7J)
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
Region 5 toll-free:
800-621-8431, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30
p.m., weekdays
Superfund Update - Cleanup
Progressing and Future Plans
Sauget Area 1 and Area 2 Superfund Sites
Sauget, Illinois
November 2009
Short-term cleanup activities continue at the Sauget Area 1 and Area 2
Superfund sites while U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5
makes plans for a long-term, permanent solution to the contamination
problems at the sites. EPA representatives will be conducting interviews
with community members to get local insight into concerns and
information needs at the hazardous waste sites. This fact sheet was
written to update interested people on recent cleanup activity in the
region and look forward to what the future might bring. First, a little
background about these areas:
Site history
EPA first got involved with the sites in the late 1980s when sediment
(mud) contaminated with PCBs, pesticides and metals was found in the
northern part of Dead Creek located in Sauget Area 1. PCBs are
polychlorinated biphenyls, which were once used in many industrial
processes but are very hazardous to people and wildlife. EPA ordered
the removal of the contaminated sediment, and legally responsible
parties Monsanto and Solutia Inc. paid for the removal under EPA
oversight. Solutia operates a manufacturing plant next to Area 1.
EPA has entered into legal agreements with other companies that
contributed to contaminants at Sauget Areas 1 and 2. Sauget Area 1
covers about three miles of Dead Creek and about 40 acres of adjacent
land. Sauget Area 2 covers about 300 acres close to the Mississippi
River, mostly in the towns of Sauget and Cahokia. The W.G.
Krummrich Facility is not part of the Sauget Area 1 and 2 Superfund
sites. It is being cleaned up through another EPA program.
Sauget Area 1 update
Area 1 cleanup is being handled by short-term removal actions and a
long-term project that focuses on cleaning up the entire site. A remedial
investigation and feasibility study are required for the long-term
cleanup phase. The "remedial investigation" details the types, quantities
and hazards of the pollutants on the site, while the "feasibility study"
identifies and evaluates possible cleanup options for the property.
Sauget Area 1 is made up of 12 contaminant sources illustrated on the
map on P. 2 of this fact sheet:
• Segment A-F of Dead Creek and Borrow Pit Lake.
• Adjacent sites G, H, I, L, M and N. Sites G, H and I are inactive
landfills or former disposal areas next to the creek. Site L was
used by waste haulers to dispose of wastewater, and sites M and
N are former sand pits.
Sites G, H, and I contributed to a contaminated ground water plume
flowing west towards the Mississippi River and contaminated ground
water under and close to the disposal areas. Ground water is an
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environmental term for an underground supply of fresh
water. A plume is a mass of contaminated ground
water. Short-term cleanup work at the sites includes:
• Removing 22,000 cubic yards of contaminated
sediment from Dead Creek Segment A.
• Consolidating waste and placing a soil cover
over the Site G landfill after an underground
fire.
• Removing 58,000 cubic yards of contaminated
sediment and soil from Dead Creek segments
B-F, site M and the Borrow Pit Lake.
• Replacing culverts and pumping water in areas
of Dead Creek to improve drainage and lessen
standing water.
• Placing a liner in creek segment B.
Contaminated ground water is not currently being used
as drinking water, and new drinking water wells are not
allowed. A few non-drinking water wells still exist at
residences in the area.
Once the remedial investigation and feasibility study
are completed EPA will pick its recommended cleanup
option, hold a meeting and comment period to get
public input and then issue a proposed cleanup plan to
manage the remaining contamination at the site.
Sauget Area 2 update
Area 2 cleanup included constructing a barrier wall
around Site R to capture contaminated water and
prevent it from reaching the Mississippi River and
pumping and treating ground water off-site. In addition,
over 3,000 drums and 17,000 cubic yards of
contaminated soil were removed from Site Q. Sauget
Area 2 was used to treat and dispose of industrial,
municipal and chemical waste and is made up of the
following sections (see map below):
• Four landfills sites Q, R, S and P.
• Four backfilled lagoons, site O
Added studies and investigations to assess cleanup
alternatives are being incorporated into an updated
feasibility study on Area 2. Final cleanup decisions
could be made in 2011
Map shows the numerous sub-sections of Sauget Areas 1 and 2 Superfund
sites. The river shown on the mav is the Mississippi.
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