&EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency For more information EPA invites you to review technical reports, fact sheets and other official documents related to Sauget Area 1 and Dead Creek at the information repository: Cahokia Public Library 140 Cahokia Drive You may also visit: www.epa.gov/region5/sites/ saugetareal. Contact EPA If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact an EPA team member: Leah Evison Remedial Project Manager 312-886-2064 evison.leah@epa.gov Patricia Krause Community Involvement Coordinator 312-886-9506 krause.patricia@epa.gov EPA Region 5 Superfund Division (SI-7J) 77 W. Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604 You may call Region 5 toll-free, 800-621-8431, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., weekdays. Dead Creek Cleanup Done; EPA Issues Final Report Sauget Area 1 Superfund Site Sauget, Illinois January 2010 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has completed its cleanup of Dead Creek and Borrow Pit Lake, issuing a final report in December. The project was begun in 1999. EPA oversaw the cleanup of about 17,000 feet of Dead Creek, from Queeny Avenue in Sauget to Cargill Road in Cahokia (see map, Page 2). Dead Creek is part of the Sauget Area 1 Superfund site. EPA analyzed soil and sediment in Dead Creek, and tests showed higher concentrations of pollutants such as metals, volatile organic compounds, semivolatile organic compounds and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. Volatile organic compounds evaporate readily into the atmosphere. They are found in many things from paints, coatings and glue to gasoline and diesel fuel. Semivolatile organic compounds evaporate more slowly than VOCs and can be used as fire retardants or in building materials for flexibility, water resistance or to repel stains. PCBs are man-made chemicals used as coolants and lubricants in transformers and other electrical equipment. Manufacturing of PCBs stopped in 1977. Based on the test results, EPA ordered Pharmacia Corp. and Solutia Inc. - two of the many parties identified as potentially responsible for contaminating Dead Creek - to clean up the creek as quickly as possible. EPA, Pharmacia and Solutia worked cooperatively to remove contaminated sediment and soil. Improved storm water management was also part of the work. A view of Dead Creek Segment C between Judith Lane and Cahokia Street in Cahokia. ------- In order to better manage the cleanup, Dead Creek was divided into the following segments: Segment A - 1,800 feet between the Alton and Southern Railroad and Queeny Avenue. Segment B - 2,000 feet from Queeny Avenue south to Judith Lane. Segment C - 1,200 feet between Judith Lane and Cahokia Street. Segment D - 1,100 feet between Cahokia Street and Jerome Lane. Segment E - 4,000 feet between Jerome Lane and Illinois Route 157. Segment F - a total of 8,700 feet between Illinois Route 157 and Borrow Pit Lake, although a short segment lies between the west side of Borrow Pit Lake and Old Prairie du Pont Creek. Borrow Pit Lake was also part of the cleanup. The lake is west of Segment F and east of the flood protection levee along Old Prairie du Pont Creek. It is 1 mile long and 500 feet wide. Sediment and soil cleanup Initially about 22,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment was removed from Segment A by Cerro Copper, another party potentially responsible for the pollution, under an agreement with Illinois EPA. Solutia and Pharmacia removed approximately 46,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from remaining segments of Dead Creek, working under EPA's order. A containment cell was constructed in Sauget Area 1, next to Judith Lane, to hold the contaminated sediment. The cell was constructed with an extensive liner and ite Locatiou Map (ILD9S0792006) This map shows the segments of Dead Creek where contaminated sediment was removed. ------- This containment cell has a liner, liquid collection system and temporary cover to keep materials away from Dead Creek. liquid collection and drainage system, and a temporary cover. A final cover will be installed when the cell is closed. After all contaminated sediment was removed from Dead Creek, the bottom of the creek was sampled and analyzed. Based on sampling results, the contaminated soil in the bottom of the creek was removed and also placed into the containment cell. After contaminated soil was removed from Segment B, a liner was installed for extra protection. Crushed stone was placed over the liner and is visible on the banks in this area. Natural grasses, trees and shrubs were left on the banks of most of the creek. Residential yards As part of the site investigation, soil samples were taken in the yards of a number of homes next to the creek and in the creek floodplain. In August 2001, residents were assured by EPA that, based on the results of this sampling, the soil at area homes posed no risk to human health or the environment from flooding in the creek. This is still the case. EPA recently sampled residential yards near other parts of the Sauget Area 1 Superfund Site and will inform the community when the results are complete. Surface water To improve surface water drainage for Dead Creek, two culverts that allowed water to pass underneath roads were replaced under Cargill Road in Segment F. However, Segments B through D of the creek do not flow naturally because all of the culverts under the roads are higher than the bottom of the creek. Pumps were installed in Segments C, D and E to help move water out of these segments during dry periods and when the Mississippi River is low. During wet weather or high Mississippi River conditions, water accumulates in Borrow Pit Lake and Segment F so that the pumps are ineffective. The pumps are owned by the village of Cahokia, with Solutia reimbursing the village for maintenance expenses. Metro East Sanitary District controls the amount of water that accumulates. Surface water in Dead Creek was sampled and is safe for wading; however, there may be natural hazards ------- such as fallen logs, debris and mosquitoes. Cahokia manages mosquito control in most of Dead Creek, assisted by St. Clair County Health Department. Ground water Ground water beneath Segment A and the northern part of Segment B is contaminated from nearby former landfills. To determine the appropriate cleanup for these landfills, EPA is conducting what it calls a "feasibility study," which evaluates cleanup options. An investigation to make sure contamination had not leaked from creek soil to ground water in Segments C through F of Dead Creek was performed and the results showed no significant ground water contamination caused by creek sediment. An inspection, maintenance and ground water monitoring program continues at the containment cell near Judith Lane. Update on Sauget Area 1 and 2 sites A long-term project to clean up the remainder of the Sauget Area 1 site is under way. EPA will perform two important studies, called "remedial investigation" and "feasibility study." The remedial investigation details the types, quantities and hazards of pollutants on the site, while the feasibility study identifies and evaluates possible cleanup options for the property. EPA will pick its recommended cleanup option once both studies are complete. The public will have an opportunity to comment on EPA's recommendation, and a final cleanup plan will be proposed after public input is considered. For the Sauget Area 2 site, which is closer to the Mississippi River and next to Area 1, more studies and investigations to assess cleanup options for remaining areas are being performed. Final cleanup decisions for both sites could be made in late 2010 or early 2011. t * d)9|dmoo sj peeo jo dnueeio 06SC-t0909 II ' pAia uos>per "M LL (rZ~IS) UOISIAIO punjjedns 9 |BlU9LUUOJ|AUg ------- |