&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
For more information
These Greenup site team members
are available to answer questions or
provide more information about the
cleanup:
Sam Borries
On-Scene Coordinator
312-353-8360
borries. samuel@epa.gov
Megan McSeveney
Community Involvement
Coordinator
312-886-1972
mcseveney .megan@epa.gov
Call EPA toll-free: 800-621-8431,
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., weekdays
EPA Chicago office:
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
This fact sheet will be available at
the site work trailer as well as the
Greenup Municipal Hall.
Website:
www.epa.gov/region5/cleanup/green
up/index.html
EPA Plans Removal of
Hazardous Materials
Greenup Recycling and Auction House
Greenup, Illinois May 2011
Over the next three to four weeks, contractors under the supervision of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be removing hazardous
materials left behind when the Greenup Recycling and Auction House
burned down last year. The EPA will remove asbestos and lead from the
property at 100 E. Illinois St.
Removal authority
Because the state and local governments do not have the resources for a
cleanup, Illinois officials asked the EPA to conduct what is called in legal
terms a "time-critical removal action." The EPA will use its authority
under federal law to perform the cleanup work and pay the costs. The
Agency determined the site might present "an imminent and substantial
endangerment to public health, welfare or the environment." The fire left
the buildings in rubble, and the location is unfenced and open to
trespassers. Additionally, there are indications that asbestos from the
building debris may have blown off-site.
Work plan
Here is what residents can expect to see around the site as cleanup work
begins in late May and continues for the next three to four weeks.
Contractors working for the EPA will set up fencing around the entire site.
They will then be moving in equipment such as loaders, forklifts and an
office trailer. Seven or eight people, who at times may be wearing
The EPA determined the fire debris at the Greenup Recycling and Auction House
site at 100 E. Illinois St. posed a threat to public health and safety because of
hazardous waste containing asbestos and lead. Cleanup work at the site will start in
late May.
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protective suits and respirators, will be working on the
site to remove and dispose of the building debris safely.
In order to control dust, residents may see crews
spraying water on the debris. Additionally, air samplers
will be set up to monitor off-site for dust and debris
potentially stirred up by the cleanup work. Residents
may see additional truck traffic in the area. A safety
plan will help the EPA reduce traffic risks.
Site history
Greenup Recycling Inc. stored and packaged plastics
for recycling at the warehouse on-site. Greenup
Auction House refurbished and stored antique furniture
in a building on the property. An alleged arson blaze
destroyed both structures on May 19, 2010. The site
covers the former Ettelbrick Shoe factory, which
operated from the 1920s to the 1980s.
The fire destroyed the businesses and left only rubble
and building debris at the site, which is unfenced and
unprotected. The Illinois EPA asked EPA to assume
cleanup responsibility for the location in late August
2010.
Residents may see cleanup workers wearing protective gear while they clean up debris at the Greenup
Recycling and Auction House site. Work will start in late May and continue three or four weeks.
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