vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
You are invited
EPA will share information and
answer questions about soil sampling
in the Pilsen Area Soils site during a
meeting and open house:
Wednesday, Jan. 27
Open house, 5:30 p.m.
Public meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Holy Trinity Croatian Church
Basement - 1850 S. Throop St.
For more information
For questions, comments or more
information about the Pilsen Area
Soils site, contact:
For technical questions:
Ramon C. Mendoza
On-scene Coordinator
Superfund Division
U.S. EPA Region 5
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, Illinois 60604
312-886-4314
mendoza.ramon@epa.gov
For general questions and to turn in
your signed access agreement:
Heriberto Leon
Community Involvement
Coordinator
Superfund Division
U.S. EPA Region 5
77 W Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
312-886-6163
leon.heriberto@epa.gov
EPA toll-free:
800-621-8431, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.,
weekdays
For information and to download
the access agreement, visit:
www3.epa.gov/region5/cleanup/pilse
nareasoils/
EPA Contacts Pilsen Area
Property Owners for Sampling
Pilsen Area Soils site
Chicago, Illinois January 2016
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is asking owners of over 100
properties in a portion of the Pilsen neighborhood for permission to take
samples in their yards and gardens for lead-contaminated soil. The specific
residential area - referred to as Operable Unit 2 of the Pilsen Area Soils site -
is bounded by 18th Place to the north, an alley halfway between Allport Street
and Racine Avenue to the east, 21st Street to the south, and Loomis Street to
the west (See map, Page 2).
If you own a residential property within these boundaries, EPA urges you to
complete an access agreement allowing us to sample your property for lead to
find out if a cleanup is needed. Turning in your signed access agreement (see
box, left) during January and February will help the Agency begin work when
the first signs of spring arrive.
Agreement reached
In December, EPA finalized a legal document that requires H. Kramer and Co.
to sample soil lead levels in the 25-acre area of the Pilsen neighborhood. EPA
will oversee the sampling process. There are about 178 residential properties
within the boundary area. About 121 of these properties have yards with bare
soil, grass or gravel and are eligible for sampling.
Sampling process
Here is a general outline of the steps EPA follows when sampling yards:
• Get a signed access agreement from the property owner.
• Have public meetings to explain the project to everyone in the area.
• Develop a sampling schedule for the work in the neighborhood.
• Contact the owner to set the time and date of the work.
• Collect soil samples, inventory the landscape and get information on the
physical features and conditions of the property.
• Send samples to a laboratory for analysis.
• Communicate with the owner after EPA receives the laboratory results.
About the Pilsen Area Soils site
EPA has been investigating lead contamination in Chicago's Pilsen
neighborhood since 2011, when it became involved with a cleanup at the
former Loewenthal Smelter. Residents requested additional investigation into
potential lead contamination given the area's long industrial history.
EPA conducted soil sampling in 2012 and 2013 and found high levels of lead
in soil collected from two residential areas, as well as from the alley and
railroad spur near the H. Kramer facility. Starting in November, EPA oversaw
the removal of tracks and ties along a railway spur between South Laflin Street
and 21st Street and Cermak Road, and the excavation and disposal of lead-
contaminated soil from the railroad spur and alley behind the foundry at 21st
Street. All areas will be covered with asphalt or gravel in the spring.
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