Success
Story
United States
Environmental Protectior
Agency
Sewage Treatment Plant

Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites:
Reed Keppler Park and
Sewage Treatment Plant
West Chicago, Illinois
October 2011
FINAL

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Developed for EPA Region 5 by Skeo Solutions
Table of Contents

Executive Summary
3
Introduction
4
Reed Keppler Park
5
Sewage Treatment Plant
8
River Restoration
11
Components of Success
14
Benefits of Reuse
17
Conclusion
17
Stakeholder Contacts
18

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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
Executive Summary
The Kerr-McGee Superfund sites include four National Priority List (NPL) sites in the West Chicago area
that were contaminated with radioactive thorium wastes. The radioactive waste originated from a
nearby facility known as the Rare Earths Facility (REF). The REF operated from 1932 - 1973 and
produced non-radioactive and radioactive elements for use in gas lantern mantles and in federal atomic
energy research and development programs. This report focuses on two of the Kerr-McGee sites: the
Reed Keppler Park and the Sewage Treatment Plant Superfund sites.
The cleanup of Reed Keppler Park and the Sewage Treatment Plant were funded by Kerr-McGee, the
potentially responsible party, and both sites have been remediated for unrestricted use. Information
presented in this report illustrates lessons learned by local stakeholders involved in the cleanup of this
West Chicago community. Stakeholders engaged in the Superfund cleanup process helped align cleanup
with future use goals to ensure the sites were returned to a productive and beneficial use for the
community. In addition, local stakeholder input on the design of the remediation strategy, restoration
plans and monitoring technologies helped to reduce remediation costs and accelerate the cleanup.
The remediation, restoration and reuse of Reed Keppler Park and the Sewage Treatment Piant
Superfund sites has resulted in valuable recreational opportunities and restored ecosystem services in
the county. The cleanup activities also enabled expansion of the Sewage Treatment Plant. This success
story report provides an overview of the cleanup and reuse process at each site, and outlines
components of success and the benefits of reuse for the West Chicago community.
West
•>, Dupage
,v»
« Kerr McGee
(Reed Keppler Park)
West Chicago
9 Kerr-McGee
(Sewage Treatment Plant)
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
introduction
The City of West Chicago, located approximately 30 miles west of downtown Chicago, was established
around the first railroad junction in Illinois. In 1888, a railroad company laid tracks through the town and
gave away free factory sites along its right-of-way. The Lindsay Light and Chemical Company established
a facility in the early 1930s to manufacture incandescent gaslight mantles for home and street lighting.
The facility produced thorium nitrate, a radioactive chemical used to manufacture the gaslight mantles.
The facility, known as the Rare Earths Facility (REF), continued to produce both nonradioactive
elements, known as rare earths, and radioactive elements, such as thorium, radium and uranium, for
private entities and the United States government's federal atomic energy programs until 1973.
Kerr-McGee (now known as Tronox) purchased the REF in 1967 and maintained operations at the facility
until closing it in 1973. The REF extracted the radioactive elements from monazite sands, bastnasite
(rare earth ore) and other ores using an acid leaching process, which generated radioactive mill tailings
as a byproduct. The sand-like mill tailings were stored in large piles at the REF and were made available
as free fill material from the 1930s through the 1950s. The mill tailings were used throughout West
Chicago for landscaping projects and to fill low-lying areas before the material was determined to be
hazardous.
Four Kerr-McGee Superfund sites were placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990 and 1991: the
Reed-Keppler Park, the Sewage Treatment Plant, the Residential Areas site, and the Kress Creek/West
Branch DuPage River site. While the contamination at all sites originated at the REF, each site is
addressed by a separate remedial process.
This success story explores the
partnerships and key factors that led to
the successful cleanup and reuse of the
Reed Kepper Park Superfund site and
the Sewage Treatment Plant Superfund
site. The report outlines lessons learned
as identified by local, state and federal
representatives involved in the project.
The intention is to provide relevant
information to parties with a general
interest in Superfund site reuse,
parkland revitalization and ecological
restoration.
U.S. EPA Project Manager, Becky Frey, inspects the restored habitat on the
banks of Kress Creek.
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
Reed Keppler Park
The 90-acre Reed Keppler Park Superfund site is
located in a largely residential area of West
Chicago. The property was used as a sand and
gravel quarry in the late 1800s. The City of West
Chicago purchased the land from the local rail
road company in the early 1930s and used it as a
small municipal landfill from 1939 to 1974. After
closing the landfill, the City leased the property to
the West Chicago Park District for development
of a community park. Radioactive mill tailings,
derived from production processes at the REF,
were used as cover material for the landfill, as
well as fill material in the surrounding park area.
Remedial History
In spring 1993, EPA began a remedial
investigation (Rl) to determine the nature and
extent of contamination at the site. Based on the
investigation results, EPA issued an Action
Memorandum to expedite cleanup of the site.
The Action Memorandum specified excavation
and offsite disposal of the radioactively-
contaminated wastes to meet residential cleanup
standards.
Reed Keppler Park Remedial Timeline
1990
Reed Keppler Park added to the
National Priorities List (NPL)
Spring 1993
EPA began a Remedial
Investigation (Rl) to determine
the nature and extent of
contamination at the site
March 1996
EPA issues an Action
Memorandum selecting
excavation and offsite disposal
of contaminated wastes as the
removal action
Sept 1996
EPA issues a Unilateral
Administrative Order requiring
Kerr-McGee to conduct a time-
critical removal action
1997 - 2000
Kerr-McGee completed
excavation and restoration work
March 2002
EPA finalized the Rl report
Sept 2002
EPA issued a Record of
Decision (ROD) calling for no
further action, with ground
water monitoring until the
drinking water standard for
uranium was attained
March 2005
Federal Consent Decree for
ground water monitoring
finalized with Kerr-McGee;
subsequent sampling results
meet ground water standards
Feb 2010
Reed Keppler Park deleted from
the NPL
Reed Keppler Park
Approximate
boundary of the
remediated site
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
Kerr-McGee began excavation work at
the site in April 1997 and completed the
excavation work in late 1999, removing
114,652 cubic yards of radioactively-
contaminated material.
The initial cleanup requirements involved
continual testing of soil below the water
table creating cleanup delays and
uncertainty during the process. This
challenge sparked a technical innovation
developed during discussions with the
City of West Chicago referred to as the
cutline approach. This cutline approach
consisted of boring measurements on a
15-meter grid to identify the vertical and
horizontal extent of the contamination.
The method gave EPA and Kerr-McGee
the specific location and amount of
excavation needed, which enabled them
to more accurately estimate cleanup
costs and a timeline.
Kerr-McGee and EPA agreed upon a plan
to complete the cleanup using the cut-
line approach. EPA granted Kerr-McGee
additional time in the remediation
process to accommodate community
discussions and ensure local stakeholder
support for the plan.
Restoration work, which included
backfilling, grading, re-seeding, replacement of groundwater monitoring wells and road work, was
completed in November 2000. EPA finalized the Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study (RI/FS) report
in March 2002 and issued a Record of Decision (ROD) in September 2002. The ROD called for no further
action at the site, with ground water monitoring to continue until sufficient data was collected to ensure
that the drinking water standard for uranium was attained.
The ground water monitoring was conducted by Kerr-McGee in accordance with a federal Consent
Decree finalized in March 2005. The results of the first four ground water sampling events were below
the total uranium cleanup standards. Based upon these results, EPA declared the remedial action at
Reed-Keppler Park complete.
Coordinating Cleanup and Redevelopment:
The Prairie Oaks Family Aquatic Center
Development of the Prairie Oaks Aquatic Center
required careful coordination between the City of West
Chicago, DuPage County, the West Chicago Park
District and EPA, along with input from the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC) and State environmental
agencies. The location of the Park's original pool facility,
and the proposed location for a new family aquatic
center, was 700 feet east of the old landfill. Planning for
the new facility began before the Remedial Investigation
(Rl) determining the full extent of radioactive
contamination was complete. However, EPA agreed to
allow the project to proceed if the Park District
performed a more focused Rl in the proposed
development area.
The Park District's Rl identified several small areas of
contamination. Fortunately, most of the contamination
was located in areas that could be avoided by modifying
the aquatic center's design. EPA later addressed these
areas during the remediation of the larger site area.
Once EPA was certain the development footprint was
outside areas of possible contamination, EPA allowed
the Park District to commence construction of the
facility with the stipulation that baseline monitoring of
background radiation occur throughout construction.
Construction began in 1993, concurrent with EPA's
larger Remedial Investigation, and the Prairie Oaks
Family Aquatic Center opened June 16, 1995.
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
Site Status
Reed Keppler Park was deleted from the NPL in February
2010. The site has been cleaned to accommodate
unrestricted use of the property.
Current Use
Reed-Keppler Park now features:
•	7 baseball/softball fields,
•	1 T-ball field, 2 soccer fields,
•	1 lacrosse field, a football field,
•	A skateboard park,
•	2 playgrounds,
•	a concession stand and pavilions, and
•	ample parking.
The Park is home of the West Chicago Park District Wildcat
Youth Football League. In addition, Reed Keppler Park
hosts a 2-acre fenced dog park and the 25-acre Dyer
Nature Sanctuary and trail. The new 5-acre aquatic center
is one of the central amenities of the remediated Reed-
Keppler Park. It includes a large multi-use pool area, water
slides, sand volleyball courts, a concession and changing
facilities.
Overcoming Challenges
While developing the new aquatic center and remediating
the Reed-Keppler Park site, the West Chicago Park District
and EPA had to respond to public concerns over the safety
of the Park facilities. Danger signs posted around the
fenced portion of the site generated stigma and caused
park use to drop significantly.
In order to address these concerns, the Park District
published informational articles in the local newspaper.
EPA developed a series of fact sheets describing the
remedial activities at Reed Keppler Park to post at the park
and aquatic center.
The Illinois Prairie Path, a 61-mile multi-use nature trail
designed for bicycling and other non-motorized public use,
built on the former right-of-way for the old Chicago Aurora
and Elgin electric railroad, runs behind the sports fields at
Prairie Oaks Family Aquatic Center (Source: City of West
Chicago)
One of the many baseball fields at Reed Keppler Park
(Source: City of West Chicago)
T
Skateboard park at Reed Keppler Park (Source: City of
West Chicago)
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
Sewage Treatment Plant
The Sewage Treatment Plant site is located in the
southeastern portion of West Chicago and is
comprised of the West Chicago Sewage
Treatment Plant and approximately 1.2 miles of
river sediments, banks and floodplain soils. The
Sewage Treatment Plant site is divided into two
operable units (OU) referred to as the Upland OU
and the River OU.
The Upland OU consists of the Sewage Treatment
Plant property, which is owned and operated by
the City of West Chicago. The Sewage Treatment
Plant was built in 1919 and covers approximately
25 acres.
The River OU includes approximately 1.2 miles of
the West Branch of the DuPage River from the
northern boundary of the Sewage Treatment
Plant property to the confluence of the river and
Kress Creek.1 The River OU is divided into two
reaches: 5A, the upstream reach, and 5B, the
downstream reach.
Remedial History
The Sewage Treatment Plant became
contaminated when radioactive thorium
residuals from the Kerr-McGee facility were
hauled to the treatment facility and used as fill
material. Some of the contamination entered the
adjacent West Branch DuPage River due to
erosion during rainstorms.
Sewage Treatment Plant
Remedial Timeline
1986
Kerr-McGee conducted a
voluntary cleanup action at the
Upland OU
1990
Sewage Treatment Plant listed
on the National Priorities List
(NPL)
1993
EPA began Remedial
Investigation (Rl) and Feasibility
Study (FS)
1997
Kerr-McGee conducted
additional characterization work
Fall 2003
EPA and Kerr-McGee signed
Administrative Order of Consent
(AOC) for Kerr-McGee to
conduct a time-critical removal
action at the Upland OU
Fall 2003
EPA and Kerr-McGee signed
AOC for Kerr-McGee to
complete the RI/FS
Fall 2004
EPA signed Record of Decision
(ROD) for the River OU
Spring 2005
Kerr-McGee entered into two
separate consent decrees, one
with the federal government and
State of Illinois and one with the
local communities
Fall 2006
Restoration work on Upland OU
and River OU completed
Fall 2006
EPA signed preliminary close-
out report
1 Kress Creek and the West Branch of the DuPage River downstream of the confluence are part of a separate
Superfund site addressed under a separate ROD. The Kress Creek Site includes seven miles of creek and river
sediment, banks and floodplain soils contaminated by eroded soil from the REF that flushed through a nearby
storm sewer during rainstorms.
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
SOUTH BOUNDARY OF
RIVER Oil. REACH SB
Map showing the Sewage Treatment Plant Upland OU and River OU, Reach 5A and 5B
Adapted from Delineation Drilling Map featured in the 2009 Five Year Review.
SEW4GE *REAtVIE«T PtAhT SITE
OsiPAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
DELINEATION DRILUNC MAP
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
During 1986 and 1987, Kerr-McGee conducted a voluntary cleanup action to allow the City to expand
the Sewage Treatment Plant. Further radioactivity surveys performed by the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) and EPA found additional contamination. As a result, EPA placed the Sewage
Treatment Plant on the NPL in 1990 and began a Rl in 1993.
In 1998, EPA agreed to a more efficient and cost-effective cleanup strategy based on the cut-line
approach developed for Reed Keppler Park. Approximately 1900 borings were installed to create cut
lines every 25 feet to identify the extent of contamination across the site. This allowed Kerr-McGee to
define the limits of construction and generate a fixed estimate of the cleanup costs.
Kerr-McGee officially took the lead in the RI/FS with EPA oversight in a written agreement reached in
late 2003. The RI/FS reports prepared by Kerr-McGee include data collected by both EPA and Kerr-
McGee. As a result of the extensive studies and community discussions, EPA approved a cleanup
proposal that had support from both Kerr-McGee and the local stakeholders.
In fall 2003, Kerr-McGee and EPA signed an Administrative Order on Consent for Kerr-McGee to conduct
a time-critical removal action at the Upland OU. EPA signed a ROD for the Sewage Treatment Plant in
September 2004. The ROD selected excavation and off-site disposal as the cleanup method for targeted
sediments and soils. The cleanup required remediation to meet residential cleanup standards as well as
habitat restoration to mitigate for impacts associated with the cleanup. The ROD also determined that
no further action was necessary at the Upland OU after completion of the time-critical removal action at
that portion of the site.
Ole Oldenburg and John Wills review the newly constructed
floodplain which has been lowered in elevation with a crenulated
cobble bank providing bank stability and habitat.
(Source: Forest Preserve District)
This photo shows the same river section four years later
demonstrating restored habitat. Water Willow is now well
established providing very stable bank and floodplain conditions and
excellent fish fry protection habitat.
In spring 2005, Kerr-McGee entered into two separate consent decrees, one with the federal
government and State of Illinois and one with the local communities. Under the federal Consent Decree,
Kerr-McGee agreed to design and carry out cleanup of the Sewage Treatment Plant River OU, under the
oversight of EPA and the local governments. The cleanup design plan for each segment of the creek and
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
river contained a detailed restoration plan, called the Conceptual Mitigation and Restoration Design
Plan. The cleanup of the upstream portion of the river (Reach 5A) was completed during the summer of
2005. The cleanup of the downstream portion of the river (Reach 5B) began in August 2006 and
was completed in the fall of 2006. Additional restoration plantings in Reach 5B were completed in spring
2008.
Site Status
EPA signed a preliminary close-out report for the site in September 2006. Maintenance and monitoring
of the restored areas will continue until the restoration performance criteria set forth in the restoration
plan have been achieved. The Sewage Treatment Plant has been remediated for unrestricted use. EPA
anticipates delisting the site from the NPL once the maintenance and monitoring period is complete.
Current Land Use
The Sewage Treatment Plant property is located in an area of low-density development surrounded by
residential areas and the West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve. Land use along the river portion of the
site is mostly recreational, but there are a few homes and a church on the eastern side of the river south
of the Sewage Treatment Plant. While land use at the Sewage Treatment Plant site has remained the
same, the ecological health and recreational use of the river has greatly increased as a result of cleanup
and restoration activities.
River Restoration Plan for the Sewage Treatment Plant Site
Under the Consent Decrees signed in 2005, Kerr McGee agreed to develop a restoration and mitigation
plan for the different types of properties and areas located along the River OU. The Conceptual
Mitigation and Restoration Design Plan was created with significant input from representatives of the
City of West Chicago, DuPage County, the Forest Preserve, EPA, and federal and state natural resource
trustees. The conceptual plan was designed to restore habitats impacted by cleanup activities to similar
or better character and function. The plan included specific mitigation and restoration goals for the
following areas and property types: streambank and riparian areas, commercial and residential
properties, wetlands, Forest Preserve property, and in-stream aquatic habitat. It also included
monitoring and maintenance requirements for restored areas based on specific performance criteria.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County (Forest Preserve) owns the vast majority of land along the
River OU of the Sewage Treatment Plant site. In the 1980s, the Forest Preserve launched an effort to
restore the river, which was suffering from the effects of development in the watershed. The Forest
Preserve was initially concerned the cleanup of the Sewage Treatment Plant site would reverse or delay
their efforts and further harm the river. However, as they became engaged in the Superfund process,
they realized they could coordinate restoration efforts with the cleanup process.
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
ENHANCEMENT 2
BOUUJERXUJSTERS
(60 FEET)\
ENHANCEMENT
ENHANCEMENT 3 \
OVULATED SANK
(120 FEET) 	
WETLAND 4
LEGEND:
|	| REMOVAL AREA
• APPROXIMATE FLOOOWAY
		 APPROXIMATE FLOODPLAIN
	 PROPERTY UNE
¦^B| PORTION OF BANK TO BE
RESTORED PER TYPICAL
CROSS SECTION A ON
DRAWING B-7
PORTION OF BANK TO BE
RESTORED PER TYPICAL
CROSS SECTION B ON'
DRAWING B-7
PORTION OF BANK TO BE
RESTORED WITH ROOT WAD
AND/OR TREE CROWN PER
CROSS SECTIONS C AND 0
ON DRAWING B-8A
CRENULATED BANK PER
TYPICAL CROSS SECTION E
ON DRAWING B—88
] WET MEADOW WETLAND
| | | j j |1 FORESTED WETLAND
J FEN WETLAND
RIFFLE
WNNW pool
• EXISTING BOULDER
tgj BOULDER CLUSTER
A section of the Final Design/Remedial Action Work Plan for Reach 5B of the Sewage Treatment Plant River OU. (Source: Blasland, Bouck & Lee,
Inc., April 2006)
The Forest Preserve played a crucial role in helping to shape the conceptual plan and restoration
framework. By sharing technical expertise and guidance related to achieving restoration goals, they
turned the Superfund cleanup into a positive, value-added project for the Forest Preserve. John
Oldenburg, the Director of Natural Resources for the Forest Preserve, recognized the restoration
opportunity presented by the mitigation activities required by the Superfund cleanup process.


wit
Ecological concept illustrated by Jessi DeMartini of the Forest Preserve District depicting the crenulated cobble loading of the bank forward
into the river.
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
Maximizing Restoration Funds
One innovative funding solution led by the Forest Preserve involved the development of a "Tree Fund."
The Tree Fund required any contractor cutting down trees in the Forest Preserve to assess the value of
the trees and reimburse the Forest Preserve for their value. They determined every acre of forest
disturbed to be worth approximately $43,000, which could be used to finance further restoration work
and incorporate habitat features that wouid not have been possible otherwise.
The Forest Preserve also recognized the opportunity to coordinate cleanup and restoration activities
with Kerr-McGee and offered to establish equipment staging areas and access roads for the remedial
work. This allowed the Forest Preserve to select staging locations and access routes in areas of the
Preserve where tree health was already in decline.
The Forest Preserve was able to
further stretch restoration funds by
finding creative ways to use local
materials for the restoration work.
Wetland soils from one stretch of the
river were used to repair the stream
banks in other sections of the river.
Excavated areas were converted to
deep water habitat pools and the
hydric soils used to reestablish
wetlands in the floodplain. In one
instance, soils excavated to create a
pond in the Preserve were used by
Kerr-McGee for river restoration. Searching for creative solutions to meet the needs of all parties
required time, trust and a great deal of brainstorming. According to Jessie DeMartini, ecologist and
stream restoration specialist for the
Forest Preserve, "Many solutions were
reached by hashing out ideas on the back
of a napkin."
Local, state and federal parties worked
together to keep mitigation and
restoration resources within the project
area. The Forest Preserve volunteered to
take on all obligatory wetland mitigation
on Forest Preserve property, where they
felt they could achieve the highest
standard of restoration.
Restoration activities for the River OU included creating shoreline habitats along
the streambanks. (Source: Wills Burke Kelsey Associates)
Leveraging Resources
During the cleanup process, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $10 million
grant to DuPage County for habitat restoration. The overall
objective of the grant was to implement watershed
enhancement projects to restore the ecological health and
biological diversity to the West Branch of the DuPage River
and watershed. DuPage County, in cooperation with the
Forest Preserve, used the funding to develop a restoration
vision that extended beyond remediation of the Sewage
Treatment Plant to include restoration of the entire river
valley.
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
Components of Success
A combination of significant factors contributed to the successful cleanup and redevelopment of the
Reed Keppler Park and Sewage Treatment Plant Superfund sites.
Community Involvement
Citizen participation played a critical role in the cleanup and restoration of the two Kerr-McGee sites.
The Thorium Action Group (TAG) formed in the 1980s as a group of private citizens concerned about the
presence of radiation in the community. The group taught themselves about radiation contamination in
general and the particulars regarding the Kerr-McGee sites in West Chicago. Once EPA became involved,
EPA collaborated with representatives of the local community and TAG regarding the best methods for
sharing information with the public at various stages of the cleanup project.
Intergovernmental Agency Work Group
The Intergovernmental Agency Work Group (Work Group) started as an informal coalition of
stakeholders in the early 1990s, but the group became more formalized as the value of their
collaboration was realized. The entities that make up the Work Group include EPA, Illinois EPA, the
Attorney General's office, Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), Kerr-McGee, and the five
jurisdictions that make up the local community - the City of West Chicago, DuPage County, Park District
of West Chicago, Forest Preserve of DuPage County, and the City of Warrenville. The Work Group
meetings were originally held in downtown Chicago; however the agencies offered to move the
meetings to West Chicago to provide the local communities better access to the discussions.
The Intergovernmental Agency Work Group became a primary vehicle for information exchange and
transparency between EPA, Kerr-McGee and local stakeholders, including the TAG. The collaborative
effort helped accelerate investigation and cleanup efforts by coordinating information and resources.
The local communities contracted several resource professionals to guide them through the cleanup
process. While the City of West Chicago and DuPage County paid for the majority of these services, all
five jurisdictions signed an intergovernmental agreement to contribute support for the technical
assistance.
The ecological health and recreational use of the river has greatly increased as a result of cleanup and restoration activities.
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
Reuse Planning
Consideration of future uses has factored into the
cleanup of the West Chicago Superfund sites since
the beginning of the remediation process. For
Reed Keppier Park, EPA coordinated with the Park
District and the City to identify specific reuse plans
for the area after cleanup was complete. Together,
the three entities determined what the final land
conditions should be, including the site drainage
and final grade needed to accommodate intended
future uses. EPA and the Park District also
coordinated on the location of the Family Aquatic
Center. Based upon available information, the Park
District redesigned the footprint of the facility to
avoid contamination and EPA prioritized the
cleanup of areas adjacent to the facility to allow
for maximum reuse.
EPA followed the same process in regards to the
Sewage Treatment Plant site. In addition to the
extensive restoration and mitigation planning that
occurred for the River OU, EPA collaborated with
the local community to incorporate improvements
to the sewage treatment outfall (part of the
Upland OU) during remedial construction.
Innovation and Flexibility
Innovative legislative tools and flexibility in the
regulatory process played an important role in the
cleanup of the Superfund sites in West Chicago. In
the late 1990s, Congressman Dennis Hastert
developed legislation to allow for the
reimbursement of costs associated with the
cleanup of contamination that may have resulted
from research or development of the nuclear
defense program in the past. In the Town of West
Chicago, the federal government determined 55.2
percent of every dollar spent on the cleanup was
eligible for reimbursement by the U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE). The availability of reimbursement
Technical Innovations
As part of the restoration of the West Branch of
the DuPage River, in-stream structures and
habitat complexes disturbed by the cleanup
process were mitigated and restored to improve
the quantity and diversity of habitats.
•	Multiple restoration options were applied
depending on location, land use, proximity of
nearby structures, and stream characteristics,
all with the goal of achieving stable stream
banks.
•	Affected streambanks were properly sloped
and, if needed, reinforced with additional
engineered or bioengineered controls to
prevent the river from scouring and
undercutting the banks.
•	Impacted flood plain and upland areas were
revegetated where needed and native
vegetation was used when and where
possible.
The flexible approach to cleanup and restoration
of the River OU allowed the team to take
advantage of lessons learned and incorporate new
and better ideas as the project progressed. John
Wills, an engineering contractor and local
community representative, remembers, "We
originally thought that Super Saks were going to be
the greatest streambank stabilization device, and
we thought we would have no problem using the
river bottom as a haul road, but neither of those
ideas worked out." The approach allowed the plan
to ensure the most effective use of resources for
restoration to meet the long-term habitat
restoration goals for the river.
West Branch Restoration Team (from left: Jamie Geils, WBK
Engineering; Jessi DeMartini, Forest Preserve District DuPage
County; Ricky Moss, Sevenson Environmental; Mike Savage,
Arcadis and John Wills, WBK Engineering. John "Ole"
Oldenburg (taking picture not shown)
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
funds enhanced cooperation among stakeholders and greatly accelerated the cleanup process.
The Consent Decree signed in 2005 for cleanup and restoration of the Sewage Treatment Plant was
another example of how regulatory innovation created a unique process that benefitted the community.
According to Tim Fischer, the EPA Remedial Project Manager, typical EPA work plans deal solely with the
cleanup aspects of a Superfund site, but this work plan included a strategy for restoration after the
cleanup was complete. "What is more unusual is that the Conceptual Mitigation and Restoration Design
Plan simply provided a framework for an assortment of restoration options that could be applied as part
of the cleanup," he said. "The restoration strategies outlined in the plan were developed as a "best
practices" approach to streambank stabilization and restoration and set out a process for how more
detailed plans could be created on a reach by reach basis as the cleanup work progressed."
Agency Collaboration and Support
The cleanup, reuse and revitalization of Reed Keppler Park and the Sewage Treatment Plant, including
the adjacent West Branch DuPage River, required careful collaboration between the local governments,
and state and federal agencies. Determining which entity would oversee cleanup of which sites and
collaborating on the use of the REF as a transshipment
point are just two examples of the interagency
collaboration.
Cleanup Authority and Approach: One of the first
challenges with listing the sites on the NPL was
determining who had jurisdiction over which site and
would therefore be responsible for enforcing and
overseeing the cleanup. After extensive discussions
between the NRC, IEMA, and EPA, the regulatory
agencies agreed that the radiation regulators, the NRC
and IEMA, would oversee cleanup and issues related to
the REF facility, such as any ground water migration
issues. EPA took on oversight and enforcement
responsibilities for the Residential Areas, Reed Keppler
Park, Sewage Treatment Plant and Kress Creek sites.
Use of the REF: Coordination with IEMA and the City of
West Chicago on the use of the REF as a transfer point
for shipping radioactive wastes by rail to a licensed
receiving facility in Utah was crucial to the success of
the cleanup to date. Remediation of the REF is currently
90% done, but remaining cleanup work is on hold so the
site can continue to serve as a waste transfer station.
According to Kelly Grahn, the IEMA Radioactive
Materials Specialist, the cleanup process for the Kerr-
The hydric soil and gravel materials used in the restored river
(lower right) were excavated from the NOAA Sanctuary Pond
NOAA project (in background).

The REF serves as a transfer point for shipping radioactive
wastes by rail to a licensed receiving facility in Utah. Note the
rail cars in the background.
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
McGee sites would be cost prohibitive without use of the REF to transfer the waste material to a
licensed disposal facility. "IEMA is eager to complete remediation and close out the site, and the Town
of West Chicago is eager to reclaim the site for use as a City park, but we will hold off until Kerr-McGee's
remaining cleanup work is completed/' he said. Because completion of cleanup at the REF is dependent
on completion of cleanup at the other sites, IEMA and the City remain actively engaged in cleanup
discussions and push for efficient remedial work at EPA lead sites.
Benefits of Site Reuse
The remediation, restoration and reuse of Reed Keppler Park and the Sewage Treatment Plant site
benefits the community in a number of ways.
Recreational Opportunities
The successful cleanup of Reed Keppler Park resulted in the rededication of the Park as a community
amenity with new sports fields and other recreational facilities. The Park's amenities attract an
impressive amount of activity each year. The annual "Railroad Days" festival attracts 10,000 - 12,000
people alone. Gary Major, the current Director of the Park District, describes Reed Keppler Park as, "THE
community park in West Chicago" and "the central melting pot of activity."
Ecosystem Restoration
By leveraging multiple funding sources, the cleanup and restoration of the West Branch DuPage River
has gone beyond restoring the river to its previous condition. As a result of the restoration of the West
Branch of the DuPage River, the river is now considered one of the "ecological jewels of DuPage
County."
Conclusion
The redevelopment and restoration of Reed Keppler Park and the Sewage Treatment Plant, including the
West Branch of the DuPage River, illustrates how community engagement, collaborative partnerships
between local, state and federal agencies, and flexible planning can result in successful outcomes: the
protection of human health and the environment, community revitalization, and the enhancement of
the community's natural resources.
One of the most valuable lessons learned was the benefit of early coordination regarding cleanup and
future use. Local, state and federal parties collaborated to ensure the park facility construction and
sewage treatment plant expansion could move forward safely while continued investigation and
remediation was underway. As Barb Magel, Counsel for the local communities, emphasized, "The
project had interest at all levels, and everyone pulled together to solve problems to achieve the
successes we have today."
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Kerr-McGee Superfund Sites
Project Contacts
Name
Affiliation
Email
U.S. EPA Region 5
Tim Fischer
Remedial Project Manager
fischer.timothy@epamail.epa.gov
Dave Seely
Remedial Project Manager
seely.david@epamail.epa.gov
Darryl Owens
Project Reuse Coordinator
owens.darryl@epamail.epa.gov
Yolanda Bouchee
Project Reuse Coordinator
bouchee.yolanda@epa.go
Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Department of Nuclear Safety
Kelly Grahn
Project Manager
kelly.grahn@illinois.gov
DuPage County Forest Preserve District
John Oldenburg
Director, Office of Natural Resources
joldenburg@dupageforest.com
Jessi DeMartini
Ecologist and Stream Restoration Specialist
jdemartini@dupageforest.com
West Chicago Park District
Gary Major
Executive Director
gmajor@wc-goparks.org
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