XV EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Attend an open house
EPA will hold aii open house in the
neighborhood and you are invited to
attend:
Wednesday, June 15, 5 - 7 p.m.
Casa Maravilla
2021 S. Morgan
Contact information
EPA Region 5
Superfund Division
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
For technical questions:
Steven Faryan
On-scene Coordinator
312-353-9351
Faryan. steven@epa.gov
For general questions:
Heriberto Leon
Community Involvement Coordinator
312-886-6163
leon.heriberto@epa.gov
You may call the EPA toll-free at
800-621-8431, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.,
weekdays.
BNSF Railroad
Andy Williams
Andy.Williams@BNSF.com
EPA's Sangamon website:
www.epa.gov/il/sangamon-right-way
Chicago Department of Public
Health:
www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/
cdph.html
Cleanup to Begin this Summer
Sangamon Street Right of Way
Chicago, Illinois	June 2016
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed an agreement in March with
the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. to clean up the Sangamon
Street Right of Way site. The site is limited to BNSF's right of way, which is
in a residential area between 16th Street to the north and 21st Street to the
south. The work that begins this summer is on the portion between 18th Street
and 21st Street east of and adjacent to Sangamon Street and a sidewalk.
BNSF will begin work in the middle of June under EPA oversight. Workers
will begin by putting up a fence and setting up support zones. The cleanup
will involve removing lead-contaminated surface soil and hazardous material.
The excavated area will be fenced off with temporary fencing, covered with a
fabric material and backfilled with clean till. EPA and BNSF have been
coordinating with the city of Chicago, which is planning the Paseo project
(see Page 3) after the cleanup is complete. All technical documents regarding
the cleanup are on EPA's website (see box, left).
Workers will remove some trees, signal boxes and unused power poles before
they dig up the contaminated soil. Nearby residents may see heavy equipment
at the site and may experience traffic interruptions and noise during work
hours Monday through Saturday.
Parking ban going into effect
Parking will not be allowed on Sangamon Street during the cleanup.
Sangamon will be one lane, north and south. A flagger will help direct
traffic.
This fencing was installed to prevent access to contaminated areas. BNSF will
install a temporary fence in the excavation areas.

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BNSF Railroad Lines
W18th St
W«8th St
o WCullertonSt
THIS AREA OF THE BNSF RIGHT OF WAY
WILL BE FENCED TO RESTRICT ACCESS
ESTIMATED BOUNDARY OF
NATIONAL LEAD INDUSTRIES
ESTIMATED BOUNDARY OF
LOEWENTHAL METALS
Legend
BNSF Right-Of-Way Boundary
Estimated Boundaries of Former Industrial Sites
2

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Status of site activities
Activity
Explanation
Status
Health & Safety Plan
Establish general site operating procedures, safety
guidelines and contingency plans for all proposed work to
be performed on the site.
Completed.
Property Survey
Mark the BNSF right of way property lines and hazardous
excavation areas with stakes - conducted by a licensed
surveyor.
Completed.
Utility Clearance
Identify utility locations.
In progress.
Fencing
Install fencing south of 16th Street and north of 18th Street.
Planned in mid-June.
Air Monitoring Plan
Particulate and fugitive dust will be monitored during the
entire project to protect the public and workers.
Ongoing through the entire
cleanup.
Fugitive Dust Control
Plan
Identify measures that will be taken to reduce and control
dust from construction activities.
Completed.
Topographic Survey
Survey the BNSF right of way property to show elevations
and drainage of storm water
Completed.
Soil Sampling
Collect and analyze soil samples from site area.
Completed.
Request for Proposals
Prepare and submit request for proposals from contractors
to conduct work at the site.
Completed.
Issuance of Contracts
Issue contracts to contractors to perform work needed at
the site.
Completed. BNSF awarded
contract to conduct cleanup.
Soil Removal
Remove contaminated soil and properly dispose of soil.
Expected to begin mid-June.
Fabric Placement
Place fabric at bottom of excavation area to prevent
erosion, control dust and act as a demarcation barrier.
After excavation is
completed.
Backfill with Clean
Soil and Seed
Backfill excavated areas with clean fill and seed to
prevent erosion.
At the end of the cleanup.
Site background
During the site investigation, a contractor hired by BNSF
collected soil samples at locations selected by EPA. BNSF
tested some of the samples and EPA tested others.
Based on the results of this initial testing, BNSF took more
samples Nov. 21, 2013, and Oct. 7-8, 2014. The results of tests
on these samples were used to further evaluate the lead
contamination along the BNSF right of way running from 21st
Street north to 16th Street, at which point the right of way
intersects the main BNSF east-west rail lines.
Sampling results indicated that soil from the BNSF right of
way contained lead at levels higher than the point at which
EPA begins a cleanup. However, that does not necessarily
mean the contamination will cause adverse health effects. Lead
in the soil is a result of decades of industrial activity in the
area.
Three areas between 18th Street and 21st Street that were
previously identified as having high levels of lead will be
stabilized with a phosphate-based agent and then re-sampled.
The material will then be disposed of at a landfill that is
permitted to accept the waste in compliance with the law.
The Paseo Project
The city of Chicago has announced plans to build the
Paseo along part of the abandoned BNSF railway.
The city envisions the Paseo to be a greenway that
will be a community centerpiece providing open
space and a walking path for residents.
The Paseo will be a four-mile, multi-purpose path
connecting the Pilsen and Little Village
neighborhoods. It will feature a trail, gathering
spaces, gardens and public art that celebrates Latino
culture.
The trail's three main sections will be planned and
built in phases along the BNSF right of way. The
sections include:
•	Sangamon Street, between 16th and 21st Streets.
•	Cermak Road and Blue Island, between
Sangamon Street and Rockwell Avenue.
•	26th Street, between Rockwell Avenue and an off-
street location at 32nd Street and Central Park
Avenue.
3

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Attend an Open House
EPA is holding an open house in the neighborhood to give you an opportunity to
learn more about the cleanup at the Sangamon Street Right of Way project.
Wednesday, June 15
5-7 p.m.
Casa Maravilla
2021 S. Morgan
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