Return to Use Initiative
2006 Demonstration Project
Celotex: Chicago, Illinois
THE SITE: The 24-acre Celotex site is a non-time critical removal site, 22 acres of which are cleaned up and
ready for reuse.The property was used for making, storing, and selling asphalt roofing products. Soil at the
site and surface soils in some nearby residential yards are contaminated with PAHs (polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbons). PAHs are chemicals that form during the burning of coal, wood, oil and gas, and garbage. In
1989, Illinois EPA received citizen complaints about coal tar migrating
onto their property from the Celotex site. Celotex removed all of the
buildings on the site, and left the property without plant cover, which
contributed to flooding of residences on a nearby street during a heavy
rain. By August 1997, flooding issues were resolved by regrading the
site and installing a new sewage drainage system. In 2002, Sacramento
Corp. bought the Celotex property and placed at least 2 feet of gravel
on about 22 acres of the site for company use.
THE OPPORTUNITY: Both the City of Chicago and local community
members have expressed interest in using the site, located in the heart
of Chicago, in a recreational capacity.
THE BARRIERS: EPA needs to engage local stakeholders in the
environmental justice community to better understand the likely future use of the site to ensure the remedy
is protective for that use. EPA also needs to understand the likely timing of the future use to make sure the
reuse does not interfere with the cleanup of surrounding residential yards. Cleanup of the residential yards
should be completed in 2007.
THE SOLUTION: EPA Region 5 plans to engage local stakeholders in an
project to provide information about the environmental status of the
better understanding of likely future uses.
THE SITE NOW: EPA is committed to working with the local community
and understanding what future actions may be needed to ensure
the remedy remains protective. Part of this involvement will entail
consulting with the local community elders.The future users will need
to consider how the site's current physical characteristics may impact
available future uses.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Rosita Clarke-Moreno, Region 5
Remedial Project Manager, at 312.886.7251 or clarke.rosita@epa.aov.
Barriers: Understanding ap-
propriate uses, working with
stakeholders, involving com-
munity members with language
barriers
Solution: Encouraging and facili-
tating open discussion between
stakeholders;determining techni-
cal needs to properly design and
reuse the site
enhanced community involvement
site to the community and gain a
Before: Vacant gravel lot in the
"Little Village" community, just
a few miles west of downtown
Chicago
After: New recreational possibili-
ties
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
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