Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
DUPAGE COUNTY
LEMONT

Congressional District # 13

LENZ OIL SERVICE, INC.

EPA ID# ILD005451711
Last Updated: April, 2008

Site Description

The Lenz Oil Service, Inc. (Lenz Oil) site is situated on four acres of land in Lemont, Cook County, Illinois. Approximately 11,300 people live within three miles of the site. From 1961 to 1985, the site was the location of an oil and solvent recycling facility. Lenz Oil picked up waste oil and solvents from commercial and industrial businesses in the area and transported the waste to the site. Generators also transported waste to the facility. Waste was stored in onsite lagoons and above- and belowground storage tanks prior to sale to facilities in the area for use as fuel or other purposes such as dust control on roads. Based on records discovered to date, over 3,000 potentially responsible parties (PRPs), primarily generators, were identified. 

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through federal, state, and potentially responsible parties' (PRP) actions.

Threats and Contaminants

Sampling showed that soil and groundwater at the site was contaminated with heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, xylenes, and vinyl chloride. A highly-contaminated oil layer or light nonaqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) is floating on the aquifer beneath the site.

Cleanup Progress

In 1985, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) inspected the facility and observed that approximately 25 percent of the ground surface was covered with standing, oily water. In 1986, IEPA initiated investigative and removal actions at the site. Removal actions, conducted by IEPA in 1986 and 1987, included the draining and filling of three onsite surface impoundments; dismantling, shredding, and proper disposal of over thirty-five storage tanks; construction of an onsite incinerator; incineration of approximately 250,000 gallons of liquid waste, 200 drums of hazardous substances, and 7,000 tons of contaminated soil; construction of onsite berms to reduce offsite surface water run-off; and a provision of municipal water hookups to all residences within one mile of the site. In 1989, approximately 200 PRPs entered into an administrative order on consent (AOC) with U.S. EPA to conduct a remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) at the Lenz Oil site. A supplemental investigation was conducted during September 1997 to better define the LNAPL plume area.

The record of decision (ROD) for the final remedy was signed on September 30, 1999. The final remedy consisted of the following main components: excavation of the principal threat area, treatment of the contaminated material via solidification/stabilization (S/S), and disposal of the treated material within a corrective action management unit (CAMU). However, at least two alternate cleanup approaches were to be studied during the design stage to evaluate whether an alternate approach would provide the same level of protection to human health and the environment as the final remedy. The remedy also called for a pump-and-treat system for contaminants that remain in the aquifer after the above is completed

Consent decree (CD) negotiations between U.S. EPA, the state, and the PRPs began soon after the ROD was signed in September 1999.  The CD was signed on August 14, 2002. The PRPs began the pre-design data collection in fall 2003.  The pre-design was completed in spring 2007.  EPA issued an Explanation of Significant Differences in April 2007.  The ESD changed the Phase I remedy alternative from excavation and treatment via solidification/stabilization to Vacuum Enhanced Recovery (VER).  The Remedial design was submitted to EPA in September 2007.  The final remedial design will be completed and remedy implementation will begin in 2008.

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
scott hansen (hansen.scott@epa.gov)
(312) 886-1999

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
yolanda bouchee
(312) 353-3209

Aliases

LENZ OIL SERVICE INC

 

Site Profile Information

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