Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Solutia Inc. Facility - Sauget, Illinois

Background

Solutia is a chemical manufacturer that has operated at 500 Monsanto Avenue in Sauget, Illinois for nearly 100 years.  Solutia manufactured various organic chemicals derived from benzene, including PCBs.  The Solutia W.G. Krummrich Plant was formerly operated by Monsanto, which spun-off its chemical business in 1997.  It is located just east of the Mississippi River along Illinois Route 3 in the American Bottom floodplain.

EPA issued a RCRA 3008(h) Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) on May 3, 2000.  On February 26, 2008, EPA issued a Final Decision to remediate soil and groundwater contamination.  The $22 million remedy focuses on removing source areas of PCBs, benzene, chlorobenzenes, lead, and mercury potentially impacting workers, contaminating groundwater, and migrating to the Mississippi River.

In 2004, Solutia completed an interim remedy to contain, intercept, and collect contaminated groundwater discharging and causing environmental impacts to the Mississippi River.  A groundwater migration control system was installed at the river's edge consisting of a slurry barrier wall keyed into bedrock and groundwater collection wells.  Collected groundwater is treated at the American Bottom POTW.