Carnotite Reduction Company Site

Background

The Carnotite Reduction Company operated an elemental radium separation and refining facility in Chicago in the early 1900s. The former facility was located at 2600 S. Iglehart Place, a street that no longer exists, but is located at what is now Ellis Ave. Most of this property later became occupied by the former Michael Reese Hospital.

In 1979, the State of Illinois Department of Health, Division of Radiological Health (a predecessor to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA)), along with U.S. EPA, conducted a radiological surface survey of part of the hospital property. The survey located several areas of elevated radioactivity. The State agency concluded that the contamination did not pose an immediate health hazard, but recommended evaluation prior to any future construction at the property. 

In September 2008, the owner of Michael Reese filed for bankruptcy protection. The City of Chicago purchased the 37- acre former Michael Reese property in June 2009. The City was eventually required by IEMA to remove the contaminated soil. The U.S. EPA maintained a repository of radiation monitoring reports when intrusive work was performed in the vicinity of the Carnotite site. 

Site Update

November 2024

On April 20, 2023, the City of Chicago completed removal of contaminated soil and IEMA terminated the radioactive material license for the site. Intrusive work was performed in the vicinity of the Carnotite site. 

 Visit the City of Chicago's Former Carnotite Reduction Company's website for additional information. 

Map

Interactive Map of Uranium and Radium Survey Reports - Updated May 19, 2021

Documents

Radiological Survey Reports

• 2722 S. Martin Luther King Jr Dr (pdf) (277.19 K)
• Excavation for the abandonment of water mains and fire hydrant relocations (pdf) (461 K)
  • E. 26th St. and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr
  • S. Vernon Ave. and S. Ellis Ave
  • E. 27th St. and S. Ellis Ave.
  • Prairie Shores Parking Lot
• 26th St & Martin Luther King Drive (pdf) (422.08 K) May 2021
• 2547 S Martin Luther King JR Dr. (pdf) (379.72 K) May 2021
• 2400-2800 S. Martin Luther King Jr Drive (pdf) (254.2 K) September 2020
• 2517 S. Martin Luther King Drive (pdf) (1 MB) July 2018
• 2622-40 S. Martin Luther King Dr (pdf) (446 K) September 2017
• 401-05 East 26th Street (pdf) (500 K) June 2017
• 2535 S Martin Luther King Drive (pdf) (5.58 MB) December 2016
• 25th/26th St & Martin Luther King Drive (pdf) (276 K) July 2016
• 2547 S Dr Martin Luther King Dr (pdf) (3.65 MB) August 2015
•  2500 Martin Luther King Drive (pdf) (653 K) April 2014
• 2615 S Martin Luther King Dr (pdf) (510 K) June 2013
• 2600-2625 S Martin Luther King Jr Drive (pdf) (230 K) December 2012
•  2600-2625 South Dr Martin Luther King Jr Drive (pdf) (155 K) December 2012
• 2615 South Martin Luther King Drive (pdf) (301 K) December 2012
• 401 East 26th St (pdf) (164 K) May 2012
• 2525 South Martin Luther King Dr (pdf) (249 K) December 2011

Other Documents

• City of Chicago ordinance for radiation monitoring - March 2019 
• City Of Chicago - Dept of Fleet And Facility Management Letter Re: Request to Obtain Radioactive Material Storage License (pdf) ( 33.5 K) October 2013
• Enforcement Action Memorandum: Determination of Threat to Public Health and or the Environment (Redacted) (pdf) (169 K)  December 2011
• Chicago Chemical Bulletin - The Manufacture of Radium, Uranium and Vanadium in Chicago (203 K) August 1917