The city of West Chicago promotes its long -term renovation plans for the West Washington location through a current soil removal project. These efforts are part of the voluntary participation of the city at the Sanode Program (IEPA) program (SRP) of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (NFR). The preservation of an NFR would officially confirm that the website corresponds to the applicable environmental standards and that no further adjustment is required to protect public health or the environment. For West Chicago, receiving this letter not only guarantees the security of future users of the website, but also significantly increases the marketability of the location for potential developers.
The approximately 14 hectare area near the 119 W. Washington Street and north of the Wiant House in 151 W. Washington Street has a long history and trade history. Over the years, various operations – including scrap yards, railway activities, a former petrol station and the city's earlier water treatment processes – have contributed to an underground soil pollution. These frequently found contaminants include heavy metals, semi-volatile and fleeting organic compounds (SVOCs and VOCs), polile biphenyls (PCBS) and limited residual values from Radium-226. It is important to note that the floors affected under the surface do not have a risk of direct contact in their current condition. In order to securely develop the property for public, residential, citizens' or commercial areas, the targeted removal of these underground materials is required.
Although the location previously overlapped with some of the Kerr-McGE residential areas, all thorough and radium contamination of this source was made from the US environmental protection authority (Usepa) and Illinois Emergency Management Agency (Iema) (Iema) (Iema) in 2015. This will be treated separately as part of the future projects for soil removal on the site.
The soil removal project is awarded by a ministry for trade and economic opportunities (DCEO) of the Ministry of Trade and Economic Ministry for Trade and Economic Department for Economy in 2023. The scholarship was granted by the efforts of the present senator of state senator Karina Villa, who was committed to financing as a representative of the State of Illinois during her term. The scholarship must be used by March 31, 2026. About 5,000 cubic meters of soil are excavated from designated areas using the ongoing location tests and monitoring. The affected material is removed and replaced by cleaning such as sound or aggregate, and the disturbed areas are restored. These efforts are brought into harmony with the city's renovation strategy and are carried out in accordance with the current IEPA standards.
Public health and security
The city understands that environmental cleaning works – especially at a location with long industrial history – can raise questions about health and security. The residents can be sure that the community does not give a current health risk. The contaminants mentioned are underground, and the cleanup is carried out under strict environmental controls and according to the applicable requirements of the professional security and health administration (OSHA). Dust and noise are minimized by active sites management, and all work is monitored by licensed environmental experts.