Chicago - The State of Illinois today received word that American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds will be used to conduct cleanup activities at the Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) Superfund site in Waukegan.

 

“Cleaning up Outboard Marine will not only benefit the environment and the Lake Michigan shoreline, but it will also allow the city of Waukegan to move forward with its redevelopment opportunities,” said Governor Pat Quinn. “I am pleased that federal recovery dollars will help us green our state.”

 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson announced that the federal agency will use from $10 to $25 million in ARRA funds to conduct demolition of the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)-impacted facility and dispose of PCB contaminated soil and sediment. 

 

In 1981, high levels of PCBs were found in Waukegan Harbor sediments. Subsequent investigation linked the PCB contamination to activities at Outboard Marine Corporation, located on the shores of Lake Michigan north of Chicago. The manufacturer of outboard motors, lawn mowers, industrial vehicles and turf-care vehicles had discharged hydraulic fluid containing PCBs through floor drains at the plant to the harbor and a drainage ditch, resulting in the contamination of soil.

 

The USEPA listed OMC on the federal National Priorities List, or Superfund list, in 1983.  Several removal actions have been conducted to stabilize the site. A Record of Decision was issued in September 2007 that called for the demolition and disposal of the OMC building and to excavate and dispose of contaminated soil and sediment.  In addition to the soil and sediment contamination, there is a widespread groundwater contamination that will be dealt with in a second Record of Decision. 

 

“We are grateful to President Obama and to Administrator Jackson for providing recovery money for the cleanup of the OMC facility,” said Director Scott.  “It’s important that we remove the source of the PCB contamination in order to protect public health, it will also prevent more pollution from being transported into Lake Michigan.”

 

“This is outstanding news for the city,” said Waukegan Mayor Richard Hyde.  “This work will free up more than 60 acres of valuable lakefront property that otherwise would have remained unusable.”

 

Much of the OMC site is now owned by the City of Waukegan, which has plans to redevelop this former industrial lakefront property into a residential area.   According to USEPA, demolition of the building will make the property available for redevelopment in accordance with the city of Waukegan’s plans.