Illinois Central/Quarry Springs
Summary and Update
This update was written June 1, 2001.
Located just east of Third and Adams, the Illinois Central Springs is the headwater of Clear Creek, and has been measured flowing from a low of 39 to a high of 6263 gallons per minute (May to November 2000). It is apparent that this flow is connected to the PCB contaminated Lemon Lane Landfill, which is situated on a series
of sinkholes. Due to the hydrology of the area, PCBs have leaked into the fractured epi-karst and karst below the surface. It is theorized that the PCBs trapped in the karst are washed out during high water events, and will continue to do so in perpetuity. Levels as high as 1400ppb have been detected in Clear Creek Both clear and turbid water emerge from the spring alternately, so it is not clear that there is a single source or conduit for the Springs.
The EPA is formulating new ROD amendment will consider:
- Expanding the treatment plant to treat additional springs
- Increasing storm water storage capacity
- Purchasing additional processing equipment to lower effluent concentrations
- Groundwater extraction at or near the
landfill.
Although the highest concentrations of PCBs are released during storm events, they are also released continuously at lower levels during low flow. The EPA has built a water filtration plant at the ICC Springs, to capture the contaminated water and treat it before releasing it into Clear Creek. Viacom has taken the position that the water treatment plant is sized too big for the job, and refuses to pay for it. Instead they have been working at Lemon Lane Landfill drilling new wells and performing pump tests, hoping to find a theorized main conduit to ICC Springs, although it has not yet been found. (Here is the summary of the Viacom's Karst Conduit Program - Apr 16, 2001). Pump tests have shown a lowering of the water table in surrounding wells when one within 600 feet is pumped.
Although Viacom lobbied to have the restrictions lowered, the State and USFWS stand behind the current State Fish Advisories, which are to eat no fish from Clear Creek.
The filtration plant has been in operation since May of 2000, but the tanks that were to hold the excess water of storm events were faulty, and leaked. The good news was the plant operated well, the bad news was that most of the PCBs were bypassed back into Clear Creek. The old tanks have been demolished and new ones are being tested, and should be operational in Summer of 2001. The EPA feels that there will be a significant reduction in the mass of PCBs released into the environment, and consequently a reduction of PCB concentrations in fish over time, although they do not feel they can offer the guarantee of 100% capture of the PCBs. They have recently added a rainfall gauge, and a continuous flow monitoring system that allows the technicians to capture, analyze and share data in real time.
The EPA is issuing a ROD Amendment which will evaluate options for dealing with the problems remaining at the IC/Quarry Springs complex. They will look at expanding the treatment plant for additional springs (see below), increasing storm water storage capacity, and purchasing additional processing equipment to lower effluent concentrations. EPA will also look at groundwater extraction at near Lemon Lane Landfill to reduce the amount of water making it to the IC Springs, especially during storm events.
IDEM will take over management of the ICC Springs Treatment Plant as of August 2001, and has let bids for the project management.
EPA has begun discussions with Viacom on the Swallow Hole area. This is where the ICC Spring water would normally drop into the karst, if not diverted to the treatment plant. Often the Swallow Hole could not handle all the water, and the water and PCB containing sludge would settle out in the flats around the Hole as well as drain under the ICC tracks to the contaminated the "Beaver Dam" area just east of the tracks.
Quarry A and Quarry B are downstream resurgences of the ICS system and are in the file east of the road to the treatment plant. The EPA developed a Work Plan to Investigate Quarry A and Quarry B, and Viacom has agreed to install flow monitoring devices. Quarry A flow is reduced or is dry when the ICS treatment plant is in operation, however Quarry B still flows. Dye trace studies show that both Springs are connected to the Swallow Hole, but it is possible that this is only one source of the water, especially at Quarry B, which flows even when water is not going into the Swallow Hole. This could mean that the outflow from Quarry B may have to be pumped back to the treatment plant. When the tanks are operable, the trapping of water may further affect the flow at the Quarry Springs. The EPA seems committed to exploring, studying and remediating the Quarry Springs area through its ROD amendments.
Recent fish tissue sampling data from Nov. 2000 has been released. Whole fish and filets were taken at Country Club Rd., Fluck Mill Rod. and Strain Ridge Rd.
Results showed no significant changes from 1998-2000, and although Viacom wanted to lower the State fish advisories, the State does not foresee changing fish advisories anytime in the near future. Clear Creek remains a Level 5 Advisory, eat no fish. Further Clear Creek sampling is being negotiated with Viacom. Caged fish will be added to test for PCBs in Clear Creek, and the EPA feels there is a need for further fish, water, and sediment testing in Clear Creek.
Additional IC/Quarry Springs information
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