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Gary area citizens have opportunities to share opinions on proposed Ralston Street Lagoon cleanup plan

Release Date: 11/06/2008
Contact Information: CONTACT: Karen Thompson, 312-353-8547, thompson.karen@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 08-OPA172


Gary area citizens have opportunities to share opinions on proposed Ralston Street Lagoon cleanup plan

CHICAGO (Nov. 6, 2008) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has scheduled two opportunities for Gary area residents to share their opinions on the proposed cleanup plans at the Ralston Street Lagoon in Gary.

A public comment period will run from Nov. 3 to Dec. 5 and a public meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18 at the Gary Sanitary District offices at 3600 W. 3rd Ave.

EPA is proposing to clean up and contain hazardous materials by encasing the site with a special underground wall, draining lagoon water and mixing in dry fill with the sludge, and then capping the facility. The proposed cleanup plan also calls for buying 6 acres of adjacent residential parcels to be used as a staging area, raising the current berm to protect from 100-year floods, fencing the site and monitoring underground water supplies to ensure the cleanup plan is working.

You can read details about the proposed plan in a fact sheet posted on the Web at https://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/wptdiv/permits/index.htm. Official records can also be examined at the Gary Public Library, 220 W. 5th Ave. in Gary or at EPA's offices in Chicago.

EPA will accept written comments on the cleanup proposal until Dec. 5. Direct comments to Rafael P. Gonzalez, environmental specialist, Land and Chemicals Division L8J, EPA Region 5, 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604-3590, or to gonzalez.rafaelp@epa.gov You can also fax your comments to 312-353-4788.

For technical questions call Michael Mikulka, project manager, at 312-886-6760, or Rafael P. Gonzalez at 312-886-0269.