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EPA, DOJ reach $2 million settlement on Summit, IL, hazardous waste cleanup

Release Date: 07/31/2008
Contact Information: Karen Thompson, 312-353-8547, thompson.karen@epa.gov, Mick Hans, 312-353-5050, hans.mick@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 08-OPA126

(Chicago, Ill. - July 31, 2008) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 and U.S. Department of Justice today announced a $2,055,373 settlement for cleanup costs at the former IWI site, 7738 W. 61st Place, in Summit, Ill. A group of 23 companies will reimburse the government for cleanup work completed in October 2003.

The late Glenn Wellman operated four companies at the 1.7-acre site from the late 1960s until the late 1990s: IWI Inc., IWI Industries, Itasco and Wellco. The business manufactured, cleaned and repaired stainless steel totes designed to store up to 600 gallons of liquid - typically flammable or corrosive materials such as adhesives, inks, oil and paint. The property was abandoned following Wellman's death in 1999. A fire consumed the former administrative offices in May 2002.

A nine-month cleanup effort by a Chicago-based EPA Superfund team resulted in the safe disposal of 683 tons of contaminated soil, 568 tons of hazardous sludges, 568 drums and 52,300 gallons of hazardous liquids from a railroad tank car, sumps and totes at the site. The remaining structures on the property were razed.

The settlement consent decree, United States v. Converters Ink et al, was lodged July 30 at the U.S. District Court for Northern District of Illinois.

A 30-day public comment period on the settlement now begins.
See the consent decree at https://www.epa.gov/region5/sites/index.htm#iwi
Information on how to submit comments can be found at http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html