FROM: Scott McSorley - Carlson Environmental, Inc.

TO: Forest Preserve District of Will County

DATE: February 24, 2015
RE: Sampling Activities Joliet Penitentiary East, 1125 Collins Street, Joliet, IL
Carlson Environmental, Inc. (Carlson) was retained by the Forest Preserve District of Will
County (Client) to assist with a Limited Surficial and Subsurface Soil and Surface Water
Investigation (Phase II) on the Former Joliet Prison East Parcel property located at 1125
Collins Street in Joliet, Illinois (See Figure 1 in Attachment A for a map of the site location).
Carlson prepared a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (Phase I) for the subject site, dated
January 12, 2014. The Phase I indicated that several recognized environmental conditions
(RECs) existed for the subject site. These RECs included:

Historical Quarry Operations

Fly Dumping/Soil Piles
Stained Soils
Firing Range
Fill Material Slag
Historic USTs/LUST
Brownfield Listing
Adjacent LUST
Adjacent Auto Stations/Auto Salvage Yards

The client retained the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Bureau of Land Site
Assessment Unit to perform a surficial and subsurface soil and surface water investigation of
some of the notable areas of the subject site (focusing on the western portion of the property), in
order to determine if some of the RECs identified in the Carlson Phase I had significantly
impacted the site soils. Carlson notes, previous sampling had been conducted in the firing and
sniper range areas by the IEPA in the past. The results of that investigation indicated elevated
levels of contamination in these areas.
Carlson is in the process of completing a full Phase II report of the on-site sampling activities. A
total of 54 soil samples (including duplicate samples) were collected and analyzed for one or
more of the following: volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-VOCs (SVOCs), total target
analyte list (TAL) metals, TAL metals by toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP),
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and pesticides. In addition, seven water samples were
collected and analyzed from the two on-site quarries for VOCs, SVOCs, TAL metals, PCBs, and
pesticides.

65 East Wacker Place - Suite 2210 - Chicago, Illinois 60601 - Phone (312) 346-2140 - Fax (312) 346-6956 - www.carlsonenv.com

Executive Summary Limited Subsurface and Surficial Soil and Surface Water Investigation
Former Joliet Penitentiary East - 1125 Collins Street, Joliet, IL

Page 2

The Illinois Pollution Control Boards Tiered Approach to Corrective Action Objectives (TACO)
regulations were used to interpret the laboratory soil results of this investigation (35 IAC 742).
These rules establish soil, soil gas, and groundwater remediation objectives (ROs) using a riskbased approach to provide protection of human health and the environment.
At this time Carlson has determined that the IEPA general use water quality standards are the
appropriate standards by which to compare the water samples collected from the quarries. This is
based on information provided by IEPA personnel. However, Carlson notes that metals detected
in the water samples have not yet been evaluated as this evaluation requires the calculation of
sample-specific criteria, which have not yet been calculated.
No VOCs or PCBs were detected above laboratory detection limits in any of the soil samples
submitted for this analysis.
One or more SVOC constituents were detected in 22 of the 29 soil samples submitted for this
analysis. In addition, the concentration of benzo(b)fluoranthene in sample X141 exceeded the
most stringent IEPA Tier 1 SRO.
Total TAL metals were detected in all 50 soil samples submitted for this analysis. In addition,
concentrations of one or more total metals in 33 of the soil samples exceeded the most stringent
IEPA Tier 1 soil ROs (SROs).
Five soil samples were also submitted for metals analysis via TCLP. Based on the results of the
TCLP analysis, concentrations of TCLP metals were detected in all five soil samples analyzed.
Concentrations of one or more metals in all five samples also exceeded the IEPA Migration to
Class I groundwater SRO (the only SRO that exists for TCLP metals). In addition,
concentrations of TCLP lead in three of the soil samples (T116, T117, and T116A) also
exceeded the USEPA Toxicity Threshold, indicating that soils associated with these samples
would require handling and disposal or treatment as a hazardous waste due to toxicity.
One or more pesticide constituents were detected in 14 of the 29 soil samples submitted for this
analysis. However, none of the pesticide concentrations exceeded the most stringent IEPA Tier 1
SROs.
No VOCs, SVOCs, PCBs, or pesticide constituents were detected above laboratory detection
limits in any of the water samples analyzed. However, Carlson notes that some of the laboratory
detection limits in the analytical reports exceed the most stringent corresponding water quality
criteria.
Several TAL metals were detected above laboratory detection limits in all seven water samples
collected. While the metals detected in these samples held a relatively close correlation to each
other in terms of TAL metals concentrations, Carlson has not yet calculated the sample-specific
water quality criteria for the metals samples.

65 East Wacker Place - Suite 2210 - Chicago, Illinois 60601 - Phone (312) 346-2140 - Fax (312) 346-6956 - www.carlsonenv.com

Executive Summary Limited Subsurface and Surficial Soil and Surface Water Investigation
Former Joliet Penitentiary East - 1125 Collins Street, Joliet, IL

Page 3

Conclusion
At this time is appears that elevated concentrations of SVOCs and metals are present in the
western portion of the subject site, which is the area that this sampling event focused. While the
highest concentrations of metals were detected in the former firing range area, additional
elevated levels of metals, including lead, were found throughout the investigational area.
Elevated SVOCs were only detected in one soil sample; however, additional SVOC
contamination could be present in other uninvestigated areas of the site.
In addition, several TCLP metals samples exceeded the USEPA toxicity threshold, causing these
soils to be deemed a hazardous waste. The extent of these impacted soils has not been
determined. Where the toxicity threshold has been exceeded, the soils must be excavated and
properly disposed off-site or treated on-site to render them non-hazardous.
Moving forward, if the client wishes to obtain a no further remediation (NFR) letter through the
IEPA site remediation program (SRP), additional soil and groundwater sampling would be
required in order to more fully characterize the site soils and groundwater. In addition, there are
several areas of the site where concentrations of contaminants exceeded IEPA SROs. Any soils
exceeding the IEPA ingestion or inhalation SROs would require one of the following actions: a)
removal and proper off-site disposal; b) would need to be covered with an approved engineered
prior to issuance of a NFR letter, or c) an alternative remedial remedy approved by the IEPA
prior to implementation. Finally, characterization of groundwater in the area of the site would be
required prior to issuing NFR letter.
As far as the ponds, once Carlson has calculated the sample-specific water quality criteria for
metals, Carlson can determine if any remediation is necessary for the on-site ponds and the status
of the future use of these ponds.
See Attachment A for maps depicting the site location and prominent features within the
investigational area.

65 East Wacker Place - Suite 2210 - Chicago, Illinois 60601 - Phone (312) 346-2140 - Fax (312) 346-6956 - www.carlsonenv.com

ATTACHMENT A

65 East Wacker Place - Suite 2210 - Chicago, Illinois 60601 - Phone (312) 346-2140 - Fax (312) 346-6956 - www.carlsonenv.com

SITE

TOPOGRAPHIC SITE LOCATION MAP

65 EAST WACKER PLACE
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
312-346-2140

DEVELOPED FROM USGS 7.5 MINUTE

JOLIET, ILLINOIS QUADRANGLE 2012

FIGURE 1

Approximate Boundary of
Joliet Correctional Center (east side)
Wooded - Dumping

Wooded - Dumping

Quarry Ponds

Woodruff Road Bypass

aka Louise Ray Parkway

Slag
Debris

Former
Sniper Range

Former
Firing Range

Joliet
Correctional
Center
(west side)

CARLSON ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.

PN: 001094.04
File: P:\001000\001094.04/fig2.dcd

65 E. WACKER PLACE, SUITE 2210

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
(312) 346-2140

Drawn By: RJS

Date: 02/06/2015
Scale: As Shown

FIGURE 2
SITE AND SURROUNDING AREAS MAP
Joliet Correctional Center - East Side
1125 Collins Street - Joliet, Illinois