Fact Sheet 2

Rockton, Illinois

The Beloit Corporation has completed Phase 1 of a Remedial Investigation as part of the Beloit Corporation Superfund Site project. The site is located northeast of Rockton, Illinois, in Winnebago County. This investigation was financed by Beloit Corporation and carried out by Warzyn Engineering, with complete oversight by Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and their contractors.

Beloit Corporation manufacturers machines that produce layered paper products from paper pulp. In addition, an on-site Research and Development facility designs and periodically demonstrates paper-making machine technology. Other industries are also located in this area. Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) contamination was discovered in on-site monitoring wells and in nearby private residential wells. VOCs are the primary chemicals used in some industrial solvents.

What Was Involved in the Remedial Investigation?

Five residences in the Blackhawk Subdivision having laboratory analyses indicating low levels of some VOC contamination were supplied carbon treatment filter units by the IEPA. This effort was part of an interim corrective action to ensure residents are not exposed to water which may pose health risks.

Monitoring wells were installed at different locations and depths to collect data on the direction of groundwater flow, the geology of the area, and the extent of contamination. Soil gas surveys were used to evaluate approximate concentrations of VOCs found in the soil at the site. Field data and laboratory results have been collected, analyzed, and verified.

Where Can Phase 1 Remedial Investigation Results Be Found?

Initial results from the Remedial Investigation can be found in the Phase 1 Technical Memorandum located at the information repository. This document includes information on site history, local geology and groundwater flows, contaminants discovered, and data concerning which areas require additional investigation. Information on residential wells in the Blackhawk Acres Subdivision is also located in the document.

What If I Have Questions About These Results?

The Community Relations Plan, Consent Decree, Phase I Technical Memorandum, as well as other pertinent information related to the site investigation have been placed for public review at:

What Is Next?

Beloit Corporation will continue funding the Remedial Investigation in an attempt to locate a source(s) of VOC contamination. In addition, during the Spring or Fall 1994 the IEPA, in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), will conduct residential well sampling in the Blackhawk Acres Subdivision and nearby areas. Representatives from the IEPA will contact residents before sampling to arrange a convenient time.

For Additional Information