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Circle Smelting
From 1904 until 1994, metal smelting activities were conducted at the Circle Smelting property located in the northeast corner of the Village of Beckemeyer. Smelter materials from the site were used as fill material throughout Beckemeyer, resulting in soil contamination, the primary contaminant being lead. Beginning in 2001 and continuing through 2006, the responsible party and later U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) conducted clean-ups at residential properties in Beckemeyer to protect residents from exposure to lead. Contaminated soil removed from the yards was stored beneath a soil cap (similar to a landfill) on the former Circle Smelting property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are properties in the Village of Beckemeyer being investigated again?
Remediation conducted in Beckemeyer between 2001 and 2006 removed soil throughout Beckemeyer with lead concentrations above 500 mg/kg. Residential properties with lead concentrations lower than 500 kg/mg were not eligible for removal at the time, however, there have been recent updates to health impact concentrations. The upcoming sampling aims to gather data to better understand the extent of contamination.
Circle Smelting
State Route 50, Breckemeyer
Site ID# 0270200002
Illinois EPA Contact
Rodolfo Alanis
312-832-2160
What will Illinois EPA be doing during the investigation?
Illinois EPA plans to collect soil samples from several residential properties throughout Beckemeyer and sediment samples from creeks north of town. Illinois EPA will seek permission from approximately 20 residents along with owners of property along the creek. Property owners will be asked to sign an Access Agreement allowing Illinois EPA staff to come onto their property and take samples. Sampling is planned for August 26th- 29th. After evaluating the sampling and screening results, the Illinois EPA will make a recommendation on possible next steps to the U.S. EPA. The Illinois EPA has established a website to provide information to the public.
Will the residents have to pay for the soil or sediment sampling?
No. The sampling is at no cost to the property owner.
Will residents receive the results of the samples taken on their property?
Yes. The soil or sediment sample results from their property and an interpretation of the results will be mailed to each of the resident whose property was sampled. Illinois EPA anticipates that results will be available within three months of sampling. The above listed website will give an overall description of the sample results.
How will the sediment sampling be conducted?
Illinois EPA staff will conduct sediment in the unnamed stream located to immediately to the north of Beckemeyer and in Beaver Creek, located northwest of Beckemeyer. Illinois EPA staff will extract a core sample of the top layers of sediment using a hand auger. The sample will be analyzed for total metals.
How will the soil samples be collected?
Sampling staff will use a four-inch diameter hand auger to collect soil samples from between zero and two feet below ground surface. Soil cores collected will be screened using an X-ray Fluorescence instrument. Four to five soil cores will be collected and combined into one soil sample for off-site analysis by a laboratory for total metal analysis.
The soil and sod will be replaced so impacts to the yard will be very minimal.