The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the US Army Corps of Engineers has started the process of designing the cleanup for the Sandoval Zinc Company Superfund Site. The estimated cost of the project is $52.4 million which could change as the extent of the cleanup becomes more clear.
The cleanup will include excavation of contaminated materials from properties in the Village of Sandoval and the consolidation of those materials at the former Sandoval Zinc Company smelter. Excavated soil characterized as hazardous waste will be transported off-site for treatment and disposal at a hazardous waste landfill. The plan includes the cleanup of all village properties with clean soil and grass.
EPA official Michael Berkoff told an open house and public presentation at Sandoval Village Hall Monday night what they need now is for residents in a large part of Sandoval to fill out a blank access agreement to allow for testing of their property for contamination.
“It allows us to go out and sample their properties so that we can determine whether there’s contamination in their yards that requires cleanup,” Berkoff said. “If it does require cleanup, then we produce a design to figure out exactly where in their yard we need to do excavation and cleanup.”
Soil sampling to support the design will start in early 2025. Workers will collect soil samples at residential and non-residential properties within the village and at the former Sandoval Zinc Company property. This work, and the design of the cleanup, should extend into 2028. During each year, the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers will attempt to sample 200 village properties. Design activities at the former smelter property will likely begin in 2026. Cleanup of individual properties within the village should start as early as 2027.
Sandoval Village Administrator LeAnn Speiser is hoping residents understand the importance of participating.
“I do think it’s important,” Speiser said. “We don’t know what the long-term effect is going to be from the smelter. What we’re doing is trying to get the community involved and educate them. We know as much as they do. If they have questions, we encourage them to reach out. While the thought of digging up parts of the town and taking samples is a little scary, we do want to eliminate any hazards or potential health risks here in town.”
Lead can be dangerous, particularly to children and pregnant women.
The Sandoval Zinc Company operated a smelter for 85 years before closing in 1985 and filing for bankruptcy. Air emissions from the plant included metals and wind-blown ash. Large amounts of smelting wastes were used in making secondary roads and for fill material. The company offered excess material to the public and village to use to surface roadways, driveways, sidewalks and parking lots. In 1991, the Illinois EPA sealed the abandoned facility by court order.
A map showing areas of Sandoval that may have contaminated materials.
