Update

View of the Sangamon right-of-way between Cullerton and 21st Streets before this summer's removal action. View photo gallery.Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. contractors completed in August the removal action initiated in June with U.S. EPA oversight. The lead contaminated soil was excavated to a depth of two feet and transported to Waste Management Laraway Landfill in Joliet, Illinois.  Over 100 tons of steel rail were removed and sent out for recycle.  The excavated areas were backfilled with 18 inches of stone and 6 inches of topsoil which was hydro seeded.

The site was fenced off and air monitoring was conducted throughout the entire removal. Dust suppression was set up using water from a tank or hydrant and a fog spray to keep the material moist and the dust levels below action levels.

EPA signed an agreement in March with BNSF to clean up the Sangamon Street Right of Way site. The site is limited to BNSF’s right of way, which is in a residential area between 16th Street to the north and 21st Street to the south. The work this summer was on the portion between 18th Street and 21st Street east of and adjacent to Sangamon Street and a sidewalk.

EPA and BNSF have been coordinating with the city of Chicago, which is in the planning stages to construct the “El Paseo Project,” a green trail and open space on the Sangamon right of way.

Site Background

The BNSF Sangamon Right of Way is located in Chicago and runs from 16th Street south along Sangamon Street to 21st Street. Soil sampling was completed by BNSF in 2013 and 2014 to evaluate lead impacts along the BNSF right of way running from 21st Street north to 16th Street, which intersects the main BNSF rail lines. Based on the results of the soil samples, 33 soil boring locations on the BNSF right of way had total lead concentrations above the Removal Management Levels for industrial and residential values. Six sample locations were above the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure for lead of 5 mg/l. This material had to be managed as a hazardous waste.

EPA signed an action memorandum documenting the site conditions and began negotiations to sign a consent order with BNSF railroad to complete the removal on September 8, 2015. The removal action would involve excavating contaminated soil and backfilling of the area with clean fill.

Documents

• Sangamon Right of Way Pollution Report #1
• Sangamon Right of Way Pollution Report #2 (PDF) (4pp, 170K) Nov. 11, 2016
• Sangamon Street Right-of-Way (ROW) Monthly Progress Report, May 13, 2016 –June 22, 2016
• Sangamon Right-of-Way: Sampling Map
• Sangamon Right-of-Way: Transportation Management Plan maps
• Sangamon Right-of-Way map – approximate cleanup boundaries
• Sangamon Right-of-Way Fact Sheets in English and Spanish, June 2016
• Sangamon Right-of-Way: Sampling and Analysis Plan
• Sangamon Right-of-Way:Transportation Management Plan
• Sangamon Street Right-of-Way (ROW) Monthly Progress Report, April 4, 2016 – May 13, 2016
• Sangamon BNSF Sangamon Right of Way Revised Work Plan
• Sangamon Fugitive Dust Control Plan BNSF Sangamon Right of Way
• Sangamon Air Monitoring Plan BNSF Sangamon Right of Way
• Sangamon AOC for removal
• Sangamon Street Right of Way Referal Letter
• Sangamon Final Action Memo
• Sangamon Right of Way Sampling Results Summary Letter
• Sangamon Street Right of Way (Map)