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Ottawa Township Flat Glass Site
Site Information
- Naplate, Illinois (La Salle County)
- EPA ID# ILD005468616
- Alias(es): Libby Owens Ford Plant 5 & 7 site, Pilkington North America Incorporated
Contact Information
Community Involvement Coordinator
Heriberto León (leon.heriberto@epa.gov)
312-886-6163 or 800-621-8431, ext. 66163
Remedial Project Manager
Nefertiti Dicosmo (dicosmo.nefertiti@epa.gov)
312-886-6148 or 800-621-8431, ext. 66148
Repositories
(where to view written records)
Reddick Library,
1010 Canal St.,
Ottawa, Ill.
Phone: 815-434-0509
Background
The Ottawa Township Flat Glass site, also known as the Libby Owens Ford Plant 5 & 7 site, is located in Naplate, LaSalle County, Illinois. The 228-acre site consists of a glass manufacturing facility ("Plant #7" [currently inactive] and "Plant #5") located on the north side of the Illinois River plus former silica sand quarries, wastewater disposal areas, and a 56-acre undeveloped parcel of land. It also includes additional former silica quarries and wastewater disposal areas across from the facility on the south side of the river.
The manufacturing plant has been making flat glass products since about 1907. Arsenic trioxide was a minor ingredient in the manufacturing process from 1907 until 1970 when its use was discontinued. The final step in the manufacturing process involved grinding and polishing cast glass with fine silica sand and water. The process generated a waste slurry containing mostly sand, water, and glass particles (containing arsenic) which was discharged into the former quarries for settling of solids and discharge of overflow water into the Illinois River. The slurried waste in the settling areas contains appreciable levels of arsenic and is a source of arsenic contamination in local area groundwater as well as being a direct contact or ingestion threat to human and ecological receptors.
Pilkington North America (PNA) has owned and operated the glass manufacturing facility since 1986.
Site Updates | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | Fact Sheets || Technical Documents || Public Meetings
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Site Updates
September 2011
On Sept. 29, 2010, EPA signed an interim Record of Decision for Operable Unit (OU) 3 of the Ottawa Township Flat Glass site. The selected remedy included the redirection of storm water flow away from the arsenic laden quarries; institutional controls to prevent future residential use and potable well installation; municipal water supply; and monitoring of ground water quality over time. Currently, EPA and PNA are negotiating an agreement for the implementation of the selected remedy.
The investigation and remedial alternative evaluation is underway for the final cleanup action for OUs 3 and 4.
EPA recently completed a community involvement plan (PDF) (55pp, 2.7MB) for this site. The plan includes the opinions and concerns of the community and discusses ways the EPA can engage the community throughout the clean-up process. In addition, a frequently asked questions has been added to this website to respond to many questions the community has about the Superfund Program in the Ottawa/Naplate area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fact Sheets
- Interim Clean Up for Polluted Underground Water Supply (PDF) (1pg, 1.6MB) August 2009
- No Further Cleanup Action Proposed for Yards, River (PDF) (6pp, 1.75MB) June 2008
Technical Documents
- Community Involvement Plan (PDF) (55pp, 2.7MB) September 2011
- Interim Record of Decision (PDF) (52pp, 6.3MB) September 2010 is too large, please visit repository or contact Heriberto León for a CD containing the document.
- Feasibility Study for Operable Unit 3 (PDF) (2260pp, 240MB) June 2009 is too large, please visit repository or contact Heriberto León for a CD containing the document.
- Record of Decision (PDF) (39pp, 1.33MB) September 2008
- Remedial Investigation report (PDF) (12,653pp, 1.4GB) August 2008 is too large, please visit repository or contact Heriberto León for a CD containing the document.
Public Meetings
EPA held a public comment period from August 19-September 18, 2009. EPA held a public meeting August 26, 2009.