Forest City High School & Ceramics Factory

Site Information

Forest City, IL (Mason County)
EPA ID# ILN000510799
Superfund Site Progress Profile
Photos if you have them

Photo Gallery

Contact Information

Community Involvement Coordinator
Teresa Jones (jones.teresa@epa.gov)
312-886-0725 or 800-621-8431, ext. 60725

On-Scene Coordinator
Andrew Maguire
(maguire.andrew@epa.gov)
312-353-8782 or 800-621-8431, ext. 38782

Repositories

(where to view written records)

Not Available at this time

Links

EPA Superfund Home Page
Region 5 Superfund
Superfund Frequent Questions

Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry

Background

The Forest City High School and Ceramics Factory Site is located at 409 Southwest Main Street in the Village of Forest City, Illinois. The Forest City High School opened in 1921 and closed in 1984. In 1984, 4.6 acres of the site was sold to a private investor and used to manufacture and sell ceramic products. The remaining 5.4 acres were deeded to the Village of Forest City and currently serves as a park. The 10-acre site is bordered by forested and agricultural land. The closest residents live approximately 0.5 mile northeast of the site. The property is currently vacant.

EPA conducted an investigation of the site in June 2012, and discovered asbestos, lead and other hazardous contaminants. Breathing in high levels of asbestos can cause health problems such as lung disease and cancer. The Site is not secure and poses a threat to human health and the environment. The three buildings located on the site are in bad condition, with a collapsed roof and broken glass in and around the site.

Site Updates || Fact Sheets || Technical Documents || Legal Agreements

You will need the free Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

Site Updates

January 2013

Beginning in early February 2013, EPA will conduct a time-critical removal action that includes removing asbestos and other hazardous materials; demolishing the abandoned high school building which poses a direct contact threat; backfilling excavated areas and transporting and disposing of hazardous substances in an off-site disposal facility.

Top of page