Amoco Chemicals (Joliet Landfill)

Overview

Two inactive landfills covering 26 acres in Channahon Township, Will County, Illinois accepted chemical facility wastes from 1958 to 1976. The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990. Cleanup is organized into two operable units: one covering the landfill cap and one addressing groundwater contamination.

EPA has identified more than 60 contaminants of concern at the site. They include metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, beryllium, manganese, thallium, and zinc. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and naphthalene. The site also has pesticides including aldrin, dieldrin, and heptachlor, plus the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) Aroclor 1248. These contaminants have been found in soil, groundwater, surface water, leachate, and sediment.

A remedial investigation ran from 1994 to 1998, and a cleanup plan was selected in July 1999. Landfill cap construction began in April 2000 and finished in March 2004. A groundwater remedy was selected and implemented by 2015. Institutional controls, including zoning restrictions, are in place to prevent residential and other incompatible land uses. Direct contact with contaminated groundwater may pose a health threat. Because the site is open to the river, people and animals could come into contact with hazardous substances. Current assessments indicate that human exposure is under control. However, EPA cannot yet determine whether contaminated groundwater movement is stabilized or whether there is unacceptable discharge to surface water, due to insufficient data. Physical construction of cleanup work is not yet complete.

The sources differ on one point about the five-year review: one states the most recent review was completed in September 2025, while another states the review should be completed by September 2025. The State of Illinois is conducting this fifth five-year review, which gives community members a chance to share information about site conditions and any concerns they have. People with questions or comments can contact the EPA's Remedial Project Manager or Community Involvement Coordinator.