The Estech General Chemical Company site is a former pesticide and fertilizer manufacturing plant in Calumet City, Illinois. It operated from 1952 to 1969, then became a disposal area for demolition debris, construction waste, and shredded automobile parts called auto fluff. The site covers roughly 7.5 acres of lagoon area and sits along the Grand Calumet River, which carries a fish consumption advisory due to PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) contamination linked to the area.
PCBs are the primary contaminant of concern. They have been found in soils as deep as 20 feet, as well as in groundwater, sediment, and surface areas. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in September 2015, after an initial assessment back in February 1984. Cleanup is organized into two operable units. The first unit (OU 00) saw removal work between March and June 1999, when EPA installed a protective cap of 12 inches of clay and topsoil over 27 acres of auto fluff. A Unilateral Administrative Order was issued in October 1998, and a Consent Decree was finalized in November 2002.
The second unit (OU 01) is now in the remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) phase. This phase began in December 2018 and is estimated to wrap up between December 2027 and February 2028. The RI/FS involves sampling soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment to map the full extent of contamination. The first phase of sampling started in spring 2020. A second phase of sampling is currently ongoing. EPA also installed fencing in 2020 to limit public access to the site. Remedy selection is estimated for June through August 2028, with remedial design and construction to follow after that.
Human exposure has not yet been confirmed as under control, and groundwater migration has not been confirmed as stabilized. The site is not yet ready for its anticipated future use, as cleanup goals have not been achieved across the full property. The Grand Calumet River fish consumption advisory remains in place due to PCB levels.
Community members with questions can reach the EPA Remedial Project Manager, Glenn Lautenbach, by phone or email. The site record includes 17 documents in the web content collection and 15 documents in the administrative records, all available through EPA. Staying in touch with the site team is the best way to track progress as sampling results come in and cleanup alternatives are developed.
