Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (Manufacturing Area)

Overview

The Joliet Army Ammunition Plant Manufacturing Area sits about 10 miles south of Joliet in Will County, Illinois. It produced high explosive artillery shells, bombs, mines, and small arms ammunition from the 1940s through 1977. The site was listed on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1987. The U.S. Army leads cleanup work under a Federal Facility Agreement with the EPA and Illinois EPA. The EPA serves as the lead regulatory agency under CERCLA, the federal cleanup law.

Contaminants found in soil and groundwater include explosive compounds such as TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene), RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine), and several other nitro-based chemicals. Other contaminants include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile chlorinated solvents, heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and beryllium, and tetrachloroethene in groundwater. The main health risks involve ingesting or touching these contaminants, particularly during cleanup activities.

Cleanup was organized into operable units covering soils and groundwater. The EPA issued Records of Decision in October 1998 and August 2004 selecting methods including excavation, landfill capping, offsite disposal, composting, onsite recycling, and monitored natural attenuation for groundwater. A Groundwater Management Zone with deed and zoning restrictions prevents incompatible land uses. Remedial construction ran from 1999 to 2008, finishing three years ahead of schedule. The site achieved sitewide ready-for-anticipated-reuse status in September 2011.

EPA assessments confirm that human exposure is currently under control across the entire site, with no unacceptable pathways for people to contact contamination. Groundwater migration is also under control. Ongoing work includes semiannual groundwater and surface water monitoring and regular landfill inspections. The most recent five-year review, completed in September 2025, confirmed that cleanup actions remain protective of human health and the environment. The site has been redeveloped as the Midewin Tallgrass Prairie, Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Prairie View Landfill, and manufacturing and distribution business parks.

Community members can review the Fifth Five-Year Review Report Addendum and the EPA Protectiveness Determination Letter online. The Administrative Record is available through the U.S. Army or the site's Public Information Repository. For questions, contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.