EPA v. JOLIET ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT

Case summary

SITE DESCRIPTION: THE 23,000 ACRE JOLIET ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT (JAAP), OWNED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY (DOA), IS LOCATED 12 MILES SOUTH OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS. APPROXIMATELY 1,800 ACRES OF THE FACILITY IS OCCUPIED BY HONEYWELL, INC. UNDER A CONTRACT WITH DOA TO LOAD, ASSEMBLE AND PACK SMALL CALIBRE AMMUNITION. UNIROYAL, INC. OCCUPIES ANOTHER PORTION OF THE FACILITY UNDER A CONTRACT WITH DOA. THIS PORTION OF THE FACILITY WAS FORMERLY USED FO FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION. A SURFACE IMPOUNDMENT COMMONLY CALLED THE RED WATER LAGOON, LOCATED ON THE PROPERTY OCCUPIED BY UNIROYAL, INC., IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF RCRA VIOLATIONS. THE AGENCY BE- LIEVES THE LAGOON IS A HAZARDOUS WASTE STORAGE SITE AND SUBJECT TO RCRA REGULATIONS PARTICULARLY SUBPART F REGULA- TIONS. WHILE JAAP HAS COMPLIED WITH SOME RCRA REGULATIONS IN THE PAST, IT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE AT THIS TIME. JAAP CONTENDS THAT THE LAGOON IS A DISPOSAL SITE REGULATED BY RCRA. THE RED WATER LAGOON CONTAINS A LISTED HAZARDOUS WASTE, PINK/RED WATER RESULTING FROM THE MANUFACTURE OF TNT (K047). WHEN THE TNT PLANT SUSPENDED OPERATION IN 1977, THE LAGOON WAS DEWATERED. HOWEVER, SLUDGES WHICH SETTLED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LAGOON WERE NOT REMOVED. AFTER THIS DEWATER- ING, THE LAGOON GRADUALLY FILLED UP WITH RAINWATER WHICH MIXED WITH THE RESIDUAL SLUDGE. IN LATE 1983 AND EARLY 1984, JAAP REMOVED SIGNIFICANT QUANTITIES OF THIS MIXTURE FROM THE LAGOON AND SHIPPED IT TO LOUISIANA FOR DISPOSAL. THE WASTE WAS DESCRIBED AS K047 IN ITS MANIFEST (ATTACHMENT 1). JAAP INTENDS TO DISPOSE OF ALL THE WATER, SLUDGE AND LINER IN THE RED WATER LAGOON BY JUNE OF 1985.

Facilities (4)

• JOLIET ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT

  ROUTE 53 & HOF ROAD, ELWOOD, IL, 60421

  Registry ID: 110037150409

• JOLIET ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT

  ROUTE 53 & HOF ROAD, ELWOOD, IL, 60421

  Registry ID: 110037150409

• JOLIET ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT

  ROUTE 53 & HOF ROAD, ELWOOD, IL, 60421

  Registry ID: 110037150409

• JOLIET ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT

  ROUTE 53 & HOF ROAD, ELWOOD, IL, 60421

  Registry ID: 110037150409

Statutes cited

• CERCLA CERCLA — Superfund

Timeline (1 milestones)

• 1989-06-09Final Order Issued