Located just east of Third and Adams, the Illinois Central Springs is the headwater of Clear Creek, and has been measured flowing from a low of 39 to a high of 6263 gallons per minute (May to November 2000). It is apparent that this flow is connected to the PCB contaminated Lemon Lane Landfill, which is situated on a series of sinkholes. Due to the hydrology of the area, PCBs have leaked into the fractured epi-karst and karst below the surface. It is theorized that the PCBs trapped in the karst are washed out during high water events, and will continue to do so in perpetuity. Levels as high as 1400 ppb have been detected in Clear Creek. Both clear and turbid water emerge from the spring alternately, so it is not clear that there is a single source or conduit for the Springs.

The EPA is formulating new ROD amendment which will consider:

1. Expanding the treatment plant to treat additional springs
2. Increasing storm water storage capacity
3. Purchasing additional processing equipment to lower effluent concentrations
4. Groundwater extraction at or near the landfill.

Although the highest concentrations of PCBs are released during storm events, they are also released continuously at lower levels during low flow. The EPA has built a water filtration plant at the ICC Springs, to capture the contaminated water and treat it before releasing it into Clear Creek. Viacom has taken the position that the water treatment plant is sized too big for the job, and refuses to pay for it. Instead they have been working at Lemon Lane Landfill drilling new wells and performing pump tests, hoping to find a theorized main conduit to ICC Springs, although it has not yet been found. (Here is the summary of the Viacom's Karst Conduit Program - Apr 16, 2001). Pump tests have shown a lowering of the water table in surrounding wells when one within 600 feet is pumped.

Although Viacom lobbied to have the restrictions lowered, the State and USFWS stand behind the current State Fish Advisories, which are to eat no fish from Clear Creek.

The filtration plant has been in operation since May of 2000, but the tanks that were to hold the excess water of storm events were faulty, and leaked. The good news was the plant operated well, the bad news was that most of the PCBs were bypassed back into Clear Creek. The old tanks have been demolished and new ones went online June 8 and 24, 2001. Tank One was operational during the heavy storm of June 4 (which had flows of 1900 gpm and PCB levels of 510 ppm), but could not handle all the water, and so a bypass occured. July 4th's heavy rain was fully contained by using both tanks. It became apparent that the tanks are acting as a passive clarifier, with PCB levels being the highest at the bottom of the tank. They have recently added a rainfall gauge, and a continuous flow monitoring system that allows the technicians to capture, analyze and share data in real time at the plant. Air monitoring is now done onsite as well.

The EPA is issuing a ROD Amendment which will evaluate options for dealing with the problems remaining at the IC/Quarry Springs complex. They will look at expanding the treatment plant for additional springs (see below), increasing storm water storage capacity, and purchasing additional processing equipment to lower effluent concentrations. EPA will also look at groundwater extraction at near Lemon Lane Landfill to reduce the amount of water making it to the IC Springs, especially during storm events. There is continuous monitoring of both influent and effluent from the plant.

IDEM took over management of the ICC Springs Treatment Plant as of August 2001, and has awarded a management contract to Earth Tech. IDEM has released reports on the plant for August and September, 2001.

The Swallow Hole and the Quarry Springs Complex are still to be addressed. EPA has begun discussions with Viacom on the area. This is where the IC Spring water would normally drop into the karst, if not diverted to the treatment plant. Often the Swallow Hole could not handle all the water, and the water and PCB containing sludge would settle out in the flats around the Hole as well as drain under the ICC tracks to the contaminated the "Beaver Dam" area just east of the tracks.

Quarry A, B, & C are downstream resurgences of the ICS system, and possibly have a connection to the Swallow Hole. The EPA developed a Work Plan to Investigate Quarry A and Quarry B, and Viacom has agreed to install flow monitoring devices. Quarry A flow is reduced or is dry when the ICS treatment plant is in operation, however Quarry B still flows. Dye trace studies show that both Springs are connected to the Swallow Hole, but it is possible that this is only one source of the water, especially at Quarry C, which flows even when water is not going into the Swallow Hole. This could mean that the outflow from Quarry C may have to be pumped back to the treatment plant. Now that the tanks are operable, the trapping of water may further affect the flow at the Quarry Springs. The EPA is committed to exploring, studying and remediating the Quarry Springs area through its ROD amendments. They are pursuing both flow and PCB studies at Quarry Springs, and are negotiating over the cleanup of the Swallow Hole and Beaver Dam area. Recently Viacom installed a weir at Quarry B Spring to measure flow rates. The EPA and Viacom are discussing sample locations for both the Quarry Springs and Swallow Hole areas.

Recent fish tissue sampling data from Nov. 2000 has been released. Whole fish and filets were taken at Country Club Rd., Fluck Mill Rod. and Strain Ridge Rd. Results showed no significant changes from 1998-2000, and although Viacom wanted to lower the State fish advisories, the State does not foresee changing fish advisories anytime in the near future. Clear Creek remains a Level 5 Advisory, eat no fish. Further Clear Creek sampling is being negotiated with Viacom. Caged fish will be added to test for PCBs in Clear Creek, and the EPA feels there is a need for further fish, water, and sediment testing in Clear Creek.

Additional IC/Quarry Springs information

• CIC Meetings
  • March 24, 2000
  • July 25, 2000
  • Aug 22, 2000
  • Oct 3, 2000
  • Nov 28, 2000
  • Oct 5, 1999
  • Nov 19, 1999
• Status Report  detailing CBS' objection to the EPA plan for the Water Treatment Plant at IC Springs, July 8, 1999
• Pictures of IC Springs Treatment Plant-1999 (while under construction)
• A Risk Management Framework for Remediation of PCB Contaminated Sediments
• F&WS's opinion regarding trends of PCB contamination in Clear Creek.
• About Water at IC Springs
• Comments on Groundwater Tracing using Fluorescent Dyes