Update
EPA has completed it's initial cleanup of 5 priority properties at the Exide Corporation site in Logansport, Indiana. EPA will return in the Spring of 2024 to continue cleanup work of the remaining properties with lead contaminated soils near the old Exide Battery facility.
November 13 - 17, 2023
During Week 4 of EPA's cleanup of lead contaminated soils at the Exide Corporation site, EPA completed excavation of the final priority property. EPA completed backfilling 2 yards with clean soil and restored the landscaping of those properties. All 5 priority property yards have been excavated and restored to pre-removal conditions. EPA conducted air monitoring during excavation work for particulate matter. Two of the air monitoring units alarmed on November 13, 2023 when first turned on, before excavation began. This was likely due to high humidity the morning of November 13th. The excavation downwind air monitor alerted to elevated PM 2.5 readings on November 13, 2023 at approximately 8:25 am and 11:25 am, and elevated PM10 readings at approximately 11:35 am. No dust was observed by field personnel during these times and the unit was recalibrated.
November 6 - 10, 2023
During Week 3 of EPA's cleanup of lead contaminated soil in yards of homes near the old Exide Battery facility, EPA completed excavation of one yard and began excavation at another. EPA completed backfilling 3 yards with clean soil and restored landscaping by placing seed and straw matts over the clean topsoil. A total of 4 yards have excavated and 3 have been restored to pre-removal conditions. EPA conducted air monitoring during excavation work for particulate matter. The excavation downwind air monitor alerted to elevated PM 2.5 readings on November 6, 2023 at approximately 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm. No dust was observed by field personnel during this time and the unit was recalibrated. The excavation upwind air monitor alerted to elevated PM 2.5 readings on November 10, 2023 at approximately 8:45 am and 9:00 am. The monitor was stationed between the excavator and a truck, therefore the elevated readings were most likely due to vehicle exhaust.
October 30 - November 3, 2023
During Week 2 of EPA's cleanup of lead contaminated soil in yards of homes near the old Exide Battery facility, EPA completed excavation of 2 yards and began to backfill 3 yards with clean soil. A layer of clean topsoil will be placed over the backfilled soil and the yards will be restored to pre-removal conditions. EPA conducted air monitoring during excavation work for particulate matter. The excavation downwind air monitor alerted to elevated PM 2.5 readings on November 1, 2023 at approximately 9:15 am. No dust was observed by field personnel during this time. The elevated readings were most likely due to high humidity that morning.
October 24 - 27, 2023
On October 24, 2023, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began it's cleanup of lead contaminated soil in yards
of homes near the demolished Exide Battery facility in Logansport, Indiana. EPA plans to complete cleanup of 5 priority properties this year and return next spring to complete cleanup of the remaining properties found to have high concentrations of lead. During Week 1, EPA completed excavation of one yard and began excavation at another. Those yards will be backfilled with clean soil next week and restored to pre-removal conditions. EPA conducted air monitoring during excavation work for particulates to assess dust levels and potential airborne contaminants. No air readings were observed above EPA's action level during Week 1.
Background
Exide Technologies operated the site at 303 Water Street as a lead-acid storage battery manufacturing facility for the automotive industry from about 1960 to approximately 1989, before fully shutting down in 2009. The former building was demolished in 2016 and has since been vacant.
EPA and the Indiana Department of Environmental
Management (IDEM) investigated lead-contaminated soil in the area. Testing and
site assessments found elevated lead in some properties near the facility. Several
yards had lead concentrations above EPA standards of 400 parts per million. Not
every property sampled demonstrated excessive lead levels, so EPA will clean-up
yards within the area that do have the elevated lead concentrations.
The clean-up will be conducted at no cost to property
owners or residents. High
lead levels pose a risk, especially to children’s health. This clean-up, or
removal action, will be considered “time-critical” because the lead poses an
immediate health threat. It will consist of an approach called “dig and haul”
of contaminated soil to an approved landfill.
There
may be increased traffic in the neighborhood as crews excavate and transport
contaminated soil to approved landfill. The crews will take precautionary
measures to make sure the contaminated soil remains securely contained while it
travels. EPA will also monitor the air during excavation.
If you are a property owner of a residence in the area west of the facility on Balsam or Aster Street, or the area north of the facility up to Columbia/N 3rd Street, please consider signing the voluntary access agreement to give permission to collect soil samples on your property. This work is being done for your health and safety and will be at NO COST to you. Mail, email or fax the access agreement to:
Lauren Hirschel (hirschel.lauren@epa.gov)
77 W Jackson Blvd (SE-5J)
Chicago, Illinois 60604
fax: 312-980-8733
If you have any questions,
you may contact Lauren Hirschel, the On-Scene Coordinator, at 312-480-7976. You can also contact Francisco Arcaute, EPA
Community Involvement Coordinator, at 312-886-7613.
