Radium, Thorium, and Uranium Contamination Investigations

Several subsequent investigations have been conducted since the City acquired ownership in 2009, including surficial gamma surveys, down-hole gamma logging, and analyses of soil samples, in order to estimate the extent of radiological contamination believed to have resulted from Carnotite’s refining operations. These investigations have documented radium, thorium, and uranium contaminated soil beneath and in the vicinity of 26th Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to Ellis Avenue within the northwest portion of the Site. Contamination has been defined to the south, west, and east and to the City’s northern property line. Most impacted material is limited to the top 5 feet below ground surface (bgs) but extends to approximately 12 feet bgs within one area in the northwest portion of the Site. A brief timeline of key investigations is provided below:

• August 2009 - IEMA conducted a gamma surface survey, observed readings of gamma activity, and recommended to the City of Chicago further investigation prior to invasive construction work. 
• December 2009 - EPA conducted a surface gamma survey at the Site and confirmed presence of elevated surficial gamma activity. 
• April/May 2012- Subsurface investigations confirmed the presence of elevated levels of radium and uranium in subsurface soil. 
• November 2013 - Subsurface investigations of the remainder of the Michael Reese Site substantiated that radiological contamination is not present outside of the documented contamination at the northwest end.
• December 2013 - IDPH issued a Letter Health Consultation regarding the Site and estimated that public dose rates for commuters traversing accessible portions of the Site would be 21.6 mrem/yr, which is less than the 100 mrem/yr of exposure greater than normal background permitted for the general public by EPA and the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 
• July 2018 thru February 2020 – AIS conducted additional subsurface soil and groundwater sampling to confirm the maximum depth of contamination and gather data needed to prepare construction bid documents for the removal of the radiological contaminated material.

Radioactive Material Storage and Decommissioning Plan

In October 2013, the IEMA Division of Nuclear Safety became the lead regulatory agency for the Site. On July 10, 2015, IEMA issued the Department of Assets, Information and Services (AIS) (formerly the Department of Fleet and Facility Management) a Radioactive Materials License IL-02467-01 for the possession and storage of radioactive material associated with Carnotite and located on City property and in the public right-of-way. This license is renewed annually and on May 19, 2020, the license was updated to allow for decommissioning activities. 

As part of the license conditions, AIS conducts ongoing environmental monitoring to document radiological concentrations at the site. Sewer water and sediment, air, and groundwater samples within and along the perimeter of the licensed area have been or are being collected.

As part of the license conditions, AIS conducts ongoing perimeter air monitoring to document radiological concentrations at the site. Sewer water, sediment, and groundwater samples within the licensed area have been collected.

AIS worked with IEMA to develop the initial Decommissioning Plan in 2018 for the remediation of the radiological contaminated material. AIS addressed IEMA’s comments in subsequent drafts and IEMA approved the Decommissioning Plan on February 25, 2021.  Remediation will consist of removing the radiologically contaminated soil and transporting it to a landfill permitted to accept radiological waste. The excavated area will then be filled with stone and/or soil and remain fenced off until redevelopment occurs. The approved Decommissioning Plan and IEMA correspondence are available below:

• Decommissioning Plan, November 2020
• IEMA Decommissioning Plan Approval Letter, February 25, 2021

AIS prepared construction bid documents based on the approved Decommissioning Plan and has procured a contractor to conduct the remediation.

Updates on the remediation are available here.

Find the latest updates on Remediation

Underground Work in the Former Carnotite Reduction Company Area

Based on the EPA and IEMA’s recommendation, and in conformance with the City’s Radiation Monitoring Ordinance (Section 11-4-1100), radiation monitoring, among other health and safety measures, is required prior to intruding into or disturbing soils in the Carnotite area as radium- and/or uranium-contaminated materials may be present. If radium- or uranium-contaminated materials are uncovered without proper environmental and safety controls, workers and the public may be exposed to elevated radiation levels.

An applicant seeking a permit for underground work in the Carnotite Permit Hold Area (see a link to map below) will be required to ensure proper monitoring takes place any time excavation or groundbreaking occurs. Please note that permits which involve work in the Carnotite Permit Hold Area will have a hold in the City Permit System.

If AIS determines that radiation monitoring is required, the applicant must then complete a form agreeing to conduct proper radiation monitoring. The applicant must schedule an appointment with AIS to review available files before the hold can be released and a permit can be issued. This form must be completed and submitted to AIS prior to each instance of scheduled soil excavation or ground exposure. Failure to complete this form may result in the delay of permits. Please call 312.744.7204 to schedule an appointment.

The Carnotite Utility Emergency and Maintenance Plan outlines soil management, radiological soil monitoring, and minimum health and safety procedures for utility and other excavation work conducted within the license and permit hold areas.

Please view the Carnotite Permit Hold Area Map to see if the proposed work might be located in the Carnotite Permit Hold Area. Note: this map is for informational purposes only. Holds are based on addresses and not parcel or property boundaries. Monitoring requirements will depend on the location and type of work.

For underground work in the Right-of-Way please complete the form AIS.RADIUM.PUBLIC.08 and bring the original to the AIS Office, 2 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200, Chicago, Illinois 60602.

For underground work on properties outside of the Right-of-Way please complete the form AIS.RADIUM.PRIVATE.08 and bring the original to the AIS Office, 2 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200, Chicago, Illinois 60602.

Community Involvement

May and November 2020 - In May 2020, prior to issuing the remediation bid, the City mailed out a fact sheet with notice of a virtual public meeting to residents and businesses near the Carnotite site. This fact sheet was updated in November 2020.

• May 2020 Fact Sheet and Meeting Notice
• November 2020 Fact Sheet and Timeline Update

February 2021 - 4th Ward Alderman Sophia King hosted a virtual community meeting on February 25, 2021 to discuss the remediation of the Former Carnotite Reduction Company (Carnotite) site.  Questions and comments received from the public were reviewed and are addressed in the FAQs.

• February 2021 Virtual Public Meeting Presentation

June 2021 - The City of Chicago’s Department of Assets, Information & Services (AIS) and 4th Ward Alderman Sophia King held a virtual public meeting on June 1, 2021 to discuss the remediation of the Former Carnotite Reduction Company site located at 434 E. 26th St.

• June 2021 Public Meeting Postcard
  
• June 2021 Public Meeting Presentation
• Carnotite Virtual Zoom Meeting Recording June 1, 2021

February 2022 – AIS updated the Carnotite website layout to allow easy access to the most current site information. The new website provides a summary of ongoing activities, completed activities as well as upcoming activities at the Site. In addition, the website has a new tab dedicated to remediation. A postcard was mailed out describing the website changes and providing an update on upcoming Spring 2022 site activities.

• February 2022 Website and Site Activities Update Postcard