Site history: From approximately 1961 to1972, PCBs were
discharged through floor drains and pipes at the Outboard Marine Corporation
Inc. property, directly to Waukegan Harbor and into ditches discharging into
Lake Michigan.
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Partners:
Case status: The City of Waukegan is working with a local
coalition and is acting as the local sponsor for a proposal to remediate
Waukegan Harbor under the Great Lakes Legacy Act. If an agreement under that
Act is not signed by July 2007, the site will be returned to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund Program for remediation.
Overview: Waukegan Harbor is located on the western shore of
Lake Michigan, about 40 miles north of Chicago, in the city of Waukegan. From
approximately 1961 to1972, Outboard Marine Corporation, Inc. used hydraulic
fluid containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) for die-casting of outboard
marine/recreational engines. PCBs were released through floor drains and pipes
directly to Waukegan Harbor and into ditches discharging into Lake Michigan. An
estimated 300,000 pounds of PCBs have been deposited in the sediments of
Waukegan Harbor. As a result of the contamination, the harbor has been listed
as a Great Lakes Area of Concern.
Resources at risk include fishery resources, supporting habitat, and
transportation services provided by the waterway. A sediment remediation was
completed by the responsible party in the 1990s; however, high levels of PCBs
remain and fish consumption advisories continue. The City of Waukegan has
obtained portions of the site for redevelopment. NOAA is working to ensure that
the project provides protection for ecological resources and will restore,
preserve, and promote safe navigation and maritime commerce.
