Wilmette Contamination

Unconfirmed report from State Fire Marshall that there was contamination. We do have confirmation there was no permit. At least one tank with sludge remains in the ground. At least one Wilmette official lied about a permit having been approved and state inspectors being present.

Also there were local reports of public urination by workers on site in full view of mothers and children by the bike shop on the street and near the library as no port-a-potties were provided by the developer.

More details to come. Earlier post here.

UPDATE: I called Mr. Kellogg of the Beth Corporation, part of the development group Wilmette Village Center LLC, for the answer to why his group had not obtained a permit before digging at the old Ford dealership, but, having given my name and town, the receptionist said unfortunately he had "just stepped out". I was directed to his voicemail.

According to local sources the machines which were measuring the level of vibrations at the site in order to protect the integrity of surrounding buildings were ordered removed by the developer just prior to major digging by large equipment on Tuesday.

The State Fire Marshall has now confirmed there are at least 3 tanks in the ground. The digging uncovered the tops. There are large holes and piled-up dirt and other materials. It is not clear whether other older tanks were actually removed. In my initial call to the Wilmette Community Development Dept.'s Plumbing Inspector on Wednesday morning, he indicated that tanks had been removed on Tuesday, that the sewer pipes had been disconnected so the systems were totally separate and that permits were obtained for the removal, which contradicts other reports. But if they were disconnected, it would seem they knew about the tanks in advance of the digging. And as you will see below, they also knew about the tanks being at least uncovered 2 days before the Fire Dept. contacted them. Why didn't the Wilmette Community Development Dept. contact the State Fire Marshall or tell the developer to do so immediately? Because they had claimed they already had???!!!

There is contamination in the location and an official incident report has now been filed with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEAMA, incident #2006-0342). The State Fire Marshall has just received a permit today, Friday, which was sent in Wed. or Thursday by the new removal contractor R.W. Collins just hired by Mr. Keith A. Pochter of the development group.

The Wilmette Fire Dept. was first contacted by the developer about the tanks on Thursday, 2 days after the initial digging, and when they were at the site noted at least two 300 gallon fuel oil tanks, soil contamination and odors, and they contacted the State Fire Marshall, the Illinois EPA and the Wilmette Community Development Dept. The Fire Dept. spokesman said older communities such as Wilmette often have buried fuel oil tanks.

The Fire Dept. report for Tuesday during the day and evening, when they were called on 2 separate occasions with reports of hissing sounds, concerned leaky oxygen valves. After the contractor supposedly drained it the first time, apparently it was not completely done, so on the second call the Fire Dept. completely drained the tank.

I have a call in to Mr. Silvus of the Community Development Dept. I will let you know what he says when he calls me back. I have also left a message with Mr. Keith Pochter to confirm the details of the incident report he filed with the Illinois EPA, which will be following up. In the meantime the dug-up soil and materials remain uncovered, even though, according to the EPA it should be covered until removed for clean-up.