Zonolite Company/W.R. Grace/Royal Corinthian, 603 Fenton Lane, West Chicago, Illinois
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EPA
Region		 Location of facility Type of facility Amount
of ore
received
(in tons)		 Did
EPA
visit
the
site?		 Were
samples
taken?		 Results of
evaluation
5 603 Fenton Lane, West Chicago, Illinois Former exfoliation facility 273,600 Yes-May 4, 2000 Yes According to an EPA database compiled from W.R. Grace shipping invoices, 273,600 tons of vermiculite ore from the Libby mine were shipped to this site between February 1974 and December 1988. Furthermore, a 1964 report by the Bureau of Mines (at that time located in the U.S. Department of the Interior) indicated this facility had been a vermiculite exfoliation plant. U.S. Geological Survey reports issued in 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1990 also indicated that this facility was a vermiculite exfoliation plant. From February 1974 to 1996, W.R. Grace operated a vermiculite exfoliation plant at this site. Between 1974 and 1988, this facility processed vermiculite ore from the Libby mine. The facility closed in 1996 and a clean-up contractor and W.R. Grace staff removed contaminated soil and other surface material from the site. Royal Corinthian acquired this property in 1998. According to Royal Corinthian personnel, the facility was vacant for about six months prior to when Royal Corinthian began operations at the site. At the time of EPA's visit, the facility manufactured columns and railing systems out of cultured marble materials. While visiting the site, EPA observed vermiculite along a rail spur located on the property. Vermiculite was also mixed into the soil and gravel in the area where storage silos had been located. On August 30, 2001, six soil samples were collected (including one duplicate), and all of the samples contained less than 1-percent asbestos. Polarized light microscopy (PLM) was used to analyze the samples. On the basis of this information, EPA determined no further action was necessary. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s (ATSDR) health consultation report for this site can be found at ATSDR.

GAO-09-6R