Editing Waukegan, Illinois (section)

===Superfund sites===
[[File:Waukegan harbor superfund.svg|thumb|300x300px|Waukegan Harbor, with OMC (purple), WCP (red), and Johns-Manville (yellow) Superfund sites]]
Waukegan contains three [[Superfund]] sites of hazardous substances that are on the [[National Priorities List]].

In 1975, [[polychlorinated biphenyl|PCBs]] were discovered in Waukegan Harbor sediments. Investigation revealed that during manufacturing activities at [[Outboard Marine Corporation]] (OMC), hydraulic fluids containing PCBs had been discharged through floor drains at the OMC plant, directly to Waukegan Harbor and into ditches discharging into Lake Michigan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/waukegan.html|title=Waukegan Harbor River Area of Concern|date=August 20, 2015|publisher=[[United States Environmental Protection Agency|US EPA]]}}</ref> The OMC plants were subsequently added to the [[National Priorities List]], and was designated as one of 43 [[Great Lakes Areas of Concern]]. Cleanup of the site began in 1990, with OMC providing $20–25&nbsp;million in funding. During the OMC cleanup, additional soil contaminants were found at the location of the former Waukegan Manufactured Gas and Coke Company. Soil removal was completed at the coke site in 2005, and cleanup of that soil will continue for several years.

The [[Johns Manville]] site is located {{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=on}} north<ref>[https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=42.387744,-87.82033&ie=UTF8&t=h&om=1&ll=42.38562,-87.811661&spn=0.038101,0.09407&z=14 Coordinates of Johns Mannville site]. Maps.google.com (January 1, 1970).</ref> of the OMC site. In 1988, [[asbestos]] contamination found in groundwater and air prompted listing on the National Priorities List and subsequent cleanup. In 1991, the soil cover of the asbestos was completed. However, additional asbestos contamination was found outside the Johns-Manville property, which will require further cleanup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/R5Super/npl/illinois/ILD005443544.htm|title=Johns-Manville Corp|publisher=EPA|access-date=August 13, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asbestosbeach.com/|title=Asbestos contaminated shore|date=November 2006|work=Dunesland Preservation Society|access-date=December 24, 2014|archive-date=December 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216183600/http://asbestosbeach.com/}}</ref>

The Yeoman Creek Landfill<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/Superfund/site.aspx?act=0500574|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324022109/http://www.publicintegrity.org/Superfund/site.aspx?act=0500574|title=Yeoman Creek Landfill|archive-date=March 24, 2008}}</ref> is a Superfund site located {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} west of the Johns Manville site. The site operated as a landfill from 1959 to 1969. In 1970, it was discovered that the lack of a bottom liner in the landfill had allowed [[leachate]] to enter groundwater, contaminating the water with [[volatile organic compound]]s and PCBs, and releasing gases that presented an explosion hazard. All major cleanup construction activities were completed in 2005, and monitoring of local water and air continues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/R5Super/npl/illinois/ILD980500102.html|title=ILD980500102, NPL Fact Sheet – Region 5 Superfund – US EPA|work=epa.gov|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref> The book ''Lake Effect'' by Nancy Nichols gives an account of the effects of PCBs on Waukegan residents.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Gary |date=2018-06-11 |title=A Great Lakes tragedy: growing up near a toxic harbor |url=https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2018/06/a-great-lakes-tragedy-growing-up-near-a-toxic-harbor/ |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Great Lakes Now |language=en-US}}</ref> The Johns Manville site was cited due to its high concentration of PCBs and asbestos.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 November 2008 |title=Toxic Town |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/entertainment/2008/11/30/toxic-town/75d94934-5198-4551-927f-6a654b6085bc/ |access-date=25 January 2025 |website=Washington Post}}</ref>