United States 
Environmental Protection 
Agency 

EPA Recommends Protective Measures for Home Vapor Problems 
Hartford Area Hydrocarbon Plume Site 
Hartford, Illinois 
October 2004 

The Hartford Working Group, several companies considered potentially 
responsible for the contamination, has agreed to make improvements in 
homes and other buildings to protect people from potentially harmful vapors 
caused by releases of refined petroleum products underneath northern 
Hartford. These protective measures are part of a comprehensive plan that 
also includes a thorough ongoing investigation, an area-wide vapor removal 
system, and the design of a long-term permanent cleanup. EPA recommends 
that everyone in the affected area take advantage of these safety measures 
by the end of the year (see the map on Page 3). The enclosed fact sheet 
published by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry explains 
that vapors caused by petroleum products in the ground under Hartford 
could potentially pose health risks to residents. As of the end of September, 
approximately 75 home and building owners have agreed to take advantage 
of these protective measures. 

A simple process 

It is easy to take advantage of this offer. First, a walk-through of the 
residence or building is done to collect basic information and identify the 
work that will be needed in the home. All home and building owners in the 
affected area will then be offered a variety of protective measures such as 
sealing cracks, insulating and sealing ductwork, installing ventilation systems, 
and installing an instrument that will detect vapors before they reach 
explosive levels. It is important to note that the property owner will have 
the final say regarding the improvements installed in their building. 

Sealing of cracks 

Cracks found in concrete floors and walls of basements that might be a vapor pathway will 
be sealed using a combination of caulking or waterproofing paint materials. Vapor 
pathways in basement electrical outlets and open pipes will also be inspected 
and sealed if necessary. If needed, the companies will also cover earthen 
basement and crawl space floors with a flowable concrete material. This 
special, fast-drying concrete will fill in cracks and level out floors and crawl 
spaces. A foam rubber insulation material will also be installed on exposed 
water pipes and ductwork in the basement, as necessary. 

Home ventilation systems 
Once a home has been thoroughly sealed, a ventilation system will be proposed. In consultation with the 
homeowner, a determination will be made as to what type of ventilation system would be most appropriate for 
each home. This will depend on a number of factors including the design and construction of the home. 

Because all homes are not built the same, some homes may require a more complex (sub-slab) system, which 
would be installed below the basement floor. This type of system would capture and carry vapors through a pipe 
releasing them above the roof of the home. 

Other homes may require a system consisting of a fan or blower. In basements with windows, a ventilation fan will 
be mounted in the window to draw vapors out of the basement. The fans will be securely mounted to a 
wooden frame made to fit the window. All openings around the fan will be sealed. The fans have 
louvers that will open when the fan is on, but will otherwise remain shut. In basements without windows, a 
floor or wall mounted blower will be installed and will be vented through an air duct through the basement wall. 
The ventilation fan or blower will be hardwired into the existing home electrical system complete with an on/off 
switch for ease of use by the resident. Each basement with a fan or blower will also have a screened, louvered, 
fresh-air intake installed that will allow outside air to enter the basement when the fan or blower is operating. 

Combustible gas indicators 

Each homeowner will also be offered a combustible gas indicator. This unit will 
be installed in basements to alert residents if gasoline vapors rise above a certain 
level. The indicator will be set to detect an amount of gas that is well below 
explosive levels. 

Investigating other ways vapors get into homes 

The Hartford Working Group looked at other ways--such as through the 
sewer lines--that vapors might be getting into houses. The results of this 
investigation found that the sewers are potentially a means by which vapors may be getting into some homes. One 
way this is being addressed is by installing grated (vented) sewer covers along Old St. Louis and Alton Road. This 
seems to have been effective at lowering the levels of vapors in the sewers. This, as well as other methods will 
continue to be pursued. A pilot study is being done to see if venting the sewers into the vapor extraction system 
would be effective. Also, the installation of sewer traps and plugs will be offered to home and building owners 
wherever found to be necessary. 

New vapor removal system being installed 

The Hartford Working Group is now in the process of 
completely rebuilding and expanding the area-wide vapor 
removal system, which may become a part of the 
permanent remedy. Twelve new vapor extraction wells 
have been installed throughout northern Hartford and the 
treatment system located on the Premcor property is being 
rebuilt. The new vapor extraction removal system is 
expected to be completely renovated by spring 2005. Once 
up and running, this area-wide system should be able to 
remove a great deal of the vapors before they reach 
people.s homes. However, EPA feels that the home 
ventilation systems and the other measures being offered 
will provide important added protection for residents. 
It is important to note that until the new vapor removal 
system is running, the .old. vapor removal system, installed 
in the 1990s, is operating. This system was improved last 
December and is currently working more efficiently. 

Protecting the water supply 

Five monitoring wells installed between the area affected 
by the contamination and where the village water wells 
are located continue to be sampled quarterly. The results 
of the samples taken from those wells continue to show 
no contamination. Nonetheless, the Hartford Working 
Group has proposed additional monitoring wells and 
further investigations to ensure protection of the water 
supply. 

Designing a permanent cleanup 

The Hartford Working Group has agreed to design a long-term solution. Investigations have been ongoing throughout 2004 and more are being planned to find out 
where and how widespread the contamination is. EPA and the Hartford Working Group hope to determine the 
best way to design a permanent cleanup by early next year. Construction of the final remedy could begin in 2005. 

For more information 

For more information about the Hartford Area Hydrocarbon Plume site, please contact: 

Mike  Joyce 
Community Involvement Coordinator 
Office of Public Affairs (P-19J) 
EPA Region 5 
77 W. Jackson Blvd. 
Chicago, IL 60604-3590 
Phone: (312) 353-5546 or 
(800) 621-8431, 
9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. weekdays 
Fax: (312) 353-1155 
E-mail: joyce.mike@epa.gov 

Steve Faryan 
On-Scene Coordinator 
Emergency Response Branch (SE-5J) 
EPA Region 5 
77 W. Jackson Blvd. 
Chicago, IL 60604-3590 
Phone: (312) 353-9351 or 
(800) 621-8431, 
9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. weekdays 
Fax: (312) 353-9176 
E-mail: faryan.steven@epa.gov 

Kevin Turner 
On-Scene Coordinator 
Emergency Response Branch 
EPA Region 5 
8588 Rt. 148 
Marion, IL 62959 
Phone: (618) 997-0115 
Fax: (618) 998-0425 
E-mail: turner.kevin@epa.gov 

Mara McGinnis 
Community Relations Coordinator 
Illinois EPA 
1021 N. Grand Ave. East 
Springfield, IL 62794-9276 
Phone: (217) 524-3288 
Fax: (217) 785-7725 
E-mail: mara.mcginnis@epa.state.il.us 

Chris Cahnovsky 
Manager, Collinsville Regional Office 
Illinois EPA 
2009 Mall St. 
Collinsville, IL 62234 
Phone: (618) 346-5120 
Fax: (618) 346-5155 
E-mail: chris.cahnovsky@epa.state.il.us 

Dave Webb or Cathy Copley 
Environmental Toxicologists 
Illinois Department of Public Health 
Edwardsville Regional Office 
22 Kettle River Drive 
Glen Carbon, IL 62034 
Phone: (618) 656-6680 
Fax: (618) 656-5863 
E-mail: dwebb@idph.state.il.us 
ccopley@idph.state.il.us 

[TEXT BOX]

Construction starting 

In October, construction will begin in northern Hartford to connect the 
newly installed, area-wide vapor extraction wells to the treatment 
system. EPA and the Hartford Working Group will be cooperating 
with the village to keep any disruptions associated with this 
construction to a minimum. 

Important notes: 
. All work will be done at no expense to the homeowner including installation and maintenance. 
. All work will be explained to the homeowner prior to installation. 
. A homeowner will have the right to accept various combinations of the protective measures. 
. Throughout the installation, the Hartford Working Group will monitor air quality and collect air samples inside and outside the home. Sample results will be provided in writing to the homeowner. 
. The Hartford Working Group will maintain the ventilation system and any other measures taken as long as is required. 
. The Hartford Working Group will provide money annually to cover the expenses related to operation of the ventilation systems. 
. If EPA determines that any other measures are necessary for individual homes, buildings or the area in general, the Agency will require those measures be taken. 
[END TEXT BOX]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS:

[PHOTOGRAPH OF CORNER OF A BASEMENT FLOOR]
CAPTION: This basement floor and wall have been sealed to prevent vapors from entering the home through cracks.

[PHOTO: People installing equiment outside a house.]
CAPTION: A sub-slab ventilation system is being installed in this home. 

[PHOTO: A louvered ventilation fan]
CAPTION: A fan like this is being installed in some homes and buildings to remove vapors. 

[PHOTO: a ventilated plastic unit with an electrical power cord]
CAPTION: An instrument like this one will be placed in homes to alert residents if vapors reach 
potentially fire-causing levels. 

[Map of Area Being Offered Home Improvements ]

[Return address]
United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 
Office  of  Public Affairs  (P-19J) 
77 W. Jackson Blvd. 
Chicago, IL  60604-3590 

Reproduced  on  Recycled  Paper 
HARTFORD AREA HYDROCARBON PLUME SITE: EPA  Recommends  Protective  Measures  for  Home  Vapor  Problems