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Westmont Mystery Odor Incident

 
Site Contact:
Paul Ruesch
OSC

(ruesch.paul@epa.gov)

Site Location:
6362 S. Cass Avenue
Westmont, IL 60559
 response.epa.gov/westmontodors
NRC#: 1389412

A suspected illegal dumping of chemicals into a catch basin in a parking lot resulted in noxious fumes accumulating in five storefront businesses in a strip mall.  The local fire department and responding hazmat team requested US EPA assistance in determining the source of the chemical fumes and mitigating the release.  US EPA, in coordination with the State of Illinois EPA, responded to assist in the mitigation of both the released chemical, determined to be either paint thinner or varnish remover, from the storm drains as well as the fumes from the storefront businesses, which prompted their temporary closure over a three day period.


View of impacted retail storefront building evacuated as a result of odor/fumes. Storm drain with chemical residue on grate suspected as source of dumped chemical(s), Notice sticker placed by local fire department restricting entry/occupation of storefront businesses. Access door to subsurface retention basin underneath building. Subsurface stormwater retention basin located underneath end storefront unit (solid is sludge accumulation) Catch basin with visible impact on sides from dumped chemical(s) Vac truck jetting out catch basin and pipe toward retention basin. Jetting head being used to clean out catch basin and conveyance pipe.