Government officials will investigate a contaminated waterway in Little Village to determine if it should be cleaned up under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund program for hazardous waste sites.
The waterway in question is the collateral channel located below La Villita Park at 31st Street and Albany Avenue. The EPA has confirmed that it will conduct further investigations within the next two years to determine if an environmental remediation is necessary. This evaluation process is expected to be a multi-step and multi-year endeavor.
The request for investigation came from the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, which expressed concerns about heavy metal contaminants, cancer-causing chemicals, and gases emitted by the water. Local residents have also complained about experiencing headaches and nausea due to the putrid smells emanating from the water, particularly during warmer weather.
The organization believes that the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), which manages stormwater and sewer wastewater in the area, should bear the responsibility for cleaning the waterway. However, the MWRD has argued against shouldering the cost, stating that it should not be held accountable for the cleanup since it was responsible for constructing the channel and canal in the late 1800s.
Efforts to resolve the issue directly with the MWRD were unsuccessful, leading the Little Village group to appeal to the EPA for intervention. The organization’s lawyer, Keith Harley, stated that the timing of the investigation may benefit from the funding allocated to the Superfund program through federal infrastructure and economic stimulus laws.
District officials have previously acknowledged the toxic issues affecting the waterway and expressed their willingness to support the EPA in assessing the future options for the area.
The contamination concerns have also impacted the proposed plans of garbage hauler LRS, which hopes to establish a barge operation near the junction of the channel and the shipping canal. LRS has been closely monitoring the developments and has expressed the desire for an outcome that serves both the Little Village community and the environment.
The investigation into the Southwest Side waterway marks a significant step in addressing the contamination issue and determining the appropriate course of action for remediation. The outcome of the investigation will influence decisions on potential cleanup efforts in the future and who will be responsible for funding them. As the evaluation process unfolds, the community eagerly awaits a resolution that will ensure their health and well-being, as well as the preservation of the local environment.
