Test results are in on lead levels at Sportsman’s Park
By David Sharos For The Sun January 31, 2013 5:50PM
Jim Monk of Naperville works on his shooting at Sportsman Park in 2012. | Sun-Times Media File photo
Updated: March 2, 2013 12:09PM
The Naperville Park District Thursday received the results of tests for lead at Sportsman’s Park in Naperville.
The park is primarily used for trap shooting practice. For years, lead shot was used at the park near Oswego Road and West Street. However, lead shot, which is considered an environmental hazard, has been banned for more than a decade at the range. Now, only steel shot can be used.
The new test results by Shaw Environmental group included a summary for soil, groundwater, surface water and sediment at the park.
Thursday afternoon, Park District Executive Director Ray McGury told The Sun that “the results are what we expected.”
“There’s been shooting with lead going on there for at least 50 years and so the content in some areas is pretty high,” McGury said. “We weren’t surprised by the findings and once they are reviewed by the Illinois EPA and there is an agreement between Shaw and EPA regarding the findings, we can begin to move ahead with an action plan.”
McGury said nearly 400 tests were administered and that the best news is that the groundwater in the area is not contaminated.
“We aren’t keeping any secrets and we are pleased to know that the water there is clean and that people don’t need to be concerned about contamination, based on all the information we now have,” McGury said. “There are problems with the soil that go about six inches deep and this is going to be an extensive project to clean up.”
McGury said the Illinois EPA has 60 days to review the findings, but that the agency “is already in possession of them and generally they move a lot faster than the time they are given.”
“Once the EPA and Shaw agree to the findings, it will up to our board as to how quickly we can get this finished, based on the costs which have yet to be determined,” McGury said.
