Reilly Tar & Chemical aka Vertellus

The Reilly Tar & Chemical (more recently known as Vertellus) Superfund site at 1500 S. Tibbs has been in our neighborhood for generations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has worked out an agreement with the new owners, 1500 S Tibbs LLC, to clean up the site. EPA is currently working to clean up groundwater in surrounding neighborhoods as well.

EPA conducted interviews with residents over the summer and compiled feedback to create a Community Involvement Plan. The plan outlines community involvement in site cleanup efforts in the past, present, and going forward into the future.

We recommend reading the whole thing, but many neighbors are likely most interested in Sections 2 and 3.

• Section 2 (page 10) focuses on The Community: Community History, Government Structure, Demographics, and Environmental Justice
• Section 3 (page 21) focuses on Community Involvement: Community Interviews, Community Involvement Activities

If you have questions, comments, or concerns about the plan or the site in general, you can contact Karen Chen at 312-886-6009 or at chen.karen01@epa.gov.

To learn more about the site, contaminants, and what’s been/is being done, visit the Reilly Tar & Chemical Corp. Superfund Site page.