Morris
Lithium Battery Site
Site Update
November 2022 - EPA has completed the time-critical cleanup at the Morris Lithium
Battery Site. Since
resuming the active cleanup in spring, EPA has consolidated and shipped
over 388,000 pounds of batteries
off-site for disposal in accordance with federal regulations. EPA also brought
in an industrial vacuum unit to the site to remove the remaining soot and debris
from the floor of the building. Workers removed over 700 cubic yards of debris that was also
shipped for disposal off-site.
EPA FACT SHEET - EPA COMPLETES TIME-CRITICAL CLEANUP AT WAREHOUSE (2 pp, 279.04 KB)
Throughout the cleanup, EPA crews performed daily
air monitoring around and inside the building during site work hours. The data is posted under the Documents section.
Site Background
In June 2021,
EPA mobilized to assist the Morris Fire Department with 24-hour air monitoring
and sampling support after a fire erupted at the site located at 900 E. Benton
St., Morris, Illinois. The building housed several tons of batteries including lithium
batteries, many of which were consumed in the fire. Lithium
batteries contain a flammable electrolyte that can become pressurized when
damaged causing them to rupture. This could cause the batteries to overheat and
possibly catch fire and/or explode. Additional items containing potentially
hazardous materials including solar panels and waste electronics were also
found at the warehouse. The Morris Fire Department ordered an emergency
evacuation to those living within a 1/2-mile radius of the site because of the
potential exposure of hazardous substances released into the atmosphere from
the smoke plume. EPA continued to conduct air monitoring at the site perimeter
and in the surrounding neighborhood after the evacuation order was lifted in
early July 2021.
EPA entered into a legal
agreement with the responsible party, to conduct a cleanup at site. Under the
agreement, Superior Battery, Inc would consolidate hazardous substances and
contaminants, package and ship all batteries in accordance with EPA and Department
of Transportation regulations, and perform sampling and analysis of waste,
soil, burned material, asbestos, storm water, and air. EPA determined that
Superior Battery, Inc. was not performing several work requirements of the
legal agreement in a timely or sufficient manner and took over work according
to the terms of that agreement.
During winter months, EPA was on-site to stabilize the building. Workers took inventory of remaining
waste materials; covered and secured materials to keep them dry; and secured
the building with fencing and locks.
Contact Information
Len Zintak
On-Scene Coordinator
312-886-4246
zintak.leonard@epa.gov
Ruth Muhtsun
Community Involvement
Coordinator
312-886-6595
muhtsun.ruth@epa.gov
Documents (Fact Sheets, Press
Releases, Tech Docs, Legal Docs, etc.) to add to the site now.
Fact Sheet: EPA FACT SHEET - EPA RESUMES CLEANUP AT WAREHOUSE (1 pp, 210.1 KB)
EPA FACT SHEET - EPA COMPLETES TIME-CRITICAL CLEANUP AT WAREHOUSE (2 pp, 279.04 KB)
