EAST OF STATE ROUTE 148
The Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (the Refuge) is located approximately five miles west of Marion, Illinois, in Williamson County, Illinois. It is near the center of the southern tip of the state with the Mississippi River approximately 25 miles to the west and the Ohio River approximately 55 miles to the east. The Refuge consists of approximately 43,500 acres of multiple-use land. The land is used as a wildlife refuge and also for recreational, agricultural, and industrial purposes. Prior to and during World War II, the Refuge was managed by the Department of Defense (DoD). U.S. Army and several contractors leased portions of the Refuge from DoD for the manufacture of bombs, land mines, and other explosives as well as metals fabrication, plating, printing inks, and electrical components. Several of these industries reportedly landfilled wastes generated during their manufacturing activities in nearby locations. The Refuge was placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1987. Currently, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), an agency of the Department of Interior (DOI), administers the Refuge. Affected areas within the refuge are divided into the following eight cleanup projects: 1. Metals Areas Operable Unit; 2. PCB Areas Operable Unit; 3. Explosives/Munitions Manufacturing Areas Operable Unit; 4. Miscellaneous Areas Operable Unit– Site 14; 5. Miscellaneous Areas Operable Unit – Site 36; 6. Water Towers Areas Operable Unit; 7. Additional and Uncharacterized Sites Operable Unit; and 8. Lake Monitoring Operable Unit. Site Responsibility This site is being addressed through federal and potentially responsible parties’ actions. The Department of the Army is the lead agency for the Explosives/Munitions Manufacturing Areas and the Department of the Interior/Fish and Wildlife Service is the lead agency for all other areas.
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