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Location DB > United States > Illinois > Waukegan > OMC Plant 2
 Name
OMC Plant 2
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by roofwalker on 10/21/2005 4:41 AM
last modified by DawnPatrol on 4/25/2013 1:02 AM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled as Demolished, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description

 Basic Information
Type: Building
Status: Demolished
Accessibility: Moderate
Recommendation: check it out if you're nearby
 Physical Information
Address

Waukegan, Illinois
United States
Owner: City Of Waukegan
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
  • asbestos
  • unsafe flooring
  • air quality
  • Arsenic, PCBs
  •  Interesting Features

     Security Measures
  • fences
  • barbed wire
  • locked gates
  • exterior doors secured with chain/padlocks from inside
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 0
    Closed: 0
     Required Equipment
  • flashlight
  • breathing mask
  • gloves
  • long pants / sleeves
  •  Recommended Equipment

     History
    The Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E) bought the land in July 1893. A wood treatment plant was originally located on the western part of the land. The Chicago Tie and Timber Company ran it from 1908 to 1912. After 1917 the wood plant was disassembled. From 1926-1928 a coke oven gas plant was built on the site. The North Shore Gas Company bought excess gas made there.

    The western third of the site was used for coal storage. An on-site steam electrical generating plant required water from Waukegan Harbor and a 140 foot deep well. Since 1936, OMC has operated plants at Waukegan Harbor, however, the company evidently did not own the land at that time. The North Shore Gas Company purchased the land in 1941 and sold it to the Waukegan Coke Organization in 1947. General Motors Corporation (GM) bought the land less than a year later and produced coke at the site. Gas was used for internal purposes only, and the gas purification facilities were dismantled. The coke plant had a 225 foot tall chimney and many storage tanks.

    In 1969, GM sold the 2.8 acres along the southern portion of the site to OMC, and OMC bought the rest of the property in 1971. Shortly thereafter, OMC demolished the coking plant. The demolition specifications included the removal of all buildings, smoke stacks, equipment, and railroad tracks and ties. The foundations of the coke battery and smoke stacks were to be completely removed, and all others were to be taken out to a depth of 12 inches below grade. All oil, tar, water, or other residues remaining in oil or tar storage tanks were to be removed, but not dumped into the plant sewer system. All depressed areas were to be filled with noncombustible rubble. An office building in the southwestern corner of the property, the foundation of the above-ground tar tank, and other building foundations still remain.

    The OMC plant made outboard motors, lawn mowers, industrial vehicles, and turf-care vehicles. The plant also had die-casting facilities for making engine blocks and related parts, which were distributed to other OMC assembly plants. This plant, plant 2, was taked with aluminum casting, cleaning, component manufacturing, electroplating, heat treatment, and metal finishing. Between 1951 and 1959, OMC used a phosphate ester containing some PCBs. Around 1960, the company began to use PCB-containing Pydraul A200. Between 1959 and 1972, OMC purchased about 8.4 million pounds of PCBs. Some of it leaked onto the floor, escaped through floor drains, entered an oil interceptor system, and PCBs escaped from the interceptor and subsequently entered the Crescent Ditch of the North Ditch. Some of the PCBs were then discharged through an outlet into Waukegan Harbor. This discharge pipe was sealed in 1976.

    In 1975 or 1976, PCB contamination was discovered in Waukegan Harbor. OMC was one of the major sources of PCBs going into Lake Michigan.


     Media Coverage
    http://subscript.b...51a1f?OpenDocument

     Future Plans

     Stories


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Exterior
    Fri, Oct 21st, 2005
    posted by roofwalker
    12 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Trip 2
    Mon, Oct 24th, 2005
    posted by roofwalker
    11 pictures


    Add your own photos

    Mark all galleries as Seen
     Web Links
    http://www.atsdr.c...board3/wmg_p1.html
    http://wkkhome.nor...%20Harbor%20HC.pdf
    http://www.atsdr.c...tboard/out_p1.html
     Contribute

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     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

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     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Mike Dijital on 8/29/2014 11:32 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Aug 29 14 at 23:32, Mike Dijital validated this location
  • on Aug 28 14 at 20:29, shotgun mario updated gallery July 2008
  • on Aug 28 14 at 20:29, shotgun mario deleted 3 pictures from gallery Front Exterior - July 2008
  • on May 26 14 at 2:52, Steed validated this location
  • on Apr 25 13 at 1:02, DawnPatrol changed the following: Status
  • on Aug 21 08 at 23:01, Steed validated this location
  • on Aug 21 08 at 22:31, shotgun mario reordered images in gallery Front Exterior - July 2008
  • on Aug 21 08 at 22:31, shotgun mario updated gallery picture side 1
  • on Aug 21 08 at 22:30, shotgun mario updated gallery picture side 2
  • on Aug 21 08 at 22:30, shotgun mario updated gallery picture sign
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