• PlumeStop drives remediation success at McCormick Place, North America’s largest convention center complex
• The site received no further action status from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) in 16 months
• PlumeStop application successfully reduced contaminant concentrations below the remediation objectives, maintaining these reductions through the monitoring period

A brownfield site was a key part of the McCormick Place Convention Center expansion, but prior to construction starting, the site required significant groundwater remediation to address contamination from a large chlorinated volatile organic compound (cVOC) plume. A plan was developed to quickly remediate total CVOC concentrations exceeding 7,000 micrograms per liter (µg/L), while providing long-term treatment. The solution involved using a patented micron-scale colloidal activated carbon technology, commercially known as PlumeStop® (PlumeStop). The technical design incorporated Hydrogen Release Compound (HRC®), Bio-Dechlor INOCULUM Plus® (BDI Plus), and PlumeStop strategically applied to treat the plume before the site’s redevelopment into a high-rise hotel tower and multipurpose arena. Once the remedial application was completed, it successfully met groundwater quality objectives, earned regulatory site closure, and allowed the project to stay on schedule despite harsh midwestern winter conditions. This project stands as one of the earliest success stories for PlumeStop. The site received no further action status from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) in 16 months.