New Public Health Assessment Issued In Relation to Jo Daviess County Site

New Public Health Assessment Issued In Relation to Jo Daviess County Site

60-day public comment period underway, community event planned

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has announced the release of a new public health assessment detailing potential health concerns related to heavy metals in soil at an abandoned mine site in rural Jo Daviess County. The release of the report, in collaboration with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), marks the beginning of a 60-day public comment period for the public health assessment.

The report evaluates potential exposures to contaminants associated with the Bautsch-Gray Mine site, located about four miles southeast of Galena. Mining operations at the site from 1927 to 1979 produced a large amount of mine process waste called "tailings." Tailings contain toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and manganese. IDPH evaluated sampling data from mine tailings, soil, sediment, and surface water to develop the findings of their report.

IDPH's key findings include:

• Exposure to lead in the tailings and soil at and near the tailings pile could pose a health risk to those who access those areas frequently. Lead exposure can cause a number of health issues, including learning and memory problems, increased blood pressure, and kidney damage.
• Lead exposure could also have posed a health risk to adults and children who lived at a residential property near the site before contaminated soil was removed. Lead can be particularly harmful to children and can cause significant developmental delays and other health issues.
• People living at residential properties near the site may also be exposed to arsenic and manganese in soil, which can also lead to health concerns.
• Heavy metals are present elsewhere at the site, but are not believed to pose any health risk.

IDPH recommends that people who access the site and surrounding areas discuss blood lead testing with their doctor or health care provider. People in the area should also follow best practices for reducing exposure to contaminants in soil, such as washing your hands after working with soil, taking your shoes off before going inside, washing work clothes separately, and regular cleaning to keep dust from accumulating.

A 60-day public comment period is now open, running until August 14, 2026. During this time, members of the public can submit comments or questions related to the public health assessment. IDPH will respond to all comments in an updated version of the report; commenters' names will not be included. Comments may be submitted to [email protected].

Additionally, IDPH will host a public open house on Thursday, July 16 from 4:00-7:30pm at Galena City Hall, 101 Green St., Galena, IL 61036. During this informal gathering, the public will be able to speak with IDPH environmental health staffers and ask questions about the site.

A fact sheet summarizing the findings of the public health assessment can be found at the IDPH website.