In a recent development, a comprehensive environmental report released by City Hall has revealed the presence of heavy metals and toxic contaminants at a site in Southwest Chicago that is being prepared to house newly arrived migrants. Arsenic, mercury, lead, manganese, and a chemical used in PVC were among the contaminants detected at levels requiring cleanup to protect human health.

The 800-page report, made public late Friday evening, confirmed that traces of various toxic chemicals, including cyanide, pesticides, and cancer-causing compounds known as PCBs, were also found by a city consultant. Despite these alarming findings, city officials have declared the site "safe for temporary residential use" after significant levels of contamination were removed.

Situated on privately owned industrial land at 38th and California in Brighton Park, the site has been leased by the city to establish winterized base camps capable of accommodating up to 2,000 migrants. However, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) will play a pivotal role in determining the viability of the site, as confirmed by Jordan Abudayyeh, a spokeswoman for Governor J.B. Pritzker.

"We will not utilize that site if IEPA does not sign off," Abudayyeh stated, emphasizing the importance of the agency's review. She further added that the state officials would refrain from commenting until they have thoroughly examined the report.

The city's consultant, Terracon, acknowledged that there may be additional contamination beyond what was already identified, stating that if more materials are discovered, all activities should be halted. "We cannot represent that the site contains no hazardous substances, toxic material, petroleum products, or other latent conditions beyond those identified during this evaluation," the consultant mentioned in the report.

The site under scrutiny spans over nine acres, with a long history of industrial use. Despite the contamination concerns, city officials have previously deemed it "viable" for the establishment of a winterized tent camp. However, Alderwoman Julia Ramirez (12th) expressed her surprise at the findings of heavy metal contamination, emphasizing that she was not fully informed about the details when she was informed by the city last month.

Rahm Emanuel, the city's mayor, had assured concerned residents that an environmental report would be made available this week. However, journalists were only granted access to the report after being instructed to file open records requests. The report was finally released to the public after 8 p.m. on Friday.

With the release of this report, the emphasis now lies on the assessment and decision by the IEPA regarding the safety of the site. The contamination concerns have fueled ongoing protests by residents, bringing the feasibility of the migrant housing plan into question. It remains to be seen how this environmental assessment will impact the future of the site and the proposed base camps.