 On Thursday evening representatives of a group that opposes its
location presented an environmental concern. The new 22.5-acre area
would accept only PCB-contaminated materials. The landfill is
located over the Mahomet Aquifer.The WATCH Clinton Landfill
organization asked the board to consider joining in the public
opposition that the EPA allows in its criteria before issuing a
permit.
While it was recognized that Peoria Disposal has a good
reputation, and is committed to following stringent design
regulations, there are still concerns about the location. The risk
remains that PCBs could breach containment and eventually reach the
water table.
Walt Landers of Area Disposal was at last night's board meeting.
Also present were Logan County Health Department administrator
Mark Hilliard and Emergency Management Agency director Dan Fulscher.
Board member Bill Sahs said, "We have not been informed by both
sides. I believe it is critical that we know the whole story." He
also wished to have more time to consider the information before
voting on it. He and Chuck Ruben motioned to table the matter until
all sides could be heard from.
Board chairman Dick Logan said that representatives from all
sides were present. He commented that the landfill had plenty of
time but had not come to Logan County to discuss it. He learned
about the issue from a DeWitt County board member who contacted him.
He believed that the DeWitt board is having second thoughts about
having approved the chemical landfill.
"This is an environmental issue and a health issue. We need to do
our job and discuss this," he said. "That's why we're here."
Ample discussion took place before the motion to table was
defeated and a new motion was made and passed to bring the matter to
the floor.
With the floor open, Landers was asked to speak. He said that he
was not the person to answer questions about the chemical landfill,
but that the company would like to come and make a presentation to
the board with facts and plans before the board decided the issue.
The key person, Chris Colton, to do that was not available for that
evening.
He said they didn't know about the matter being discussed at the
Logan County Board until reading about it in the news last Friday.
He asked, in fairness, to be granted more time to present their
side.
Logan responded, "We didn't know anything about the entire
project. Why?"
Discussion of the potential of PCB contamination and the
ramifications to the water source continued for 30 minutes.
Hilliard presented facts regarding PCBs. He said that the
manufacture of products that produce PCBs was stopped in the U.S. in
1977 because of evidence that they build up in the environment and
produce harmful health effects. They do not break down easily and
stay around a long time in the environment. They have been
implicated in cancer, premature birth, low birth weights and a
myriad of health issues.
[to top of second column]
 |
 "It's not just an issue of
'not in my backyard,'" he said. There
are 700,000 residents in Illinois who get their drinking water from
that aquifer. In northern Logan County, the communities of Atlanta,
Hartsburg and Emden and private wells get their water either
directly or indirectly from the Mahomet Aquifer.
He said that the Logan County Board of Health discussed the
matter at their meeting and voted unanimously to recommend that the
county board oppose it.
Fulscher said that whether the county voted it up or down, with
the information presented he would like to take a closer look at the
current landfill. PCBs are being deposited there now. That is
allowed in set thresholds, he said. This is something that EMA had
been aware of, but had had assurances in the past that the clay base
was more than the current information indicates.
One concern he had was: What if there should be an earthquake?
This area of Illinois is at moderate risk. Because of the New Madrid
Fault there are no nuclear plants south of Clinton, he said.
Fulscher said, "If you have bacteria of fungus contamination, you
do a boil order, and it goes away. The difference with PCBs -- you
can boil all you want to and it's still going to be there. The water
is then completely useless because of skin absorption." You can't
shower or even use it in the workplace. Chemical breakdown is too
slow and particles are too small to filter, should contamination
occur, he said.
From the environmental side, I want to learn more about what's
over there right now, he said.
Some additional discussion of local water sources took place. A
member of the Northern Logan County Water Authority was present but
said that she was not there representing a position for the group.
She explained that their function was to monitor quantity, not
quality. She did say that there are a number of shallower
interlinking aquifers that could spread contamination to and from
the Mahomet and other water sources.
Logan polled board members.
Ruben remained opposed to taking a stance on the matter without
more information. He said last week that the decision needs to be
based on scientific evidence, and more information is needed.
Gloria Luster said, "I don't see why we would chance it, period."
The board agreed to join public opposition to the chemical
landfill during the permitting process with the federal EPA. The
vote was 7-4 with Ruben, Sahs, Farmer and Hasprey voting no. Terry Werth was absent.
LDN sends sympathy to the Werth family on the passing of Dorothy
Werth. (Obituary)
[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]
Past related article:
WATCH Clinton Landfil
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on
polychlorinated biphenyls
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