 The three-member Mahomet Valley Water Authority met Tuesday
afternoon at the DeWitt County Building and was confronted by the
president of the
WATCH Clinton Landfill organization, Matt Varble, for an
apparent lack of concern over the proposed chemical waste landfill
at Clinton Landfill. The water authority, comprised of
representatives from DeWitt and Piatt County, has yet to take a
stance on the ongoing landfill issue. Varble insisted that the sole
purpose of the panel is to protect the water supply of the two
counties, which he feels the chemical waste landfill directly
threatens.After lengthy discussion on its perceived inaction on
the issue, the board appears to be willing to pursue a stance
against the chemical waste permit being considered by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. Randy Toohill, treasurer, indicates
that the water authority will have a special meeting Sept. 30 to
further discuss the issue and potentially retain legal counsel to
challenge the permitting process.
DeWitt County Board member Dana Evans appeared at the meeting to
lend his support to WATCH's concerns over the proposed introduction
of higher concentrations of PCBs at Clinton Landfill. He believes
the water authority has an obligation to take a stand on the issue.
In a letter to the media late last week, Varble called for the
resignation of certain trustees on the water authority board. He
says Tuesday's decision by the authority to investigate legal
counsel against the proposed waste permit could delay further calls
for resignations.
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In two nonbinding referendums last year, close to 75 percent of
DeWitt County voters cast ballots against the proposed chemical
waste permit. The DeWitt County Board acquired an expert analysis of
the permit, and the analysis was also against the permit. However,
the U.S. EPA continues to consider the request by Peoria Disposal
Co. An EPA-sponsored public hearing on the issue has yet to take
place or be announced.
The Clinton Landfill is located over the Mahomet Aquifer. The
Mahomet Aquifer is a vast underground lake supplying water to the
counties of Logan, Cass, Tazewell, Peoria, Woodford, McLean, DeWitt,
Piatt, Macon, Champaign, Iroquois and Vermilion.
The Logan County Board, with concerns for the contamination of
the aquifer, has gone on record as being against the allowance of a
proposed chemical waste landfill in Clinton.
The Mahomet Valley Water Authority will next meet on Sept. 30 at
6 p.m. at the DeWitt County Building. That meeting is open to the
public.
[Text from file received from
WATCH; LDN]
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