Editorial 7/23/08
Editorial 7/23/08
7/23/08
The EPA is cutting corners by using quarries as a cheap way to have ready made landfills. However, is this once again at the expense of the public? There were ninety-one (91) permit requests for "Clean Construction Demolition Debris" or "CCDD" landfills at the IL Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this spring. A race is on but why?
Citizens Against Ruining the Environment~C.A.R.E. has numerous questions and concerns.
Quarries, by their very nature are fractured environments from mining. Shouldn't this require more stringent regulations than other landfills? Not according to the EPA as basic permitting requirements for CCDD landfills is almost as simple as providing an Operator Name & Recordkeeping. Why are they exempt from stringent regulations required of new landfills such as Health, Environment, Traffic, Groundwater, Property Value studies or Flood Plan analysis?
C.A.R.E. is concerned with the EPA's definition of 'clean debris' which includes asphalt pavement, asbestos and railroad ties known to contain arsenic. We do not believe 'Clean' is synonymous with 'Construction Demolition Debris.' Locally, DeBe Land Development has requested a permit for the Brandon Road Quarry in Joliet. These landfills will Not have 'liners' to protect possible contamination from leaching into groundwater, aquifers, and local residents' private wells, Sugar Creek or the DesPlaines River. There is also a Senate Bill 2166 currently in the house requesting that CCDD's allow contaminated soil which might include carcinogens.
Why did the EPA request a halt during the Brandon Quarry de-watering, what is in the bottom of these quarries? Are these operators qualified, who are they? Will County has mentioned no 'new' landfills, what about the additional CCD that might wind up on the borders of, or perhaps, in Will County.
Cutting corners, fast landfills with minimum regard to the public health, safety or the environment, low costs with huge profits to developers; and less work for the EPA. This is why the race is on!
Attend the Public Meeting on July 30, 4-7 at Mt Zion Baptist Church, 402 Singleton Place, Joliet. Send Comments to Christine Roque, IEPA, Land Pollution Control #33, Log #CCDD2007-004, PO 19276, Springfield IL 62794-9276 or Christine.roque@illinois.gov
Citizens Against Ruining the Environment ~ C.A.R.E.
PO Box 536
Lockport, IL 60441
Ellen Meeks Rendulich, 815-834-1611
Sandy Burcenski, 815-838-1442
Carol Stark, 815-838-1483
