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Bath Landfill
Fact Sheet #3
June 2004
Decatur, Illinois
Background
This 17-acre landfill southwest of Decatur on the south bank of the Sangamon
River was permitted in 1974 as a demolition debris landfill. It originated
as an open dump in 1918. The site had a history of not complying with
the state landfill rules in the 1980s. The landfill also exceeded its
permitted waste disposal limits, by the time that operations stopped in
1991. The owner failed to comply with an August 1994 court order requiring
proper cover to be installed and maintained. Visible leachate seeps (leachate
is water that has traveled through the landfill and contacts waste material)
and exposed refuse were observed along the bank of the Sangamon River.
This landfill was one of the 33 landfills in Illinois identified by Illinois
EPA in 1998 as most in need of immediate repairs. The state legislature
responded by passing legislation that allocated $50 million over five
years to address these 33 sites. These 33 landfills are being managed
through the Abandoned Landfill Program.
| Has all the site work planned by Illinois EPA been completed? |
Most of the major activities have been completed,
including:
- The site was regraded and re-contoured to stabilize slopes
and to discourage future erosion
- A landfill gas vent layer was installed with two vents to prevent
the build-up of gas in the landfill, which could kill the vegetative
cover
- A new cap of 24 inches of compacted clay and 18 inches of topsoil
was constructed
- Native prairie plants were used as vegetation on the cap to
help reduce erosion as well as long-term maintenance needs
- The riverbank was stabilized using interlocking concrete structures,
rock riprap, turf reinforcement mat and native shrubs
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| How did Illinois EPA choose the appropriate remedy for the
site? |
Based on the results of the site investigation
conducted during 2001, problems with the landfill were identified.
The remedy was designed to solve these particular problems. For example,
the Sangamon River was eroding the toe of the landfill cap, exposing
waste and allowing refuse and leachate to enter the river. The cover
system was designed to provide long-term stabilization of the riverbank.
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| Will there be ongoing monitoring of the site? |
Yes. Through the Abandoned Landfills Program,
Illinois EPA generally monitors the condition of the newly constructed
cap for two years and actively addresses erosion problems. In addition,
the prairie plants will need some attention in order to become fully
established. |
| What was the total cost of the project? |
To date, Illinois EPA has spent approximately
$2.8 million on the investigation, design, oversight and construction
at the Bath, Inc. Landfill site. |
| Who owns the site? |
Bath, Inc., located in Decatur, owns the property.
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| Can Illinois EPA prevent the site owner (who defaulted on
the site work) from benefiting from the improvements or damaging the
work that has been done with state money? |
Illinois EPA has referred a case to the Illinois
Attorney General’s Office (IAGO) to seek cost recovery for work
done on this site. Additionally, the IAGO and the Macon County States
Attorney have the authority to pursue cases against anyone who would
cause damage to work done by Illinois EPA and could threaten to pollute
the environment or threaten human health. |
| What are the possible future uses of the site? |
The site is private property, and therefore the
owner does have property rights. However, the Illinois EPA points
out that since the landfill was not properly closed, any activities
contrary to the original landfill permit could result in legal action.
Any public or private activities such as all-terrain vehicle use,
motorcycle riding and even hiking could damage the cap and contribute
to erosion. Such damage could allow water to run through the landfill,
produce leachate, and threaten surface or groundwater quality. |
| Do the current landfill rules safeguard against this type
of problem from happening again? |
Yes. The newer rules provide that a landfill must
be located outside the floodplain of a stream. A new landfill must
be built with a liner to prevent leachate migration to groundwater,
and a leachate collection system must be installed when a new landfill
disposal cell is built. The rules also call for storage and treatment
of the leachate. In addition, if the landfill is of a certain size,
air pollution rules apply regarding capture of methane gas. A further
provision in the new landfill regulations requires substantial financial
assurance by the landfill owner to ensure that funds are available
for proper closure and long-term site maintenance. |
For more information, you may contact:
Carol L. Fuller
Community Relations Coord.
Illinois EPA
(217) 524-8807 |
John Richardson,
Project Manager
Illinois EPA, Bureau of Land, State Sites
(217) 782-0243 |
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