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Community Relations - Fact Sheets

Bishop Landfill

Fact Sheet #1
February 2003

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Litchfield, Illinois

Background

Bishop Landfill, located about one mile south of Litchfield and the Long Branch Creek, is an approximately 36-acre permitted sanitary landfill that was not certified as closed by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA). It operated from 1971 till 1987. Bishop Landfill was permitted to accept only general refuse (trash); however, hazardous wastes were taken without the operator acquiring the proper permits.

The Montgomery County Health Department has performed inspections from 1992 through 2002. The landfill has erosion problems, leachate seeps (precipitation that has infiltrated the landfill and mixed with the waste), low spots that allow ponding water, and inadequate groundwater monitoring. Also, the waste was filled beyond the permitted boundaries. Leachate has been observed entering Long Branch Creek to the north.

The surrounding property is primarily agricultural land; a wooded area is located to the north, pasture to the south, and a cemetery is located to the northeast.

What has been done at this site?

Parsons Science Engineering, a contractor for the State of Illinois, has been tasked to conduct a site investigation and prepare construction designs for the landfill. In addition, the Illinois EPA's Office of Site Evaluation has conducted a metal detection survey and will be testing gas and monitoring wells in March 2003. The entire site investigation is scheduled to begin February 3, 2003 and continue through June 2003. The investigation includes the following tasks:

Inspecting and repairing on-site monitoring wells;
Determining groundwater flow in the landfill;
Evaluating gas generation in and away from the landfill;
Evaluating leachate sources;
Performing a screening level ecological risk assessment;
Removing any remaining waste or used tires;
Determining soil type and depth of existing landfill cap;
Developing and implementing an Operation and Maintenance Plan;

How will this project be funded?

The past owner and operator have been sued by the State in an effort to require them to perform all the necessary closure and post-closure activities needed. Funding from the Illinois FIRST program and financial assurance dedicated to closure of the landfill by the operator will be used for corrective action activities. In 1999, as part Illinois FIRST legislation, the General Assembly appropriated $50 million ($10 million over each of the next five fiscal years (2000-2004)) to cleanup 33 abandoned landfills located in 21 counties throughout the state. These landfills have been identified as needing state funding to assure protection of public health and the environment. They have ceased accepting waste but never properly closed.

What is happening next?

In the Fall 2003, an Illinois EPA contractor will begin to develop designs for site improvements at the Bishop Landfill utilizing the results of the landfill site investigation.

Corrective actions for the landfill will include a design for a final cover system, including an impermeable cover and vegetation. This final cover system will sufficiently cover all exposed waste; minimize infiltration of surface water into the landfill; control surface water runoff, erosion, and leachate seeps; and control gas produced by the landfill. Construction of the site improvements is scheduled to begin at the Bishop Landfill sometime in 2004.

For more information, you may contact:

Jody Kershaw
Project Manager
Illinois EPA
Bureau of Land, State Sites Unit
P.O. Box 19276
Springfield, IL 62794-9276
Phone: 217-524-3285

Michelle Tebrugge
Community Relations Coordinator
Illinois EPA
Office of Community Relations
P.O. Box 19276
Springfield, IL 62794-9276
Phone: 217-524-4825

In addition, an Information Repository for the Bishop Landfill has been established at the Litchfield Carnegie Public Library, 400 North State Street, Litchfield, Illinois 62056 (217-324-3866). The Information Repository contains technical documents for the site investigation and upcoming construction activities.

Library Hours:

Monday thru Thursday: 10:00 am — 8:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am — 5:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am — 3:00 pm

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