
				Pat Quinn, Governor

Agency Links

Info Centers

To report
environmental
emergencies
only, call the
Illinois Emergency
Management Agency
800-782-7860
217-782-7860
(24 hrs/day)

Community Relations - Fact Sheets

Waste Hauling Landfill

Final Fact Sheet
April 2004

Decatur, Illinois

Background

This 40-acre landfill site southwest of Decatur in Macon County was developed in 1972 as a sanitary landfill. The site had a history of not complying with the newer landfill rules in the 1980s. The landfill also exceeded its permitted waste disposal limits, and the Illinois EPA eventually obtained a court order to close the landfill on May 6, 1992. Located approximately 1/4 mile south of the Sangamon River and north of Rock Spring Road, the landfill had wide erosion gullies. Visible leachate seeps (leachate is water that has traveled through the landfill and contacted waste material) were observed on three sides of the landfill and drained into a stream that flows into the Sangamon River.

Part of the Illinois Abandoned Landfills Program, this was one of 33 landfills identified by Illinois EPA in 1998 as most in need of immediate attention. The state legislature responded by passing legislation that allocates $50 million over five years to address these 33 sites.

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 four 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.
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, vegetation on the cap of the landfill was being killed by the release of landfill gas. Consequently, a gas vent layer was designed into the remedy to allow the gas to escape without damaging the vegetation.
Will there be ongoing monitoring of the site?	Yes. Illinois EPA will continue to monitor the condition of the new cap for two years and will actively address erosion problems. In addition, the prairie plants will need some attention in order to become fully established. For example, a prairie burn will be conducted at the site and repeated as needed for a few years to strengthen the native plants and to eliminate invasive species.
What was the total cost of the project?	To date, Illinois EPA has spent $2.6 million on the investigation, design work and construction at the Waste Hauling Landfill site.
Who owns the site?	Dennis Ballinger, Decatur, Illinois, became the owner of record in September 2002.
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 new landfill rules safeguard against this type of degraded, messy site happening again?	Yes. The newer rules provide that a landfill must be located in an area that will not threaten groundwater or surface water. 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 Fuller, Community Relations Coordinator
Illinois EPA, Office of Community Relations
P.O. Box 19276
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276
(217) 524-8807

Chris Nickell, Project Manager
Illinois EPA Bureau of Land, State Sites
P.O. Box 19276
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276
(217) 524-7519

Community Relations

About Community Relations

Staff Directory

Fact Sheets

Agency Site Map | Privacy Information | Kids Privacy | Web Accessibility | Agency Webmaster