Environmental Progress - Summer 1999

News Briefs

Landfill Siting, Capacity Documents Now Available

Siting law spells out procedures local officials must follow in for landfills.

Two formats of the sixth annual Pollution Control Facility Siting in Illinois report are now available from the solid waste management section of the Illinois EPA. Both contain the same basic information, but the larger version includes an update of siting activity in the state from July 1, 1996, through June 30, 1998 as well as background on the sometimes-controversial issue of authority to permit or deny siting for sanitary landfills.

The issue was the core of a 1975 lawsuit (Carlson v. Village of Worth) which determined that the Illinois EPA did not have authority to delegate responsibility for such siting issues.

During the 1981 legislative session, the issue was addressed again and legislation (Senate Bill 172) was adopted amending the state's Environmental Protection Act, and narrowly defining the Agency's permitting scope specifically, whether the engineering design would protect groundwater, and other environmental concerns.

Though some modifications have been made since, the basic concept remains unchanged without approval of both the Agency and the local government, a new waste handling facility may not be built.

Copies of either the sixth annual Pollution Control Facility Siting in Illinois document or the smaller brochure may be obtained by contacting the Solid Waste Management Section, Illinois EPA Bureau of Land, 1021 North Grand Ave. E., Box 19276, Springfield, IL 62794-9276, or by calling 217-785-8604.

Also now available is the Nonhazardous Solid Waste Management and Landfill Capacity in Illinois:1997 (11th annual report) which can be obtained in print and viewed on the Agency's web site <www.epa.state.il.us> This report has become the statewide authority on solid waste management information. Direct requests for copies to Ellen Gambach, Solid Waste Management Section, at 217/782-9288.

51 Projects Will Receive $22,700 in LEAP Grants

The spring round of awards drew 63 applications.

For the spring 1999 Lake Education Assistance Program (LEAP) grant period, 63 applications were received, and 51 were selected to receive awards totaling $22,700. The selections bring the current fiscal year's total to 125 applications and 98 awards, for a total of $45,300.

In addition, $4,700 was utilized to purchase Project Wet manuals for distribution at Project Wet training courses conducted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The two expenditures utilized the planned $50,000 of Conservation 2000 - LEAP funds for the state fiscal year '99.

To date, $125,000 has been awarded to 325 LEAP projects since the program's inception in fiscal year '97.