Illinois EPA Conducting Air Sampling Near Landfill in Belvidere
For Immediate Release
April 17,1999 |
Contact: Dennis McMurray
217/785-1871 |
Springfield, Ill. -- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is
conducting air sampling in homes near the closed MIG/DeWane landfill in Belvidere. This
action was prompted when the IEPA learned yesterday that excessive levels of landfill gas
were detected in monitoring wells near the site.
Officials from the Belvidere Fire, Police, and Public Words Departments, the Mayor's
Office, and the Boone County Public Health Department are working with the IEPA along with
Clayton Environmental Consultants who represent some of the potentially responsible
parties.
"Our primary concern is that residents are protected from any threat that may be
posed by the methane or other gases generated in the landfill," according to Bill
Child, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Land, IEPA.
Preliminary sampling of city sewer systems on Friday indicated no immediate danger.
Sampling of potentially affected homes began Saturday. As the air in each home was
sampled, residents were told within minutes if a threat was present. Ongoing sampling will
be coordinated between the IEPA and Clayton Environmental.
On-site construction activities will begin next week on a remedy to reduce landfill gas
concentrations. An interceptor trench and a series of extraction wells will be installed
and should be operating by mid-May.
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