Illinois EPA Seeks Partial Closure of Winnebago County
Compost Site Until Gasoline Pipeline Leak Investigation and Cleanup is
Completed
For Immediate Release
July 14, 2000 |
Contact: Dennis McMurray
(217) 785-1871
TDD: (217) 782-9143 |
Springfield, Ill. -- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
has asked Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan's office to seek a court
order shutting down a portion of the Meridian Composting Corporation operation
in Winnebago County until a gasoline pipeline rupture at the site last
week has been completely investigated and addressed.
On July 5, an employee of Meridian Composting was operating a track hoe
at the facility just outside of Rockford and struck a buried West Shore
pipeline, causing gasoline to spray about 25 feet into the air and to
pool and be absorbed on the site. As a result of the incident, several
businesses and residences in the area were temporarily evacuated by local
authorities.
Illinois EPA is asking the Attorney General's office to seek a shutdown
of the composing operation in areas near the pipeline location until a
thorough investigation of the cause of the July 5 incident has been completed,
along with an evaluation of locating compost piles so closely to the pipeline.
The Agency is also seeking a clean-up plan from an improved consulting
engineer for the remaining impacted soils, groundwater, and compost and
gasoline waste.
Gasoline accumulated on the site surface and in collection trenches were
collected by vacuum trucks shortly after the rupture. West Shore Pipe
Line Co. hired the cleanup contractor. However, it appears likely a long-term
clean-up program will be necessary.
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