News Releases - 2001

Illinois EPA Begins Construction at Marion County Landfill

Springfield, Ill. -- Construction is scheduled to begin next week on an abandoned landfill south of Centralia. The work is being conducted by the Illinois EPA to alleviate environmental problems, including odors and exposed debris, at the site. There is also significant erosion and wastes are exposed allowing rainwater and ponded water to infiltrate the landfill and contaminate groundwater and nearby streams.

According to Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano, "The Illinois EPA received funding from Governor Ryan's Illinois FIRST program that allowed us to do this work." The Illinois EPA had previously identified 33 landfills across Illinois as threats to public health and to adjacent properties. Priority was given to landfills with the greatest environmental and safety risks. A total of $50 million in Illinois FIRST funds, over five years, was appropriated in the 2000 spring legislative session to address these problem sites.

"New funding was critical because the $2 million per year previously available for the state's cleanup program was inadequate to address the significant environmental and potential health problems caused by these abandoned landfills," Cipriano said. "To date, four of the 33 landfills have been remediated and activities are underway at several more."

The area around the Centralia Environmental Services landfill (CESI) is rural, with a few homes to the south. Burlington Northern Railroad tracks run along the west. This 35-acre landfill operated from 1986 to 1989. CESI has a history of violating permit conditions and operating without proper disposal permits. There is significant erosion and a 500-foot long wall of exposed trash.

CESI will require significant cover material, contouring and capping. Due to evidence of ongoing illegal dumping and trespassing with all-terrain vehicles, Illinois EPA plans to fence the area when remediation is completed. The topsoil will be seeded with prairie plants and grasses to hold the soil and provide wildlife habitat. The Illinois EPA recommends no public use of the property in order to protect the integrity of the new cap.

Illinois EPA expects to complete the site work on CESI by mid-2002, weather permitting. Roads will then be restored to pre-project condition. In the near future, two other abandoned landfills in the same area will be scheduled for remediation: Prior 1,2,3,4 and Prior-Blackwell.