News Releases - 2002

Permit Issued to Allow Construction at Sangamon County Landfill

Springfield, Ill. -- Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano has announced that a permit was issued today to Allied Waste to allow development and construction of new disposal cells within the previously permitted boundaries of the Sangamon Valley landfill facility. The landfill is located at 2565 Sandhill Road in Springfield.

Once constructed, the owner must submit another application to the Illinois EPA in order to operate the facility. The state has also required financial assurance by Allied Waste that will be sufficient to cover the costs of closure and post-closure care for the new cells.

"With the more stringent requirements placed on the construction and operation of landfills since the adoption of the new regulations in Illinois, they tend to be much larger and better managed than older landfills," according to Director Cipriano.

Throughout the development and construction process, the Illinois EPA Springfield Regional Office and the Sangamon County Health Department will monitor activities to ensure compliance with the permit.

The permit will not increase the disposal capacity of the landfill in excess of the disposal capacity originally authorized by a development permit issued in 1980. The application contains a proposal to decrease the landfill disposal capacity by approximately one-half million cubic yards, according to calculations provided by the applicant. The decrease in disposal capacity results from a proposal to reduce the lateral waste disposal boundary of the landfill. The 198-acre municipal solid waste landfill will contain 74 acres of disposal area.

A series of tests must be performed as construction of the new disposal areas proceeds. This will include permeability testing of the clay liner. Regular reports and applications to the state are also a required as part of the process. The permit, as issued, contains provisions for hours of operation, monitoring of groundwater, landfill gas migration and stabilizing the slopes of the existing landfill.