News Releases - 2003

Illinois EPA Director Seeks to Recover Costs for Work at Decatur Landfills

Springfield, Ill. -- Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano has requested that the Illinois Attorney General take the necessary action to recover costs expended by the Agency while conducting work at two Decatur area landfills, Bath Landfill and Waste Hauling Landfill.

In both cases, the environmental conditions at the sites had deteriorated to an extent that the Illinois EPA determined that corrective actions were necessary in order to prevent the situation from worsening and causing additional environmental damage. The Agency intends to seek cost recovery from the former operators, transporters and generators who have potential liability.

"While conditions at these sites necessitated using state funds to alleviate environmental problems, this does not lessen the liability of those responsible for the problem and those who have profited from accepting the wastes," said Director Cipriano. "I am requesting that Attorney General Madigan use her authority to recover these costs and pay back the taxpayers."

The Illinois EPA seeks cost recovery for work conducted at Bath Landfill, which is located on the south side of the Sangamon River, just west of Route 48, in Decatur. During the facility's operating lifetime, numerous problems existed including open burning, litter, inadequate cover of waste, and conditions serious enough to cause underground fires. In 1994, an agreed upon order was issued in the Macon County Circuit Court between the state and the owner operators requiring that specific cleanup activities be undertaken and documented. While some work had been conducted, significant problems remained. Among the items observed entering the river were glass, metal drums, appliances, asbestos and decomposing garbage.

The lack of stability of the slopes, exposed wastes, and leachate, which contained poly chlorinated biphenyls and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, contaminating the Sangamon River, posed significant risks to the environment.

The Illinois EPA, using state funds appropriated for corrective actions at abandoned landfills, has spent in excess of $2.3 million to correct the environmental hazards at this site. Work by the Illinois EPA was completed in Spring 2003.

At the Waste Hauling Landfill, which is located approximately five miles southwest of Decatur and only one-quarter mile from the Sangamon River, on West Rock Springs Road, exposed wastes and leachate were also threatening the river.

Waste Hauling Landfill had accepted numerous industrial wastes during its operation, which ended in 1992. Investigation of the facility identified the presence of benzene, chlorobenzene, toluene, chromium, lead and many other contaminants common in industrial wastes. Of significant concern were several private water wells near the site.

During 2002 and 2003, the Illinois EPA made the necessary repairs and constructed proper drainage and a suitable cap. The cap was designed to vent landfill gases, prevent rainwater from infiltrating into the wastes, and not allow the environmental problems to recur. To date, the Illinois EPA has spent in excess of $2.4 million to do the necessary work at the Waste Hauling Landfill. In addition, in a 1998 action, the Pollution Control Board ordered the payment of $472,000 in penalties, the payment of which is still in litigation.

The Illinois EPA will continue to work with the Office of the Attorney General and provide additional information, if they agree to file a complaint to seek cost recovery.