News Releases - 2003

Illinois EPA completes restoration work at three Centralia landfills

Springfield, Ill. -- Construction work to correct unstable conditions and other environmental hazards at three Centralia area landfills----Centralia Environmental Services (CESI), Prior 1,2,3,4 and Prior-Blackwell landfills--- has now been completed, Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano announced today.

In 1998, the Illinois EPA assessed the landfills and found an extremely steep wall of garbage approximately 50 feet high and 500 feet long at CESI. The exposed wall of trash was unstable and in danger of collapsing. Prior 1,2,3,4 Landfill consists of 29 acres and has been inactive since 1987. It was never properly closed. Prior-Blackwell Landfill, which consists of 7.75 acres directly north of the Prior Landfill, was permitted in 1981 and closed in 1986, but not properly closed. All three landfills had severe erosion problems, ponding of water and blowing litter, and had become a haven for rodents and disease carrying insects.

Clay caps were installed to prevent further erosion and an innovative approach was used to complete the process---native prairie grasses were planted after the capping was completed. Native grasses have deeper roots that hold the soil better than conventional grasses. In addition, regular grasses would need to be mowed.

"With these actions, the state has succeeded in stabilizing the sites to prevent further degradation that would have allowed landfill wastes and contamination to threaten the environment," said Director Cipriano.

"The Illinois EPA has done a great job of addressing this long-needed improvement and ending the environmental hazards," said State Rep. Kurt Granberg, D-Centralia.

The Agency's abandoned landfills program allowed the agency to do work on the most serious environmental concerns in the state. The three Centralia landfills were on the list of landfills that presented serious environmental concerns.

While the Illinois EPA will maintain a presence at the site for two years, the agency will depend on the local community for assistance in the ongoing maintenance of the landfills. The township has been monitoring the site for erosion and trespassers, in addition to assisting construction activities by clearing brush. "The cooperation of local officials and volunteers is critical in maintaining the cap. This will ensure that the vegetation on the cap becomes firmly established, so that we can avoid future erosion problems," said Director Cipriano.

In addition to regular maintenance, local officials and neighbors have been asked to report to county law enforcement officials if they notice off-road or all-terrain vehicles or any unusual activity on this site.

As part of its ongoing work, the Illinois EPA intends to move forward with enforcement efforts to recover the money spent at the site from the responsible parties. The state has spent approximately $4.8 million on the three landfills.

No public use of the area is recommended because of the risk of damage to the cover. The prairie is already beginning to develop and wildlife is moving in - replacing an environmental hazard with a natural asset.