ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
January
9,
1975
RODNEY SCHROEDER d/b/a
RODNEY SCHROEDER
&
SON DISPOSAL
SERVICE,
Petitioner,
vs.
)
PCB 74—370
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,
Re.spondent.
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD
(by Mr. Henss):
Rodney Schroeder d/b/a Rodney Schroeder
&
Son Disposal
Service filed Petition for Variance seeking relief from Rule
202(b) (1)
of
the Solid Waste Regulations for a period of six
months in order to continue operating his landfill pending
development and operation of
a
more suitable landfill site.
Rule 202(b)9l)
requires an operating permit for use
or
operation
of any solid waste management site
in
Illinois.
Petitioner has operated a 627
acre sanitary landfill at
the Southeast edge of Milford
in
Iroguois County since 1966.
The site was registered with the Illinois Department of Public
Health in 1967.
Less than 50 cubic yards per day of refuse
are being deposited at the site.
This quantity of waste repre-
sents the waste generated by a population of about 2300 persons,
local Milford businesses and canning industry.
A permit application submitted by Petitioner in April 1974
was denied by the Agency in May 1974.
Petitioner submitted a
second application which was denied in late August 1974.
The
reason given by the Agency was that Petitioner indicated plans
to cut
5~
deep trenches in an area which appeared
to
have a
4~
static water level.
Petitioner states that the Village of Milford, realizing
the plight of its only refuse hauler,
is purchasing
a site which
is
expected to
be
ready and permitted for use as a landfill early
in
1975.
A professional engineer has been retained to design the
site.
Petitioner has been asked by the Village to operate the
15— 211
site once it
is ready and permitted.
Two other landfills are
located within 20 miles of Milford but neither has a permit
from the Agency.
The nearest landfill with a valid Agency permit
is located about
35 miles away.
Hauling, costs to this site are
estimated to be a minimum of about $500 per month which Petitioner
believes would be prohibitive for his business.
Schroeder seeks to operate his landfill for a period of time
not to exceed six months.
If granted the variance Schroeder
agrees to abide by three conditions:
First, he agrees to halt
~1~~*er
trenching at the present site of operation and operate
only on higher ground to the North as remote as possible from
ground water and a nearby creek.
All operations at the higher
level site will be in accordance with the Solid Waste
Regulations
except for the permit requirement of Rule 202(b)(l).
Second, he
agrees to close his landfill and apply proper final cover as soon
as the Milford landfill receives
an operating permit.
Third,
should the Milford landfill not receive a permit prior to the
expiration of the six month variance, Schroeder will seek an
alternate method of disposal in accordance with all Board Regu-
lations and will properly close his landfill site.
A report from the Illinois Geological Survey states that
the site chosen for the proposed Milford landfill is situated in
an area with relatively impermeable surficial materials.
The
Survey reasoned that there would be little potential for
aquifer
pollution as a result of operations at the proposed Milford site.
The Agency Recommendation was filed on January
8,
1975
almost too late to be of assistance.
The Agency does not dispute
the facts alleged by Petitioner but recommends
a denial.
Petitioner shall be granted the requested variance for ~
period of six months.
The Village of Milford, its citizens and
industry would be placed in a serious predicament if forced tb
suffer the loss of their only landfill site.
While the Agency,
in
its denial of permit,
hints of possible ground water contamination,
no evidence of pollution from Petitioner’s site has been shown.
If Petitioner conducts his operation in compliance with his own
suggested program any possibility of ground water contamination
should be minimal.
ORDER
It is the Order of the Pollution Control Board that Rodney
Schroeder d/b/a Rodney Schroeder
& Son Disposal Service is granted
variance from Rule 202(b) (1)
of the Solid Waste Regulations until
July
9,
1975 on the condition that:
1.
Petitioner shall cease trenching at the present
location and shall operate the landfill to the North
of the present activ~operation in order to avoid
contamination of the ground water and nearby creek.
15
—212
2,
Petitioner shall
CloSe
his landfill and provide
proper final cover as soon as practicable after the
Milford landfill is in operation.
3.
Petitioner shall properly close his landfill and
seek an alternative method of disposal in the event
the proposed Milford landfill has not received an
operating permit by July
9, 1975~
4.
Petitioner shall comply with the Solid Waste Regu-
lations except for the requirement of Rule 202(b) (1)
I, Christan L. Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
Board, hereby certify the above Opinion and Order was adopted
this _______day
of
1975 by a vote of ~to
~