AnnBernard
ft~CEIVED
54 W.
Strasma
Drive
f’~~
OFFICE
Kankakee, IL 60901
~
2 1 2003
(815) 937-9475
e-mail: bemards~keynet.net
Pollution
STATE OF~
Control
iLLINOIS
Board
May 19, 2003
Dorothy Gunn
Clerk ofthe Illinois Pollution County Board
100 W. Randolph
Chicago, IL 60601
Re: Petitioner PCB
#03-125
Petitioner PCB #03-133
Petitioner PCB #03-134
Petitioner PCB #03-13
5
Dear Ms. Gunn:
This letter is to noti1~,ryou ofmy objections to the proposed 80-acre expansion of
the Waste Management Landfill in Kankakee County,
Evidence presented at hearings held in November and December 2002 clearly
documented that Waste Management’s proposal clearly failed to two ofthe nine criteria
governing an application for a solid waste landfill
-
Ofcritical concernto me is the failure ofthe proposal to meet Criterion 2, which
addresses whetherthe public health, safety and welfare ~
protected.
Waste Management’s proposed expansion is situated directly over a heavily used
regional aquifer. The aquifer is considered a recharge area. Although it is not a regulated
recharge area, it should be due to the critical role it plays in our drinking water supply.
This aquifer feeds into the nearby Iroquois i~Jver.‘The Iroquoisjoins the Kankakee 1~ivera
few miles down. The Kankakee River is the third-cleanest river in Illinois and is the
primary source ofdrinking water for more than 60,000 people in kankal ee County. in
addition, Consumers Illinois Water Company, our local provider ofwater, has entered into
an agreement to pIpe Kankakee River water as far north as University Park in Will
County, which is approximately 30 miles away.
It is not a question of if, but a question ofwhen, a landfill will leak. No testimony
was entered refuting that information. Situating this landfill on top ofthis heavily used
aquifer poses a long-term threat to the health, safety and welfare ofthe citizens of
Kankalee County. Once a contaminant infiltrates an aquifer, the genie has been let out of
the bottle. The cost oftrying to remedy this would be prohibitive, let alone the risks of
exposing future generations to toxic chemicals, some ofwhose risk factors are unknown
today.
(continued)
• Ann Bernard
54 W. Strasma Drive
Kankakee, IL 60901
(815) 937-9475
e-mail: bernards@keynet.net
Page2of2
New technologies, including closed ioop gasification and thermal depolymerization
processing, are rapidly coming online or in advanced stages ofresearch and development.
We are on the threshold ofbreakthroughs that will render massive regional landfills
obsolete. The prudent course ofaction at this time is to explore and expand these
technologies. Situating more regional landfills for short-term economic gain, at the cost of
costly, long-term environmental damage will do greater harm. No matter how many liners
are proposed, the bottom line is that liners tear and eventually leak. Our greatest natural
resource, the Kankakee River, deserves to be protected.
Having sat through hours oftestimony presented by both sides, the evidence
presented clearly pointed to the long-term hazards this development will create. Under
questioning, testimony by expert witness Charles Norris, a hydrogeologist, indicated that
the proposed expansion is “absolutely” situated above a heavily used aquifer. This
proposal not only is contradictory to Criterion 2, but also to Criterion 8, which mandates
that any proposed solid waste landfill conform to the county’s solid waste plan.
The Kankakee County Solid Waste Plan clearly prohibits situating a solid waste
landfill above or near a groundwater recharge zone or a heavily used aquifer. Although the
aquifer is not a regulated recharge area, it clearly is heavily used, as it is part ofthe
drinking water supply for the majority ofKankakee County residents. The Waste
Management proposed landfill expansion directly and clearly contradicts our SWP. And at
this point in time, there is no foolproof technology to deal with failures ofliners.
In addition, the proposal also fails to meet Criterion 8, which requires public
involvement in the siting ofa solid waste landfill. As a member ofthe Kankakee County
Board, I can attest to the fact that several secret, closed-door meetings were held between
certain county staff members, a handful ofcounty board members and Waste Management
representatives. This proposal was then dumped in our laps.
I urge you to deny approval ofthis application and protect our natural resources
for generations to come.
Regards,
,ifl
(L
Ann Bernard,
~&~V
Member, Kankakee County Board