COUNTY
    OF
    KANKAKEE,
    ILLINOIS,
    and ED
    SMITH,
    KANKAKEE
    COUNTY
    STATES
    ATTORNEY,
    V.
    Petitioner,
    THE CITY
    OF KANKAKEE,
    ILLINOIS
    )
    CITY COUNCIL,
    TOWN AND
    COUNTRY)
    UTILITIES,
    INC. and KANKAKEE
    REGIONAL
    LANDFILL,
    L.L.C.,
    Respondents.
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    bVED
    p5
    OFFrc
    DEC
    42OO2
    STATE
    OF
    ILLiNOIS
    PolluttOn
    Control
    Board
    )
    No.:
    PCB
    03-3 1
    )
    (Third-Party
    Pollution
    Control Facility
    Siting
    Appeal)
    BYRON
    SANDBERG,
    V.
    Petitioner,
    THE CITY
    OF KANKAKEE,
    ILLINOIS
    )
    CITY COUNCIL,
    TOWN
    AND COUNTRY)
    UTILITIES,
    INC. and KANKAKEE
    )
    REGIONAL
    LANDFILL,
    L.L.C.,
    )
    Respondents.
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    No.: PCB 03-33
    )
    (Third-Party
    Pollution
    Control
    Facility
    Siting
    Appeal)
    WASTE
    MANAGEMENT
    OF ILLINOIS,
    )
    INC.,
    )
    Petitioners,
    THE CITY
    OF KANKAKEE,
    ILLINOIS
    )
    CITY COUNCIL,
    TOWN
    AND
    COUNTRY)
    UTILITIES,
    INC.
    and
    KANKAKEE
    )
    REGIONAL
    LANDFILL,
    L.L.C.
    )
    )
    Respondents.
    )
    )
    )
    No.
    PCB
    03-35
    )
    (Third-Party Pollution
    Control
    Facility
    )
    Siting Appeal)
    )
    )
    )
    )
    V.
    This
    Document
    is Printed
    on Recycled Paper

    NOTICE
    OF
    FILING
    TO:
    See Attached
    Service List
    PLEASE
    TAKE
    NOTICE that
    on
    December
    4,
    2002, we filed
    with
    the Illinois
    Pollution
    Control
    Board,
    the
    attached
    WASTE
    MANAGEMENT
    OF ILLINOIS,
    INC.’S
    REPLY
    BRIEF
    in the above
    entitled
    matter.
    WASTE
    MANAGEMENT
    OF
    ILLINOIS,
    INC.
    By://L
    One
    of
    Its ttorneys
    Donald
    J. Moran
    PEDERSEN
    & HOUPT
    161 North
    Clark Street,
    Suite 3100
    Chicago,
    Illinois 60601
    (312) 641-6888
    Attorney Registration
    No. 1953923
    This Document
    Is Printed
    on Recycled Paper

    PROOF
    OF SERVICE
    Victoria L. Kennedy,
    a
    non-attorney,
    on oath
    states that
    she
    served
    the
    foregoing
    Waste
    Management
    of Illinois,
    Inc.’s Reply Brief
    on the
    following
    parties
    by hand
    delivery
    to Ms.
    Dorothy
    M. Gunn,
    Clerk of the
    Illinois
    Pollution
    Control
    Board and Brad
    Halloran at
    the
    addresses
    indicated
    below on the
    4th day
    of December,
    2002, by U.
    S.
    Express
    Mail
    delivery
    to
    Mr.
    Byron Sandberg
    and by Federal Express
    delivery
    to all other parties
    at their addresses
    indicated
    below
    on this 3rd day of December,
    2002:
    Ms. Dorothy M. Gunn,
    Clerk
    Illinois Pollution Control
    Board
    James R. Thompson
    Center
    100 West Randolph
    Street, Suite 11-500
    Chicago, Illinois
    60601
    Town and Country
    Utilities, Inc. and
    Kankakee
    Regional
    Landfill LLC
    do
    Mr. George
    Mueller
    Attorney at Law
    501 State Street
    Ottawa, Illinois 61350
    Via Facsimile: (815)
    433-4913
    Brad
    Halloran
    Assistant Attorney
    General
    Environmental
    Division
    100 West Randolph,
    11th
    Floor
    Chicago, Illinois
    (312) 814-36698
    Byron
    Sandberg
    P.O. Box 220
    Donovan, IL 60931
    Mr.
    Charles
    F.
    Helsten
    Hinshaw
    & Culbertson
    100 Park
    Avenue
    P.O.
    Box 1389
    Rockford,
    Illinois
    61105-1389
    Via Facsimile:
    (815) 963-9989
    Edward Smith
    Kankakee County State’s
    Attorney
    Kankakee County Administration
    Building
    189 East Court Street
    Kankakee,
    Illinois
    60901
    Via Facsimile:
    (815)
    963-9989
    Kenneth
    A.
    Leshen
    One Dearborn
    Square, Suite
    550
    Kankakee,IL
    60901
    Via Facsimile:
    (815) 933-3397
    Victoria L. Kennedy
    This Document
    is Printed
    on Recycled Paper

    BEFORE
    THE ILLINOIS
    POLLUTION
    CONTROL BJWW
    OIPICE
    COUNTY OF
    KANKAKEE; and
    EDWARD D. SMITH,
    )
    DEC
    4
    2002
    STATE’S ATTORNEY
    OF
    KANKAKEE
    COUNTY,
    )
    STATE
    OF
    ILLINOIS
    )
    Pollution
    control
    Board
    Petitioners,
    )
    v.
    )
    PCB 03-3 1
    )
    (Third Party
    Pollution Control
    Facility
    THE CITY OF
    KANKAKEE,
    ILLINOIS; THE
    CITY OF
    )
    Siting Appeal)
    KANKAKEE,
    ILLINOIS CITY
    COUNCIL; TOwN
    &
    )
    COUNTRY
    UTILITIES, INC.;
    and
    KANKAKEE
    )
    REGIONAL
    LANDFILL, L.L.C.,
    )
    )
    Respondents.
    )
    BYRON
    SANDBERG,
    )
    )
    Petitioner,
    )
    v.
    )
    PCB 03-33
    )
    (Third Party
    Pollution
    Control
    Facility
    THE CITY OF
    KANKAKEE,
    ILLINOIS; THE CITY
    OF
    )
    Siting Appeal)
    KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
    CITY COUNCIL;
    TowN
    &
    )
    COUNTRY UTILITIES,
    INC.; and
    KANKAKEE
    )
    REGIONAL LANDFILL,
    L.L.C.,
    )
    )
    Respondents.
    )
    WASTE MANAGEMENT
    OF ILLINOIS, INC.,
    )
    )
    Petitioners,
    )
    v.
    )
    PCB 03-35
    )
    (Third Party
    Pollution
    Control Facility
    THE CITY OF KANKAKEE,
    ILLINOIS;
    THE CITY OF
    )
    Siting Appeal)
    KANKAKEE,
    ILLINOIS
    CITY COUNCIL;
    TowN
    &
    )
    (Consolidated)
    COUNTRY UTILITIES,
    INC.; and
    KANKAKEE
    )
    REGIONAL LANDFILL,
    L.L.C.,
    )
    )
    Respondents.
    )
    WASTE
    MANAGEMENT
    OF ILLINOIS, INC.’S
    REPLY
    BRIEF
    Petitioner, WASTE
    MANAGEMENT
    OF ILLINOIS,
    INC. (“WMII”),
    by and
    through
    its

    attorneys Pedersen
    & Houpt, submits
    this
    brief
    to reply
    to the
    following
    matters raised in
    Applicants
    Brief.
    A.
    The February
    19,
    2002
    Meeting
    Was
    A
    Hearing
    At Which the
    City
    Council
    Prejudged
    Town
    & Country’s Siting
    Application
    On February
    19, 2002,
    Town &
    Country
    Utilities,
    Inc. and
    Kankakee
    Regional
    Landfill,
    L.L.C.
    (“T&C”),
    through
    its
    principal,
    Thomas
    Volini
    and Attorney
    George
    Mueller,
    presented
    documentary
    evidence and expert
    witnesses
    to the
    Kankakee
    City Council
    in support of
    T&C’s
    application
    for siting approval
    of its
    proposed
    400-acre
    sanitary landfill.
    The meeting was
    referred to
    by Mayor Green as
    a
    “special presentation”
    for
    which he requested
    the City
    Council’s
    “special indulgence”.
    City
    Council
    2/19/02
    Tr. at 5. In fact,
    the
    meeting
    was
    conducted
    as
    a
    hearing to consider
    the
    T&C
    application.
    The Mayor
    presided over the
    T&C presentation
    as if he
    were a hearing
    officer. He
    introduced
    the
    T&C
    siting
    request, stated
    that any
    member of the
    City
    Council could
    ask
    questions,
    and turned the
    floor
    over to
    Mr.
    Volini.
    City
    Council 2/19/92
    Tr. at 6. Mr.
    Volini
    discussed
    T&C , its qualifications
    and
    experience. City
    Council 2/19/02
    Tr. at 7. He
    introduced
    T&C’s
    siting team, including
    its lawyer,
    Mr. Mueller, and its
    expert
    witnesses.
    City
    Council
    2/19/02
    Tr. at 7-8. He offered
    a set of
    documents in support
    of
    the siting
    request, and
    later
    explained
    them. City Council
    2/19/02
    Tr. at 8, 15-18. He told
    the City Council
    that
    “(w)e’re
    on
    trial”
    and “(y)ou’re on trial.”
    City
    Council
    2/19/02
    Tr. at
    8. He then had
    Mr. Mueller
    talk
    about
    the
    legal setting and the siting
    process.
    City
    Council
    2/19/02
    Tr. at
    8-9.
    Mr. Mueller
    made an opening
    statement. He
    described
    the
    siting
    process
    and
    Section
    39.2 of
    the
    Illinois
    Environmental
    Protection
    Act. He told the
    City
    Council that
    they are
    the
    jury,
    This Document
    is Printed on
    Recycled
    Paper.
    2

    and
    perform
    a
    quasi-judicial
    role.
    He
    stated
    that
    the evidence
    which
    will
    be
    presented
    supports
    the
    10 criteria,
    and
    that the
    decision
    must
    be
    made
    on
    the evidence.
    City Council
    2/19/02
    Tr.
    at
    9-10.
    He
    pointed
    out that
    if
    the
    City
    Council
    finds that
    T&C
    has established
    the statutory
    criteria,
    the
    proposal
    still
    has
    to be reviewed
    by
    the Illinois
    Environmental Protection
    Agency.
    City
    Council
    2/19/02
    Tr. at 10.
    Two expert
    witnesses
    made
    presentations.
    Mr. Devin
    Moose,
    T&C’s
    principal
    witness
    at
    the siting
    hearings
    that
    commenced
    June 17,
    gave
    expert
    opinion
    on
    each
    of the
    nine
    statutory
    criteria
    and explained
    how
    T&C
    satisfied
    those
    criteria.
    City
    Council
    2/19/02
    Tr.
    at 11-14.
    Ms.
    Jamie Simmon
    warned
    the City
    Council
    about
    “landfill
    opponents”
    and
    “environmentalists”
    who
    will quote
    from
    outdated
    reports
    in an
    effort
    to show
    that
    “all
    landfill
    liners
    eventually
    will
    leak.’
    t
    City Council
    2/19/02
    Tr. at 15.
    To
    defeat
    this
    controversy
    and
    confusion,
    she
    urged
    the City
    Council
    understand
    the science
    and hear
    the
    evidence
    in
    making
    its
    decision.
    City
    Council
    2/19/02
    Tr.
    at 15.
    After
    Mr.
    Volini
    explained
    the
    submitted
    documents,
    Mayor
    Green
    allowed
    the
    City
    Council
    members
    to
    ask questions.
    City Council
    2/19/02
    Tr. at
    18. During
    the
    course
    of the
    questioning,
    Mayor
    Green at
    one point
    interceded
    and
    decided
    to
    answer
    a question
    himself.
    In
    response
    to
    an
    inquiry
    from
    Alderman
    Williams,
    he
    stated
    that
    “we’re not
    just
    proposing
    a
    landfill...”
    City
    Council
    2/19/02
    Tr.
    at 26
    (emphasis
    supplied).
    Mayor
    Green
    concluded
    the
    presentation
    made by
    T&C
    by
    thanking
    Mr.
    Volini
    and
    T&C,
    and
    stated that
    “it
    was very
    important
    that
    we
    lay all
    these
    issues
    out
    on
    the
    table...”
    City
    Council
    2/19/02
    Tr. at
    28.
    This Document
    is
    Printed
    on Recycled
    Paper.
    3

    As
    demonstrated
    by
    the
    conduct
    of the
    February
    19 meeting,
    T&C’s
    siting
    request
    was
    presented
    and
    argued
    to the City
    Council.
    The
    purpose
    of the
    presentation
    was
    to
    inform
    the
    City Council
    about
    the
    siting process
    and
    the
    merits
    of the siting
    request.
    The
    intent
    was
    to
    create a favorable
    impression
    of T&C
    and its
    siting
    request.
    In such circumstances,
    one
    is
    compelled
    to
    conclude
    that
    T&C intended
    to persuade
    the City
    Council
    of the
    application’s
    merits.
    In
    addition,
    Mayor Green
    not
    only
    presided
    over
    the presentation,
    but
    he also
    became
    an
    advocate
    for
    the
    proposal
    before
    the
    City
    Council.
    His
    power
    and
    influence as
    chief
    executive
    officer
    of the City
    was
    evident
    and
    undeniable.
    He
    encouraged
    the
    City
    Council’s
    review
    and
    consideration
    of the
    T&C
    siting
    request
    at February
    19 meeting.
    He
    declined
    to inform
    the
    City
    Council
    that they
    should
    not
    decide
    the
    request
    until
    after
    all
    the evidence
    at the
    subsequent
    public hearings
    could
    be considered.
    He
    did
    not warn
    them
    against
    prejudging
    the
    facts.
    By his
    words and
    actions
    at the February
    19 meeting,
    he
    left
    the
    clear impression
    that
    favorable
    consideration
    of the
    T&C
    request
    that “we’re
    proposing”
    would be
    appropriate.
    T&C
    argues
    that the
    record
    is totally
    devoid
    of
    any evidence
    of
    actual
    prejudgment.
    Applicant
    Brief
    at
    15. It states
    that
    there is
    no
    evidence
    that any
    City
    Council member
    based
    his
    or her
    decision
    or
    anything
    other
    than the
    evidence
    presented
    at the
    siting
    hearing.
    Applicant
    Brief at 15.
    T&C’s
    argument
    is unavailing.
    It is
    true that
    there
    is no
    evidence
    in
    this
    record
    of a City
    Council
    member
    admitting
    that
    he or she favorably
    decided
    the siting
    request
    on February
    19, 2002,
    or
    at any
    time
    prior to
    the
    submission
    of
    evidence.
    WMII
    is unaware
    of
    any reported
    instance
    in local
    siting
    act
    This
    Document
    is
    Printed on
    Recycled
    Paper.
    4

    jurisprudence
    where
    a
    decisionmaker
    made
    such
    an
    admission.
    However,
    the lack
    of such
    an
    express admission
    does
    not
    foreclose
    the
    inquiry
    on prejudgment
    of
    the
    application.
    Circumstantial
    or
    indirect
    evidence
    of prejudgment
    is allowed.
    In the absence
    of
    an
    express
    admission,
    a party should
    be permitted
    to
    present evidence
    from
    which
    the existence
    of
    prejudgment
    can
    be inferred.
    See
    E & E
    Hauling
    v. Pollution
    Control
    Board,
    116 Ill.App.3d
    586,
    451 N.E.2d
    555,
    565 (2d
    Dist. 1983),
    affd 107
    Ill.2d
    33
    (1985) (standard
    for
    determining
    prejudgment
    is
    whether
    a disinterested
    observer
    might conclude
    that
    decisionmaker
    had in
    some
    measure
    adjudged
    the facts
    and the
    law before
    hearing the
    case) (emphasis
    supplied);
    Residents
    Against
    A
    Polluted
    Environment
    v.
    Illinois
    Pollution
    Control
    Board,
    293
    Ill.App.3d
    219,
    687
    N.E.2d
    552, 555
    (3d
    Dist.
    1997)
    (allowing
    inference
    of
    bias as an
    appropriate
    standard
    to
    evaluate
    fundamental
    fairness);
    see also
    In Re High
    Fructose
    Corn
    Syrup
    Antitrust
    Litigation,
    295
    F.3d
    651,
    654-55
    (7th Cir. 2002)
    (in
    action
    alleging
    illegal
    agreement
    to
    fix prices,
    plaintiff
    may present
    circumstantial
    or indirect
    evidence
    from which
    existence of
    such
    agreement
    may
    be
    inferred).
    The
    evidence
    supporting
    the
    conclusion
    that
    the
    City Council
    members
    favorably
    prejudged
    the siting
    request
    is
    substantial:
    1.
    The
    February
    19
    meeting is
    directed
    by
    Mayor Green,
    who serves
    as both
    presiding
    officer and
    advocate
    by telling
    the
    City
    Council
    that
    “we’re
    not just
    proposing
    a
    landfill,
    “but
    “(w)e’re
    proposing
    a
    landfill
    and
    an industrial
    park.” City
    Council
    2/19/02
    Tr.
    at 26.
    This
    Document
    is
    Printed
    on
    Recycled
    Paper.
    5

    2.
    T&C presents
    its siting
    request
    at
    the
    February
    19
    meeting through
    (a)
    its
    principal,
    Mr.
    Volini,
    (b)
    its
    attorney, Mr.
    Mueller,
    (c) two
    expert witnesses
    and
    (d) a
    document
    package
    and related
    exhibits.
    City
    Council
    2/19/02
    Tr. at
    6-28.
    3.
    T&C answered
    questions
    from
    City
    Council
    members
    at the
    February
    19 meeting,
    including
    a
    question
    asked
    by
    Alderman
    Williams
    and answered
    by
    Mayor
    Green.
    City
    Council
    2/19/02
    Tr. at 26.
    4.
    T&C presented,
    explained
    and
    answered
    questions
    about
    its
    siting
    request
    at the
    February
    19 meeting
    without
    participation
    or objection
    from the
    public or
    interested
    parties.
    5.
    The
    City
    Council,
    in its August
    19 decision,
    chose
    to agree with
    Mr.
    Moose,
    a
    civil engineer,
    who
    spoke
    at the
    February
    19 meeting
    and
    has no training
    or
    credentials
    as
    a hydrogeologist,
    that
    the Silurian
    dolomite
    under
    the
    proposed
    site is
    an aquitard,
    when
    the
    overwhelming
    evidence presented
    at
    the hearing,
    including
    scientific
    reports,
    well
    water
    data and
    statements
    from four
    hydrogeologists,
    conclusively
    established
    that
    the
    Silurian
    dolomite
    under
    the proposed
    site is
    an
    aquifer.
    6.
    The
    City
    Council
    chose
    to
    accept Mr.
    Moose!s
    stated
    reliance
    on
    selected
    pages
    from
    a Significant
    Modification
    Permit
    Application,
    filed
    by
    WMII
    with the
    Illinois
    Environmental
    Protection
    Agency
    in 1994 concerning
    the existing
    Kankakee
    Landfill,
    as
    support
    for
    his
    characterization
    of
    the
    Silurian
    dolomite
    as an
    aquitard, when,
    in fact,
    This Document
    is
    Printed
    on Recycled
    Paper.
    6

    those
    pages
    did
    not characterize
    the bedrock
    as an aquitard
    but, rather,
    included
    conservative
    assumptions for
    the purpose
    of
    running
    the groundwater
    model
    for
    the
    existing
    landfill
    as required
    by
    the IEPA.
    See
    infra
    p.
    9.
    7.
    The
    City
    Council
    agreed
    that
    the T&C
    proposal
    was
    consistent
    with
    the
    Kankakee
    County
    Solid
    Waste
    Management
    Plan,
    as
    amended,
    when
    the plain
    arid unequivocal
    language
    in the
    County
    Plan clearly
    provides
    for a single
    landfill
    in the
    County
    and
    that
    this
    landfill
    is the
    expanded
    Kankakee
    Landfill.
    Only
    in
    the event
    the
    expansion
    of the
    Kankakee
    Landfill
    is
    not
    approved
    could
    the
    T&C proposal
    possibly
    be
    deemed
    consistent
    with
    the County
    Plan.
    The
    expansion
    of
    the Kankakee
    Landfill
    has
    not,
    to
    date,
    been
    disapproved.
    8.
    The
    City
    Council
    voted
    unanimously
    (13-0,
    with one
    abstention)
    to
    approve
    T&C’s
    siting
    request.
    Based
    upon these
    facts
    and
    the undisputed
    actions
    of Mayor
    Green
    and
    the
    City
    Council,
    a disinterested
    observer
    may
    conclude
    the
    members
    of the
    City
    Council
    had
    prejudged
    the T&C
    siting
    request
    in advance
    of
    hearing
    it. E &
    E
    Hauling,
    451
    N.E.2d
    at 565.
    The
    February
    19
    presentation
    was
    the
    means
    and
    opportunity
    for the
    City
    Council
    to
    prejudge
    the
    request.
    The
    City’s
    August
    19 written
    decision
    confirms
    the fact
    of
    the
    Council’s
    prejudgment.
    T&C
    also asserts
    that
    elected
    officials
    are
    presumed
    to act
    objectively.
    Applicant’s
    Brief
    at 15-16.
    This
    is
    true,
    as is
    T&C’s
    statement
    that
    a minimal
    showing
    of
    bias must
    be made
    to
    warrant
    a remand.
    Applicant’s
    Brief
    at
    15-16.
    The
    presumption
    may
    be overcome
    by
    showing
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    Document
    is Printed
    on Recycled
    Paper.
    7

    that
    the
    proceedings
    contained
    an unacceptable risk
    of bias.
    Goodwin
    v.
    McHenry
    County
    Sheriffs
    Office,
    306
    Il1.App.3d
    251,
    713
    N.E.2d
    818, 823
    (2d
    Dist.
    1999).
    Here,
    the risk
    of
    prejudgment
    permeated
    the proceedings.
    The
    February
    19
    meeting
    set
    the
    tone
    for the
    official
    siting process
    commencing
    with
    the
    filing
    of
    the
    siting
    application
    on
    March
    13,
    2002.
    Indeed,
    the circumstances
    were
    propitious
    for favorable
    review
    and decision.
    The
    application
    was presented
    to
    and
    considered
    by
    the City
    Council
    on February
    19 under
    the
    mayor’s
    direction
    and
    without
    objection.
    The
    mayor
    conveyed
    his
    approval
    of
    the
    request
    by
    aligning
    himself
    with
    T&C
    (“we’re
    proposing
    a
    landfill”).
    The
    City
    Council
    was
    not advised
    against
    prejudgment
    by the
    mayor.
    The
    fact
    of prejudgment
    became
    clear
    with
    the
    City’s
    granting
    of siting
    approval
    on
    August
    19.
    In the
    face
    of
    compelling
    and
    overwhelming
    evidence
    to
    the
    contrary,
    the
    City
    Council
    unanimously
    found
    in
    T&C’s
    favor
    on
    criteria
    two and
    eight.
    Based
    upon the
    substantial
    evidence
    described
    above,
    it is appropriate
    to conclude
    that the
    City’s
    August
    19
    decision
    was
    effectively
    made
    February
    19.
    Such
    prejudgment is fundamentally
    unfair
    and the
    siting
    approval
    should
    be reversed.
    B.
    The Public
    Was
    Denied
    the
    Right
    to Attend
    and
    Participate
    in
    the Public
    Hearing.
    T&C
    admits
    at least
    fifty (50)
    people
    did
    not
    get into
    the
    hearing
    room
    on
    the
    first
    night
    of the
    hearings,
    June
    17. Applicant
    Br. at
    24.
    These
    individuals
    did
    not
    hear
    any announcement
    that
    people
    could
    sign
    up
    to
    participate.
    IPCB
    11/4/02
    Tr.
    at 80,
    107.
    Many left
    because
    they
    could
    not
    get
    into
    the
    hearing
    room.
    IPCB
    11/4/02
    Tr. at
    66,
    108.
    Most
    did
    not return
    because
    of
    their
    experience
    that
    evening.
    IPCB
    Tr.
    at 66,
    108.
    This
    Document
    is Printed
    on Recycled
    Paper.
    8

    The
    public hearing is
    the most critical
    stage
    of the
    site
    approval
    process.
    American
    Bottom
    Conservancy
    v. Village
    of Fairmont
    City,
    No.
    PCB 00-200, slip
    op. at 6
    (October 19,
    2000).
    The public
    hearing
    must
    include
    the
    right
    to appear
    and
    the
    opportunity to
    be heard.
    Daly v.
    Pollution Control Board,
    264 Ill.App.3d
    968, 970,
    637
    N.E.2d
    1153, 1155
    (1st Dist.
    1994).
    At least
    50 people
    were deprived
    of their right
    to appear and
    be
    heard on
    June
    17. Many
    left, never
    to return,
    because
    they
    were denied access
    to the initial
    public
    hearing.
    This
    denial
    was
    fundamentally
    unfair,
    and
    requires
    reversal
    of the
    siting approval
    C.
    The
    City’s
    Finding
    That T&C Satisfied
    Criterion
    Two Is
    Against
    the
    Manifest
    Weight
    of the
    Evidence.
    T&C
    argues that
    WMII’s
    assertion
    that
    T&C inaccurately
    characterized
    the Silurian
    dolomite ‘displays
    a profound
    misunderstanding
    of the overwhelming
    evidence
    that
    the
    specific
    geologic characteristics
    of the
    site are well understood...”
    Applicant’s
    Brief
    at 26.
    T&C’s
    argument is
    fatuous. Not only
    does T&C ignore
    all of
    the scientific
    information,
    water
    well
    data
    (including data contained
    in its own
    siting request)
    and the
    statements of four
    hydrogeologists
    regarding the proper
    characterization
    of
    the
    bedrock,
    it also
    purports to rely on
    information
    contained
    in selected
    pages
    of a Significant
    Modification
    Permit
    Application prepared
    in 1994
    by
    WMII (“Significant Modification”)
    for the existing
    Kankakee
    Landfill.
    Such reliance
    is
    misplaced, because the
    selected
    portions
    of
    the
    Significant
    Modification
    were not
    intended
    to
    characterize
    the dimensions of the
    geologic units
    at the
    Kankakee
    Landfill
    site.
    As stated
    by
    its authors,
    the Significant
    Modification
    clearly characterizes
    the
    bedrock
    as
    an aquifer,
    not an aquitard.
    The assumption
    that
    the
    aquifer was
    10 feet thick was made
    for
    This
    Document is Printed
    on Recycled
    Paper.
    9

    groundwater
    modeling
    purposes.
    JEPA
    guidance
    states
    that 10
    feet should
    be assumed.
    This
    input
    value
    is
    conservative
    and
    represents
    a
    condition
    that
    will
    most
    likely
    cause failure
    of
    the
    model.
    Public
    Comment,
    Letter
    dated
    July
    25, 2002
    by
    Joan
    Underwood,
    Hydrogeologist.
    In
    fact, Ms.
    Underwood
    stated
    that
    the
    Silurian
    Dolomite
    is
    an aquifer
    under
    the T&C
    site.
    Mr.
    Moose’s
    testimony
    cannot
    overcome,
    much
    less refute,
    the exhaustive
    scientific
    data
    and
    evidence
    that contradicts
    it.
    The
    City’s favorable
    finding on
    Criterion
    Two,
    based
    upon this
    erroneous
    conclusion,
    is
    clearly, plainly
    and
    obviously
    wrong
    and, therefore,
    is
    against
    the
    manifest
    weight
    of
    the
    evidence.
    ft
    The
    City’s
    Finding
    that the T&C
    Proposal
    Was
    Consistent
    With
    the
    Kankakee
    County Solid
    Waste
    Management
    Plan
    Is
    Against
    the
    Manifest
    Weight
    of the
    Evidence.
    T&C
    cites to
    the testimony
    of Dr.
    Allen Shoenberger
    in
    support
    of its
    contention
    that
    Criterion
    Eight
    was
    satisfied.
    Applicant
    Brief at 35-37.
    However,
    the Hearing
    Officer
    struck
    most of
    Dr. Shoenberger’s
    testimony
    regarding
    the
    validity of
    the County
    and
    City Plans
    and
    the
    City’s
    authority
    to
    exercise
    siting
    jurisdiction,
    and “precious
    little
    remained.”
    Applicant
    Brief
    at
    25.
    T&C
    then
    attempts
    to rely
    on the
    testimony
    of
    Mr. Moose
    in response
    to a
    question
    on
    plan
    consistency
    from
    the City staff.
    Mr. Moose
    was
    not disclosed
    or identified
    as
    a
    witness
    on
    plan
    consistency,
    nor
    was he qualified
    to given
    an opinion
    on
    the issue.
    Nonetheless,
    the
    Hearing
    Officer
    denied
    a
    motion
    to strike and
    allowed
    the testimony
    to
    stand,
    notwithstanding
    the
    inability
    of any
    participant
    or
    member
    of
    the
    public
    to cross
    examine
    Mr. Moose
    because
    the
    This Document
    is
    Printed
    on Recycled
    Paper.
    10

    answer
    was
    provided
    in response
    to
    a question
    from City
    staff.
    Based
    upon
    his lack
    of
    qualifications
    and
    the
    procedural
    unfairness,
    Mr.
    Moose’s
    testimony
    is
    entitled
    to no
    weight
    and
    should
    be
    disregarded.
    The plain
    language
    of the
    County
    Plan provides
    for one
    landfill
    in
    Kankakee
    County.
    The expansion
    of the
    existing
    facility
    is
    the preferred
    alternative.
    Only
    if
    and
    when
    the existing
    landfill
    is denied
    authority
    to
    expand,
    may
    it be
    possible
    to find
    that
    the T&C
    proposal
    is
    consistent
    with
    the
    County
    Plan.
    The
    mere
    fact
    that the
    siting
    request
    to expand
    the
    Kankakee
    Landfill
    was
    not approved
    at the
    time
    the
    City
    considered
    the
    T&C
    request
    is not legally
    or
    logically
    sufficient
    to
    justify
    a
    finding
    of
    plan
    consistency
    for
    the
    latter.
    At
    a minimum,
    a
    final
    disapproval
    of
    the Kankakee
    Landfill
    expansion
    would
    have
    been
    required
    before
    any finding
    of
    consistency
    with
    the
    County
    Plan
    could
    have
    been
    made.
    WMII
    agrees
    with Petitioner
    County
    of Kankakee
    that
    the
    proper
    standard
    of
    review
    of
    the
    City’s
    finding
    on Criterion
    Eight
    is
    de
    novo.
    Based
    upon
    the
    plain
    meaning
    of the
    County
    Plan,
    however,
    WMII
    submits
    that, under
    either
    standard
    of
    review,
    the City’s
    finding
    on
    Criterion
    Eight
    is
    clearly
    erroneous
    and
    against
    the manifest
    weight
    of the
    evidence.
    T&C
    next argues
    that the
    County
    of Kankakee
    cannot
    preclude
    the
    City from
    exercising
    its
    siting
    jurisdiction,
    that
    the
    Illinois
    Constitution
    and
    statutes
    protect
    the
    City’s siting
    authority,
    and
    that the
    County
    of
    Kankakee’s
    amendments
    to its
    Plan are
    invalid.
    Applicant
    Brief at
    38-43.
    These
    arguments
    require
    this
    Board
    to
    construe
    and
    apply the
    Illinois
    Constitution
    and
    the cited
    statutes
    to the
    Illinois
    Environmental
    Protection
    Act and
    the
    Kankakee
    County
    Solid
    Waste
    Management
    Plan. The
    Board
    lacks
    this authority.
    Land
    and Lakes
    Company
    v.
    This
    Document
    is Printed
    on Recycled
    Paper.
    11

    Randolph
    County
    Board
    of
    Commissioners,
    No.
    PCB
    99-69,
    slip
    op. at
    32 (September
    21,
    2000).
    The
    Board may
    review
    the
    City
    decision
    and
    whether the
    T&C proposal
    is consistent
    with
    the
    County
    Plan
    as
    written
    pursuant
    to
    Section 40.1(a)
    of the
    Act. 415
    ILCS 5/40.1
    (2000).
    However,
    the
    Board
    is not
    authorized
    to review
    or determine
    the
    validity
    of the
    County
    Plan.
    Land
    and
    Lakes
    Company,
    slip
    op.
    at
    32.
    CONCLUSION
    The
    City of
    Kankakee’s
    August 19,
    2002
    grant
    of local
    siting
    approval
    should
    be reversed
    on the grounds
    that
    the
    local siting
    process
    was fundamentally
    unfair
    and
    that the City’s
    findings
    on Criteria
    Two and
    Eight
    are against
    the
    manifest
    weight
    of the
    evidence.
    Respectfully
    submitted,
    WASTE
    MAAGEMENTPF
    ILLINOIS,
    INC.
    /
    By:
    L_
    thne of
    its Attbmeys
    /
    Donald
    J. Moran
    Pedersen
    & Houpt
    161
    North Clark
    Street
    Suite 3100
    Chicago,
    IL
    60601
    Telephone:
    (312)
    641-6888
    This
    Document
    is Printed
    on Recycled
    Paper.
    12

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