| IEPA: Landfill rodeos may contaminate water |
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May 12, 2010 By BOB OKON This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it The Herald -News JOLIET -- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has warned city officials that a rodeo operation allowed in the past on top of the CDT Landfill has caused damage that could lead to contamination of groundwater in the area. An April 26 letter to Mayor Art Schultz and the city council urges them to deny or delay zoning that would allow the rodeos to continue. Problems listed by the Illinois EPA • Will County cited CDT on Jan. 18, 2008 for construction of horse race track without IEPA approval. • County cited CDT again in 2008 for construction of rodeo structures, access road, basketball court and volleyball court on the landfill. • Inspections determined that construction activity impaired stormwater flow, causing erosion and exposed waste. • Landfill damage creates the potential for groundwater contamination. • Exposed waste can release landfill gas and odors. The rodeo zoning is scheduled to go to the city council for consideration on Tuesday, and CDT owners are in the process of seeking a permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency that would allow rodeos. The IEPA letter repeats concerns raised by a Will County landfill inspector during an April 15 meeting of the city's zoning board of appeals, which rejected the rodeo proposal. The letter notes that the construction of "rodeo structures," an access road, basketball court and volleyball court on the landfill has "impaired the stormwater drainage flow patterns off the landfill causing erosion rills and exposed waste in at least one area. Such damage to the landfill cover has the tendency to increase water infiltration into the landfill, which may increase the leachate levels within the landfill and therefore the potential for groundwater contamination." No contamination yet The IEPA has not cited any evidence of actual groundwater contamination having occurred. Responding to questions from The Herald-News, the agency said CDT is responsible for showing that they are not causing pollution to the groundwater. An attorney for CDT said groundwater tests taken for the landfill owner have not shown any evidence of contamination. "The groundwater is monitored continuously," attorney Thomas Osterberger said. "If there was a problem with groundwater, CDT would be notified immediately." Osterberger acknowledged problems with rodeo operator Horse Show Park, and said the organization has violated its lease by not getting authorization from the IEPA. Horse Show Park is seeking the city zoning. Osterberger said CDT continues to seek an IEPA permit that would allow rodeos, saying it would be a suitable use if done properly. Osterberger even said he believed the EPA last week issued a permit that would allow rodeos. EPA officials, however, said no such permit was issued. |
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