Press Release - Thursday, October 19, 2006
Press Releases
No Data
Illinois EPA to clean up trash from Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Pulaski County
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott announced that the Agency will today begin cleanup of waste in Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge on Cache River Road, south west of the town of Ullin, IL, in Pulaski County. The cleanup is being conducted as part of the recently enacted I-RID (Illinois Removes Illegal Dumps) Program. Among the wastes to be removed are white goods, furniture, metal, and tires.
The I-RID Program became law in 2005 to give the Illinois EPA additional authority to combat open dumping and clean up existing dumps. These dumps often become a magnet to fly dumpers, and frequently become health and safety hazards. The program uses part of existing landfill fee revenues to cover costs of additional IEPA inspection staff and cleanups.
"Illegal open dumping continues to be a chronic problem in Illinois and elsewhere and has a detrimental effect on the health and well-being of a community," said Director Scott. "I am grateful to Governor Blagojevich and the General Assembly for providing additional funding and authority to Illinois EPA to clean up more of these messes while we continue our enforcement efforts against those who cause them."
Illinois legislators approved Governor Blagojevich's I-RID initiative to give the IEPA additional authority to make sure solid waste disposal facilities are properly operated and provide the Agency additional resources to combat open dumping. Another component of I-RID is additional inspection authority to make sure solid waste disposal facilities are properly operated.
With the funding, the Illinois EPA can hire contractors to clean up open dumps where responsible parties can not be located or where various specific imminent threats, such as fire, are present. The new law also provides for permitting and regulation of the disposal of clean construction or demolition debris, such as in former quarries, and gives the Illinois EPA Director additional authority to seal sites where there is a potential risk for harm to human health or the environment.
The cleanup at the Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge is expected to end Thursday, October 25th, weather permitting. The Illinois EPA will periodically inspect the site to ensure that the problem does not recur, and has the authority to issue administrative citations to violators of this and other provisions of the Environmental Protection Act.
###
Press Releases
No Data