Press Release - Thursday, September 18, 2008
Press Releases
No Data
Illinois EPA begins cleanup of illegal dump site in Jackson County
Springfield, IL - Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director Doug Scott announced that the Agency has begun the cleanup of an illegal dump site located in Pomona, Illinois, in Jackson County. Weather permitting, the clean up will be completed by September 30.
Over the next several days, a contractor will work to remove up to 350 cubic yards of waste from the site, which is located along-side of Macedonia Road, southwest of Pomona. The clean up will involve the removal of demolition debris, plastic, glass, tires, various metals and other miscellaneous household wastes, which have been disposed of illegally.
While all illegally dumped waste presents an environmental and safety problem, improperly disposed tires provide a breeding habitat for the type of mosquito that is the primary carrier of the West Nile Virus. The cleanup is being conducted as part of the I-RID (Illinois Removes Illegal Dumps) Program, which continues to remove environmental hazards and protect Illinois' beautiful landscape.
"The goal of these cleanups is two-fold. It not only will remove illegally dumped waste, some of which has festered over the years, but the cleanups also preserve the environment in rural areas and city communities, making the outdoors a place to be enjoyed for generations to come," said Director Scott. "I am grateful we can continue to beautify communities throughout the state."
Since the fall of 2006, approximately 200 of these often long-festering open dumps all over the state have been properly cleaned up by the Illinois EPA. Almost 500 tons of tires and nearly 825 tons of metal have been recycled from the cleanups and nearly 33,000 tons of other debris has been taken to regulated landfills for proper disposal. Items fly-dumped have included a car chassis, refrigerators, couches and even fiberglass boats.
With the funding, the Illinois EPA hires contractors to clean up open dumps where responsible parties cannot 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.
Working with local and county officials to identify candidates for I-RID cleanups, Illinois EPA has cleaned up sites ranging from the tip of Southern Illinois near Cave-in-Rock to rural central and eastern Illinois and urban locations in the East St. Louis and Chicago metro areas.
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