Illinois EPA begins cleanup of illegal dump site in Dana, LaSalle County

SPRINGFIELD  - Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott announced that, starting May 19, the Agency will begin the cleanup of a large illegal dump site known as Madison Recovery and Services located at 206 W. Washington in Dana.  The cleanup is expected to be completed by mid-June, as weather permits.  The Illinois EPA's Rockford Regional Office staff will oversee the clean-up. 

 

Over the next few weeks, contractors will work to remove up to 4000 cubic yards of waste from the site.  The waste includes scrap tires, metal, tanks, furniture, clothing, mattresses, dilapidated mobile homes and scrap wood that have been disposed of illegally. In addition, an open foundation full of stagnant water exists on the property, adding to the public health concern.  Access to the property is unrestricted, and a residence with children's play equipment is located within 150 feet of the facility. This project covers six acres and is located at the western edge of the Village limits of Dana.  All recyclable materials, including the tires, will be taken to recycling facilities.

 

"The goal of these cleanups is two-fold.  We will not only 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 improve communities throughout the state."

 

Madison Recovery and Services is a former salvage yard.  It no longer holds a salvage license from either the Illinois Secretary of State's office or from the Village of Dana.  The owner, Bill Shawback, was instructed to clean up the refuse at the salvage yard, but failed to do so even after several deadline extensions.  The facility was issued a violation notice in July 2008, due to the threat to public health and the environment; the notice provided the owner with identified corrective actions and an opportunity to clean up the property.  While costs are initially covered by the state of Illinois, we intend to pursue cost recovery from the responsible party.  

 

While all illegally dumped waste presents environmental and safety problems, improperly disposed tires also 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 and the Used Tire Program, which provide 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 and waste tire cleanups, Illinois EPA has cleaned up sites ranging from the tip of Southern Illinois to rural central and eastern Illinois and urban locations in the East St. Louis and Chicago metro areas.

 

The Illinois EPA periodically inspects sites to ensure that open dumping does not occur, and has the authority to issue administrative citations to violators of this and other provisions of the Environmental Protection Act.