PEORIA -- Three environmental events coming soon include a news conference on clean cars in Illinois, a public hearing on expansion/continuation of the Peoria Disposal Co.'s hazardous waste landfill and a trash cleanup of the Kellar Branch rail line, which sane people everywhere hope will become a recreational trail.
1. The news conference sponsored by Environment Illinois and the Illinois Climate Action Network takes place at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 15 at a BP service station at the intersection of Knoxville & Lake Streets in Peoria. (Let's hope it's not raining or cold.)
According to the news release, the two groups "will unveil a new report called Dollars and Sense: The Economic Impacts of Adopting a Clean Cars Program in Illinois. The report calculates the gas saving benefits to Illinois drivers that will result if Illinois lawmakers approve legislation to adopt the Clean Cars Act (H.B. 3424).
"The Illinois Clean Cars Act (HB 3424 / SB 2238) would make Illinois the 14th state to adopt more stringent tailpipe standards for air pollution and global warming pollution emitted by passenger vehicles sold in the state. To date, 13 states, home to 39% of the U.S. automobile market, have adopted the standards. Automakers are expected to comply with the tailpipe emission standards by making cars more efficient, among other things."
The measure is coming up for a vote in Springfield soon, and the groups hope to generate public support for it.
2. A public hearing conducted by the Illinois Pollution Control Board, on a permit for the PDC hazardous waste landfill, takes place at 10 a.m. on Wed., April 16 in the County Board Room 403 of the Peoria County Courthouse, 324 Main Street. (Uh-oh -- means we have to pay for parking! Oh well...)
According to a news release from Peoria Families Against Toxic Waste, Peoria environmental activist Tom Edwards is asking the board to review an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency permit recently issued to PDC's landfill on Southport Road just west of Peoria. The permit was issued on November 27, 2007, and went into effect on January 1, 2008. It allows the landfill to operate until it is full.
"Edwards wants the IEPA to insure that this site will be closing in 2009, as stated in the permit plans. He questions if the permitted capacity of the landfill has not already been reached," it states.
"Over 100 people attended a public hearing held by IEPA in Peoria on Feb. 28, 2007, regarding this permit, and many requests were received for better monitoring of the site. IEPA has not required air monitoring at the perimeter of the landfill, in close proximity to residential areas, that is reported on a regular basis. The new permit regulations reduce pollution detection monitoring requirements."
This landfill has been contested for several years, with the Peoria County Board refusing to allow it to expand, a decision now on appeal to the Illinois Appellate Court. The fight over its expansion became one of the biggest local political issues in several years, and was reflected in races for the County Board.
Then a proposed compromise last year to allow limited expansion fizzled, but caused a rift among local environmentalists, some of whom proposed it and others who furiously opposed it.
But reportedly all factions now are behind Edwards appeal to the Pollution Control Board. Edwards was a prime mover in mobilizing opposition to the expansion but opposed the compromise.
According to the news release: "PDC Landfill #1... sits atop aquifer layers connecting to the Sankoty Aquifer, the primary source of drinking water for the Peoria metropolitan area, and(is) approximately 1.25 miles from the Sterling Avenue shopping corridor.
"Other local landfill opposition groups continue to monitor the landfill, and the continuing legal efforts by PDC to maintain operations at this hazardous waste facility on the edge of the City of Peoria. Local leaders, including Peoria Families Against Toxic Waste, Heart of Illinois Sierra Club, and the local medical community, continue opposition to any expansion or continuation of operations, and express again concern for the health, safety and welfare for the people of Peoria."
Click here for more information.
3. The Kellar Branch clean up, organized by Recreational Trail Associates, takes place from 9 a.m. - noon on Saturday, April 26, with a meetup at Northmoor and Knoxville for parking, restrooms and registration.
Participants should wear long pants, gloves, and study shoes. Water, trash bags and sandwiches will be provided.
The group has been granted permission by the city of Peoria, which owns the track, for this cleanup. On a nice day, this will be interesting and fun as well as useful exercise. But it takes place rain or shine.
More information is available from RTA president George Burrier at (309) 266-5085.
Comments