Chicago law firm hired to oppose efforts to store chemical waste at area landfill

McClatchy-Tribune Information Services -- Unrestricted - December 3, 2009

The Mahomet Valley Water Authority has hired a Chicago law firm to oppose Peoria Disposal Co.'s efforts to win federal permission to store chemical waste at Clinton Landfill.

The authority's three-member board approved hiring Swanson, Martin and Bell of Chicago. Attorney Mike Maher will work as the lead attorney on the case, but he declined to comment until after he consults with the authority board.

Critics contend storing the Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste at the site south of Clinton poses a threat to the Mahomet Aquifer. The underground water source supplies more than 100 million gallons of water per day for 15 Central Illinois counties, according to the Illinois State Water Survey.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is expected to make a ruling on the permit application Dec. 23. The permit must still be approved by the federal EPA, and that ruling is expected in 2010.

"We have been asking the Mahomet Valley Water Authority board to get engaged since August, and finally, they have become involved in this process to stop the permit," said Matt Varble, president of WATCH Clinton Landfill, a group opposed to the waste storage permit.

The authority is a separate taxing body overseen by an independent board. The DeWitt County Board names two members, and Piatt, one.

The authority's position on getting involved in the issue changed after a personnel change last month. The DeWitt County Board appointed Doug Graves to fill the unexpired term of authority board member Max Vandiver, who resigned in September. Vandiver had opposed the legal effort.

The DeWitt County Board previously decided it will not support or oppose the permit application, but the authority board is independent.

"Our only responsibility is to appoint two members to the board," said DeWitt County Board Chairman Steve Lobb. "Our board has no say in the permitting process, but the water authority board has the ability to oppose it or support it if they want." To see more of The Pantagraph, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pantagraph.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

Copyright (C) 2009, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.