The Huntley Farmside

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Your Home Town Newspaper
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' VOLUME 25 - NUMBER 43
Thuraday,  January 24, i985
SERVING THE PEOPLE OF HUNTLEY SINCE 1960
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Does McHemy Coimty Really Need A Landfill?
Officials
residents   from Huntley
The Veugelers,  Bob Jr.,  Bob   Sr., and Jim.
It all boiled down to "Does McHenry County Need Another LandfUl". AU the plans present¬ ed to the Enviremental Polution Control Committee of the McHenrv County Board by Attomey, J. Militello, for Veu- reler and James Andrews, iiinvironmental Engineer, who drew the plans. The meeting was held last Tuesday at the McHenry County Fair Grounds. The purpose of the meeting was to submit the pians of the proposed landfill, located 2 miles north of Huntley. The committee will hear the testi¬ mony and recommend to the McHenry County Board if they think that McHenry County needs another landflll and if so, are the Veugeler plans adequate
James Andrews, an Environ¬ mental Engineer, who had been hired by Veugeler to make the plans, spoke to the group. Later he was questioned by seven representative spokesmen fro the various groups, as to each intracut       part of the plan.
States attomey, Paul Ryske' questioned Andrews. He asked' nun u any of the SO or' more landfills which he had planned, had any operation problems. The landfill in Zion is facing Ittegation. Some of the viola¬ tions of the other landfills have been caused by failure to cover up die trach. This causes leachate to form. It also allows i jHltration of blowing paper and -Jensive odors. Rodents and flies are also attracted.
The sepage from the landfill was questioned. The thickness ofthe clay lining of the landfill, must be at least 10 feet to prevent any leachate that could escape and contaminate the wells of the residents of the area.
Leachate is formed when water flows through the waste material. If it seeps through the cracks which may be in the clay tinning, it will contaminate the' wells and drinldng water and streams ofthe area.
If the permit were granted, "What's to stop the private landfill owner to take waste from other areas?" What about toxic waste? The site is near the tollway and if garbage haulers were willing to pay the fee, who would stop them from using the landfiU?
Industrial waste and special waste cause polution problems. Andrews stated that 10 foot byms will be erected around the edge of the landfill. Andrews admitted that this will not entirely eleminate the view of the landfill from area of the landfill in one section from area residents.
Is the landfill in the proposed plan of the 100 year flood? This did not show up on the airial picture ofthe project.
Some of the 1916 Coral Grafton drainage tile are still iml>edded in the ground. These would have to be removed, Andrews said.
A landfill designed by the Andrew's firm In Wilsonville, 111 is in litigation and Andrews is a defendant.
In this, as in many instances, Andrews refused to answer questions ofthe Assistant States Attomey and Attomey Mike Kukla, who represents the Emergency Action Committee.
Attomey for Tumberry resi¬ dents. Bob Franz, raised to point of order, he also asked Andrews, 'Is the Wilsonville landfill still in operation? The Engineer refused to answer.
Andrews was questioned re¬ peatedly about the possibility of using other landfills in the vicinity? He stated that in 1983 he estimated 13 to 15 years use for the present Veugeler landfill near Cary. These figures were later changed to a possible 3 to 5 years. However, recently Veu¬ geler has purchased a bailer to compact the solid waste befbre placing it in the trench. This removes the air and decreases the size by one or one and a half.
When questions about near¬ by landfills, Andrews stated that Winthrop Harbor has 30 more years. Grays Lake - 15 years.
When asked about the depth
of the borings to test the typography of the soil. Andrews admitted 800 feet. The depth of the landfill is 830 feet. Andrews was asked "What happens to the remaining 30 feet?"
When asked about the fire protection policy, Andrews sta¬ ted that the Huntley Fire Department would be the one to be called. It was brought out that the village fire department does not have large enough equipment to accomodate such a large project.
Gary Lindsey, Executive Director of the Defenders, was the next person to intergate Andrews. He pointed out the distances to near by landfills. South Elgin, 20 miles; Grays Lake 29 miles; Barrington 18 miles.
There were six more repre¬ sentatives of objecting groups to schedule speakers aa this newspaper goes to press.
The meeting was convened to be resumed at one o'clock Wednesday.
Gfonp Seeks Veugeler LandfiU Fines
A kscsJ dtizens group todsy charged the Veugeler LandflU in Algonquin Township with viola¬ ting the Ulinois Environmental Protection Act. "We have fUed a formal complaint against the Veugeler LandfUl with the Ulinois PoUution Control Board" said Nancy Grau, spokesperson fbr the LandfiU Emergency Action Committee (LEAQ. "The Veugeler LandfiU has an awfiil operating record. We are seeking fines totaling S18,900 fbr problems at the facUity.''
The complaint charges the Veugeler Landfill with 189 separate violations ofthe Olinois Environmental Protection Act since 1974. "The Veugeler LandfUl has chronic problems with blowing litter, leachate and keeping refuse covered," sidd Grau. "The operator is either unable or unwUling to comply with state regulations. Ulinois Environmental Protection Agen¬ cy records show that the site has been out of compliance during 90% pf the Agency's inspec¬ tions over the past 10 years. If actions are not taken now to correct these violations, local drinking water could be threat¬ ened."
"LEAC became aware of these problems during prepara¬ tion fbr iU fight against Veugeler's proposed Huntley LandfiU," Grau said. "Veuge¬ ler's record at the current landfiU demonstrates that the company should not be aUowed to develop the proposed Huntley LandfiU. If Veugeler wete to operate the proposed Huntley Landffll as pooriy as the existing site, poisons could quickly enter nearby drinking water and the kishwaukee River."
"Records    at    the    Dlinois Environmental Protection Agen¬ cy indicate that the liner which Continued to page 2