Fundraiser for Peoria Families Against Toxic Waste

You don't Have to Live Downstream
a discussion of health concerns associated with toxic waste landfills and the power of citizen involvement by author, ecologist and cancer survivor, Sandra Steingraber, PhD.

Wednesday
October 10, 2007
7:00 PM

Universalist Unitarian Church
3000 West Richwoods Boulevard
Peoria, Illinois

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4 Front Chart

Official Pollution Control Board Decision

"I come to you tonight to share with you our official position regarding the PDC settlement discussions. I may go over the 2 minute limit but would respectfully as Chairman Prather if, since I’ll be the only Peoria Families member speaking that I be allowed to deliver it in it’s entirety.

About a month after the January 2007 meeting in which the County Board’s Health Committee directed the County Staff to discuss a settlement with PDC, our group proposed what we believed to be a very fair plan that would allow a limited expansion in exchange for strong safety measures. The key components of the plan included addressing the enormous risks associated with the older areas of the landfill, creating a true perpetual care fund, elimination of direct disposal waste streams like PCBs, and closure of the waste processing facility. There were other conditions in the plan which our group was prepared to negotiate on, if these key items were addressed to our satisfaction.

Over the last month we've met twice with PDC for informational meetings. These meetings were critical for us to gain a more complete understanding of the issues being discussed with the county. In lieu of a public meeting, the meetings were transcribed and posted on our website to make the entire process transparent to the community.

I have to say, our group has been grateful for PDC's willingness to answer our questions. These questions arose during the original expansion hearings and went unanswered in that process. For example, PDC provided scant evidence or testimony about their operational procedures for two critical waste streams – MGP and the toxic regulated substance known as PCBs. Through our independent investigation we learned that these were huge issues, and so we requested informational meetings to fill in the gaps that had been left open by PDC in the hearing process.

I want to particularly acknowledge Chris Coulter and Ron Edwards, as well as Brian McGinnis who spent a great deal of time with us answering our questions.

Peoria Families took a bold step in our original proposal, which was introduced only after the County began negotiations, in an attempt to find a solution that would work for all parties. We’ve been very clear and transparent about what we believe would safe and protective of the environment and of the community, while adding significant protections for the older legacy areas of the facility. Despite our best good faith efforts, some citizens are appalled at the idea of negotiating with PDC and would prefer to see the landfill closed down as soon as possible. Recently, the Sierra Club bowed out of settlement discussions with PDC and the county, which left us and the medical community as the sole hope for finding a settlement that would bridge the huge gap between citizen groups and the deal the County negotiated with PDC.

We learned Tuesday that our key issues of direct disposal wastes, legacy area remediation, perpetual care, waste stabilization facility and the role of the environmental committee have not been properly addressed in the current PDC proposal. We also learned that the plan has a lot of loopholes that pose a great risk to the community.

Despite the huge divide between our February proposal and the current state of PDC’s proposal, we felt it was worthwhile to pursue further discussions to see if a protective plan could be brokered. We had authorized our attorney, Dave Wentworth to schedule another meeting with PDC and the county.

This morning we learned that the medical community has determined that the wide gaps between our protective proposal and the one the County has brokered with PDC cannot be bridged and therefore they have withdrawn support for further negotiations. We also know that each of you were sent a letter this morning from a key OSF medical group which expressed that they cannot support an expansion in light of new information that’s come to light. Given the medical community’s and Sierra Club’s current stance, we do not see much hope for a global settlement at this time.

It shouldn’t come to anyone’s surprise that we have always supported this Board’s “NO” vote from last year and our efforts to have a voice in negotiations to ensure a highly protective plan are not at all in conflict with our full support of the board’s NO vote. We have always been clear that we can never support a compromise that doesn’t allow for complete protection of the community….and that simply doesn’t exist now, and is not likely to emerge given the huge gap in terms, and due to the lack of support from key community groups.

In the unlikely event that this case is remanded by the Illinois Pollution Control Board we respectfully ask that the County Board consider us full participants in any future settlement discussions should they occur.

We respect and appreciate the time that PDC, the county, the staff, the medical community and our members have put into this effort to date. Peoria Families, in partnership with Sierra Club, the medical community and hopefully the many other community groups who care about this issue, will obviously continue our efforts, and partner with you, as long as it takes to see this issue through to ensure our environment and our community is as safe as it can be for future generations.

Thank you for your time tonight."

In 2006, in response to Peoria Disposal Company's application to expand their hazardous waste landfill on the edge of Peoria, Peoria Families Against Toxic Waste and Heart of Illinois Sierra Club launched a successful grassroots effort that was fueled by strong community support and the medical staff from all three Peoria hospitals. From the start, we spent a considerable amount of time conducting research and educating ourselves and the public on the facts and issues involved. Our commitment to a healthier community compelled us to consult with experts, participate in public hearings, testify at depositions, request FOIA documents and even present our case to the IEPA. With nothing to gain financially, ordinary citizens from diverse backgrounds devoted countless hours and funds to the cause.

While we were heartened by the Peoria County Board's rejection of PDC's expansion application, we had come to understand that even if PDC's appeal and other attempts to prolong the operation of the landfill all failed—even if PDC's hazardous waste landfill were to close their doors tomorrow—the landfill as it currently exists still presents a significant threat to the long-term health and safety of Peoria and surrounding communities.

We began to direct our energies to finding a solution to the problem of the several decades of hazardous waste already deposited, much of it in minimally lined or even completely unlined pits, upwind of Peoria and atop the Sankoty Aquifer system. We also wanted to find a way to ensure that the landfill would be well and truly monitored and maintained, not just for 30 or 100 years, but in perpetuity: a true perpetual care fund.

Our extensive research and discussion into these and other issues have culminated in the proposal we presented to Peoria County and Peoria Disposal Company on Friday, February 23. The conditions in our proposal go far beyond any recommendations yet considered. Each directly addresses a key issue that will ensure a healthier and safer environment for generations to come.  We believe it's a fair proposal that provides PDC with a clear choice to do the right thing for Peoria County, and also affords them the opportunity to run a profitable business.  We cannot in good conscience settle for any solution that does not decisively address the key issues identified through our extensive research and targeted by this proposal.

Proposal

Public comment. As dates are announced, we will update this site to publicize opportunities for you to voice your opinion. See the "4 Fronts" chart for other actions you can take to promote opportunities for public input.

Attend upcoming meetings. As dates are announced, we will update this site to announce any public meetings regarding the important issues outlined above.

Spread the word. Many people in Peoria County are still not aware this hazardous waste landfill exists. Email, phone and talk to your friends and neighbors. Let them know about this threat to our health and natural resources. Encourage them to get involved.

Donate. This fight does not come cheap. Donations go toward environmental expert fees, attorney fees and materials to educate the public. Checks can be made payable to Peoria Families Against Toxic Waste and dropped off at any South Side Bank location or mailed to 119 SW Adams Street, Peoria, IL 61602. Or donate online:

Our Summary of Evidence

Fred Lee PhD Report on PDC

EPA Booklet

Bill Rutherford's Letter to County Board

Milestone Dates Submitted by the IEPA

Facility Issues

FAQ