A bill aimed at protecting the Mahomet Aquifer from hazardous chemicals has been introduced in the Illinois House. Urbana Democrat Carol Ammons’ measure would bar landfills from accepting PCB waste or specified levels of manufactured gas plant waste, if their runoff goes into the Mahomet Aquifer.
Although it’s not named in the legislation, the ban would affect Peoria Disposal’s Clinton Landfill in DeWitt County. That landfill is seeking federal EPA approval to accept PCB’s, and has accepted manufactured gas plant waste in the past.
Former Governor Pat Quinn instituted a ban on the practice last year, but Ammons says she can’t count on Governor Bruce Rauner to continue those bans.
Ammons says protecting the Mahomet Aquifer, which provides water to much of central Illinois, is critical.
“We are really concerned about the contamination issue for this water. This is not just about Champaign-Urbana. This is a multi-jurisdictional issue. And many communities are on board with us, moving forward on the ban.”
The measure’s co-sponsors include three from the part of central Illinois served by the Mahomet Aquifer: Republicans Chad Hays, Adam Brown and Bill Mitchell. Ammons is also sponsoring a House resolution asking the US Environmental Protection Agency to grant “sole source” designation to the Mahomet Aquifer. Such a move would designate federal reviews of any federally funded projects that might endanger the aquifer.