Hearing officer approves Winnebago County landfill expansion
By: Marty Kasper
Updated: June 21, 2012
The expansion of the Winnebago County
Landfill is one step closer to becoming reality after a hearing officer
recommends the county board approve the proposed expansion.
A hearing officer has gone over all
testimony given by residents as well as the parties named in the expansion
process and stated he believes Rock River Environmental Services, the company
the owns the landfill, is in compliance with all the criteria needed to be
approved.
That means there is a need for waste
removal, the facility protects public health and safety, minimizes the effects
on surrounding property and operational danger, there is minimal effect on
traffic flow, there is an emergency response for hazardous waste, the landfill
is consistent with the county's waste management plan, and all requirements are
met if the landfill is in a water recharge area.
The hearing officer states while
there was substantial public comment received in opposition to the expansion,
it did not substantially overcome the competent, authentic and relevant
evidence on record that demonstrated the facility met each of the nine criteria.
A
recommendation Rock River Environmental Services president and CEO John Lichty
says he is grateful for, but that his efforts to enhance the quality of life
for people around the landfill go beyond the nine criteria.
"It has some intangible things
that go along with it, which even though it's not a health hazard, there's a
quality of life issue that goes along with that and we don't want to have a
negative impact on people that way," said Lichty.
The Winnebago County Board will first consider the expansion at their June 28th meeting and will likely vote on it at their July 12th meeting.
