HR0655 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0655 LRB096 14999 GRL 29923 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The United States Army Corps of Engineers constructed the Lucas-Berg Confined Dredged Material Disposal Facility in the early 1980s with the intention of dumping sediments dredged from the Cal-Sag Channel about 1,200 feet into the Lucas-Berg Pit in the Village of Worth; and

WHEREAS, The Lucas-Berg Pit is located in an area surrounded by schools, churches, homes, public transportation, food establishments, and housing for the elderly; and

WHEREAS, Previous studies of dredged sedimentary materials from the Cal-Sag Channel found that the dredged materials contained dangerous levels of toxins; and

WHEREAS, The dumping of these dredged sedimentary materials into the Lucas-Berg Pit would settle in proximity to groundwater and pose a potential hazard to the air and drinking water of the community; and

WHEREAS, The dumping of dangerous dredged sedimentary materials into the Lucas-Berg Pit poses a threat to the Village of Worth and its residents due to the possibility of causing serious illnesses, including mercury poisoning, lead poisoning, anemia, brain damage, birth defects, kidney dysfunction, and lung impairments; and

WHEREAS, Previous studies regarding the Lucas-Berg Pit were used to defeat attempts by the United States Army Corps of Engineers from disposing the dredged sedimentary materials into the pit; and

WHEREAS, A new study conducted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers has identified 20 potential alternative sites that could replace the Lucas-Berg Confined Placement Facility; and

WHEREAS, New attempts by the United States Army Corps of Engineers have been initiated to dispose of 17,250 cubic yards of contaminated sediment per year from the Cal-Sag Channel into the Lucas-Berg Pit; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we state our opposition to the use of the Lucas-Berg Confined Dredged Material Disposal Facility and the dumping of dredged sedimentary materials into the Lucas-Berg Pit due to the threat to human life and safety in the surrounding area; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Army Corps of Engineers to find an alternative, safe resting site for sediments dredged from the Cal-Sag Channel; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the Village of Worth.