Champaign Officials Host Public Meeting On Mahomet Aquifer

Champaign city officials hope to clear up misconceptions about a proposal to store PCB’s at the Clinton Landfill, with a public “summit meeting” Saturday.

Peoria Disposal’s proposal to store the PCB’s above the Mahomet Aquifer has raised concerns among many area officials.

Speakers at the summit will include Champaign hydrologist Al Wehrman. 

He said he’s encouraged by recent federal EPA hearings over a proposal to designate the Mahomet Aquifer as a ‘sole source aquifer’, which would add a new layer of review and protection to a primary source of drinking water over 14 counties.

“I didn’t hear any kind of negative argument, or technical argument that it should not be designated," he said.  "And so I think right now, they’re probably just going through all the comments, and making sure all the I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed.”

Meanwhile, Champaign Assistant City Attorney Joe Hooker plans to provide an update on a lawsuit filed by several area cities to block Peoria Disposal’s PCB storage plan.  He says it could be several months before a decision is reached.

The summit on the Mahomet Aquifer is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Champaign Public Library.