Alt Title

Department of Geography

Publication Date

1981

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Bowden, Kenneth Lester

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Geography

LCSH

Hazardous wastes--Law and legislation--Illinois; Pollution--Law and legislation--Illinois

Abstract

The Illinois laws and regulations which pertain to hazardous waste handling and disposal are not necessarily strong enough to prevent illegal facilities from operating. In fact, the regulations which are currently in effect are quite recent in origin. Proposed state regulations on hazardous waste will not close all of the loopholes in the current statutes. James and Abner Cross operated a drum and pail reclaiming facility in Pembroke Township, Kankakee County, Illinois, from 1961 to 1980. The method of operation, employed by the Cross Brothers, caused a large volume of hazardous waste to be illegally dumped on the ground. The unregulated operation of the facility has resulted in significant contamination of the shallow aquifer adjacent to the site. The site is now closed as a result of legal action by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. However, it operated in an unregulated atmosphere many years after the Agency was created, and for several years following the adoption of various hazardous waste regulations and programs. The site was discovered by accident, after much environmental degradation had occurred. The current state hazardous waste program did not lead investigators to the site. The proposed state regulations which pertain to the reclaiming of "empty" drums will allow facilities, similar to the Cross Brothers' site, to operate unregulated and undetected. Without certain changes, the Environmental Protection Agency may find these sites only after it is too late.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

2, v, 74 pages, 6 unnumbered pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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