Dump the Dumpers: Illinois EPA Getting Serious

By JoshMogerman in News on Jan 9, 2011 8:00PM

The Illinois EPA is starting to get serious about fly dumpers (and before you start thinking this is something freaky, we are talking about folks illegally disposing of waste and debris). Frankly, we are psyched to see it. Chicagoland doesn’t exactly have a proud history of cleaning up its messes and a million dollar clean up of what could be the biggest illegal dump in the State’s history shows that the problem persists today. But news that a clouted figure in Markham is facing prosecution after being busted, once again, dumping construction waste is a promising sign.

The Trib details the case of “chronic” environmental regulations violator Jim Bracken, who has been cited at least nine times in the last two years for an array of dumping issues. The article notes how remarkable it is for anyone to be busted in these cases. For example, the IEPA’s massive cleanup site was only uncovered when a tire fire broke out last year. When the fire was extinguished, officials found:

A secluded 12-acre property near 159th Street and Dixie Highway in Markham was found to contain more than 56,000 tires, 10,000 tons of construction debris and household garbage, about 40 damaged boat hulls, auto parts and drums of unknown liquids. State officials said the property may have been operating as an unlicensed dump for decades.

Is it a coincidence that Bracken’s bust and the giant dump are both in Markham? We don’t pretend to know, but we are glad to read that the City of Chicago is rethinking a $6 million contract it recently awarded to his company for waste hauling after hearing about the most recent incident. This sort of thing is hugely problematic for the broader community. Beyond being an eyesore, there can be a significant health threat when an array of ugly chemicals and toxins leach from these sites into groundwater.

The City of Chicago shares our frustration with this problem. The Department of Public Health asks that you call 911 if you see illegal dumping going on and offers rewards for information that leads to convictions. Keep your eyes peeled folks!