POWER is an all volunteer 501c3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to increase the awareness of the public and government officials on environmental hazards including those pertaining to landfills.

This will include promoting the use of new and evolving non-polluting technologies that use society's waste to produce low cost energy and helping local citizens fund their need for professional services relating to environment issues.


Funding: All donations to POWER are tax deductible. POWER also does various fund raisers.

Volunteers: POWER welcomes anyone who can volunteer to help in any way.

Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 PM at Romer Bakery A Piece A Cake located at 200 N. Washington, Bradley. Everyone is welcome.

Board

Director and President
Ruth Romer Bradley

Director and Vice-President:
Amy Ciaccio-Jarvis Kankakee

Director and Secretary:
Andrea Taylor St. Anne

Director and Treasurer:
Anita (Carol) Taylor Kankakee

Director:
Marc LaFond Kankakee

Why are citizens groups like POWER so adamantly opposed to the two proposed landfill sites in Kankakee County?

1)The Kankakee River is the source of the metro area water supply and the water supply of other county communities, as well as the future water source for communities outside Kankakee County.

2)The proposed landfills are to be situated alongside or over the the aquifer which feeds the River as well as the private wells for hundreds of square miles.

3)All landfills will leak toxic leachate containing highly toxic organic volatile chemicals which cause such serious human afflictions as cancer, birth defects, heart disease, respiratory diseases. and other debilitating and fatal diseases.

4)The Illinois State Geological Survey has judged the two sites proposed by the City of Kankakee and the County of Kankakee as two of the least desirable sites in the County for landfills. The sites are a direct threats to contaminate the River and our water supply.
See full report of the Illinois State Geological Survey

5)The County’s own Solid Waste Management Plan prohibits the siting of landfills on or near aquifers which supply major sources of water: ”Groundwater Geology. The protection of the groundwater is one of the primary concerns of siting a landfill. A site should not be located above or near a groundwater recharge zone or a heavily used water supply aquifer. Pg. 330 County Solid Waste Management Plan”

And yet Waste Management is proposing a landfill directly above the major water source aquifer. Testimony from the 2003 hearings:
Keith Runyon questions expert witness, hydrogeologist, Chuck Norris.
(Q) “is the proposed landfill juxtaposed above or near that regional aquifer?
(A) “NO, it is being constructed , installed directly above it”

6)The City of Kankakee Dump site is proposed to be located right beside Minnie Creek and excavated down tnto the aquifer that supplys our water. Town and Country operator Tom Volini contributed $5000 dollars to Gov. Blagojevich’s election campaign. It is doubtful is any independent hydro geologists would approve this site for dumping. This just goes to show how science can be trumped with campaign dollars.
Conclusion: The City and the County have decided to reap short term rewards from toxic dumps-while totally ignoring the longer term disastrous effects those dumps will wreak on this county’s residents.

The EPA tells us that all landfills will leak-it’s not a matter if but of when. What will those leaks do to our health as they find their way into our water supply? Please refer to Landfill Manual.