“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.”

Samuel Adams

Sunday, December 07, 2014

Sand company attorney responds to IEPA violations

Sand company attorney responds to IEPA violations

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

These 2 articles are definitely worth reading and then one should attend the Wed. 6:30 meeting with regards to Northern White Sand coming to our community. We need to become involved, informed, and ready to ask questions. Just my opinion so we aren't upset when possibly in the future we have similar problems like Utica residents have had.

Anonymous said...

What is concerning is that this company has shown a pattern of minimizing environmental issues, acting only when forced, making promises that have not been kept (according to neighbors).

Basically, "if you think I am doing something wrong sue me." That kind of attitude.

They remind me of a certain local municipality.

No wonder they paired up and pushed things through in secret, i mean closed, session.

Anonymous said...

7:16, where did the quote come from? I don't see it in the article. Are you making it up? As far as the issue goes, it sounds to me like they where operating within standards. The "rules" allow exceptions for periods of high wind. The company followed the rules. The problem is with the IEPA, not the company.
Furthermore, it is a sand mine. What the heck to you expect? I suppose we would all be better off if we just sold corn dogs to elite tourists from Chicago during the summer and lived on welfare during the winter. No thanks! We can put up with a little blowing sand in exchange for real jobs.

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:18 AM You are minimizing the problem to obtain what you consider real jobs and others consider unhealthy occupations and creation of a unsafe envirnoment.
"IF THE BYPRODUCT OF THE PRODUCT IS NO GOOD THAN THE PRODUCT IS NO GOOD"

Anonymous said...

10:02 - NIMBY. I am in no way minimalizing it. If you are concerned, lobby the state to make the rules stricter. Don't blame the company for following them.

Anonymous said...

By the way - the product is good and it is indispensable.

Anonymous said...

The case is pretty strong by the IEPA. the knee jerk reaction to say the company is allowed variance ignores their production increase and higher stacking of sand. Read the the damn allegation before you just say, they are good, IEPA is bad. Believe me, the IEPA is understaffed and very slow to respond to anything unless its serious. This is not rocket science, nor is it a case where new stricter rules are needed. Its simple Clean Air Act fugitive emmissions.

Not just here but in other locations , this company has had issues with neighbors. Other big chemical companies, some around here, have less issues and violations. It is a fine particulate and needs to be handled correctly because it will cause both physical damage to nearby cars, businesses and homes as well as potential long term health risks. If you want the property values around here to plummet like the industrial south side Chicago, just keep approving air and water polluters blindly so you can get jobs.
Short sided as always. Use the buzz words, ...a little sand, NIMBY, selling corn dogs. You are oversimplyfying just like the sand company attorney hoped. Bunch of passive rubes around Peru who bow before the leaders and assume they are keeping us safe.

And the increased cost of sand now for good uses, as opposed to the questionable and long term risk of fracking, so you can have your cheap gas for a decade more, is not necessarily a good thing.

Its a bad business and a bad location. Period.

Anonymous said...

The country absolutely needs this product - it is a vital national resource used to fulfill our energy needs! If different rules are needed, have the state put them in place. We don't need local yokels trying to prevent business. Attitudes like this are exactly why Illinois is last in the Midwest for Business Climate. It is also why LaSalle County is so underdeveloped!
We need changes and we need them at the County Board level. We made some gains by taking Hicks's board seat away - next election we need to boot him out of the chairman's seat!

Right to Work in Illinois in 2015!

Anonymous said...

Mr. 10:02, why do Liberals like you hate poor people? It is true you know - you hate poor people and want to prevent them from getting a good job. You don't want work like this around here because you don't want to see actual working people make a good wage doing an honest days work. Instead, you want to drive their employers away because you don't like things that look messy. My advice to you is buy a broom!

Anonymous said...

Oh my god people! Do you want to create jobs at the possible risk of polluting the air with particulates that make people die! Are jobs more important to you than people's lives? What some of us are trying to point out is don't jump into something without all the facts. Sure we'd like more jobs but let's make sure rules are followed and safety is #1. From previous experiences we should want our government to make sure the same mistakes are not made here that were made elsewhere with these kinds of businesses. And, if these are honest, safe, and secure companies why was this business venture kept under lock and key until now?

Anonymous said...

Mr 9:38 I am HARDLY liberal. I worked for the Industrial Chemical industry for 25 years. I like jobs.
But I am telling you this company needs a kink in the #ss, and the non "liberal" busniess next to it is going to need to make DAMN sure every T is crossed and I dotted.

I do not understand why anyone who knows there IS a clean water act or Air Pollution regs is considered liberal around here. God give me someone to debate with who IS a actually conservative with a brain, and not just some boot licking. Perucrat.

Anonymous said...

Mr. 11:15 is using a tried and true liberal progressive tactic of stating false credentials to buy credibility. He or She is probably a tree hugging elitist that owns so property around a mine and now has sower grapes.

10:42, if you are that concerned buy a mask and a broom. But it is not like you describe. You are falling for the tree hugger propaganda.

Anonymous said...

yah,, and we got global warming going on to. I'm getting tired of liberals holding back progress and spreading false claims about health issues, getting people all worked up over nothing.

Anonymous said...

just saying.... but he farms around here blow a heck of a lot more dust in the spring and fall. Just as bad for you and often laced with pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer.

Anonymous said...

and what about the crop dusters???? Dive bombing fields close by populated areas.

Anonymous said...

Liberal false credential tactic? Cmon. You dont need to have extreme credentials to READ THE IEPA statement of violation. All you have to do is review the Company History.

I spent a lot of my time COMPLYING with those laws on the other side. You are the one who gets tiresome, crying Liberal Liberal to anyone who points out that not every Industry or business should be welcomed blindly, with arms wide open and eyes wide SHUT. Get a broom and a mask, really? who in the hell can take someone like you seriously.

Anonymous said...

Mark one down for corn dogs I guess. He is probably a retired state worker so he is not worried about making rent.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if the radium ladies from Ottawa would prefer to have a job or live?

Anonymous said...

7:27 - oh come on! you are blowing this out of proportion. The farmers around here create more of a health hazard than the sand companies.
One thing is perfectly clear to me. There is a large contingent of people in LaSalle county that want only two industries. Tourism and farming.
The Tourism Faction makes their living in accommodations, retail, and entertainment. None of these industries can employ enough people at a high enough wage to make a difference. Only the owners gain from these types of business.
The Farming Faction make their money by growing corn for ethanol. In essence, they grow fuel. They like cheep land with cheep taxes - therefore they hate any kind of development that could raise property values. They also hide behind agriculture subsidies and tax benefits and DO NOT PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES. Agriculture is strangling local taxing bodies. The type of farming in La Salle County also does not employ many people. Again, only the owners benefit - and the tax payers usually loose.
So, we got thee two Factions spreading all kinds of hate and discontent about an industry that can employ a substantial number of people - thus generating taxes - and will pay higher property taxes than agriculture. They will contribute to the community in more ways than festivals and events which, unless you have money, don't amount to a hill of beans to the average person in LaSalle County that is trying to feed a family and pay a mortgage.
Mining is here to stay - not just sand but other minerals also. Coal will come back, limestone will come back. These minerals need to be transported, therefore loading facilities are required - employing more people. These facilities use automation and IT equipment - employing more people. These facilities need security - employing more people. All these people spend money and buy homes - financing our government - employing more people.
So it is time to tell the Tourist and Agriculture Cabal that they are not going to be allowed to continue their strangle hold on the Illinois Valley.

Anonymous said...

8:48 Nobody is disagreeing with you, even us alleged liberals who have voted republican and worked in the Industrial Chemistry industry for decades.

But this is NOT being blown out of proportion. I am trying to give it a little proportion. This company, this one, not the fracking industry or all good conservative heavy industry, has issues. We need to lock them down hard on local regulation above and beyond fugitive emmissions.

The ONLY leverage you have is now, to make sure its safe, not a nuisance, and to have authority to inspect, shut down, etc. Rolling over like puppies just because they promise 80 jobs, most of which will NOT necessarily come from here as I understand it, is just stupid. Not Liberal. Not Conservative. Stupid.

Anonymous said...

STUPID is the correct termnology.