A local organization is planning to take action against Champaign if the city does not address the group’s environmental concerns.
The Champaign County Health Care Consumers, or CCHCC, intended to file a lawsuit against the city because an uncovered pipe was found to discharge coal tar into Boneyard Creek.
The pipe was originally used to dump the toxic chemicals into the creek by a manufactured gas plant, which is no longer in operation.
“150 years of dumping coal into the creek has taken its toll,” said Grant Antoline, community organizer for CCHCC.
“These chemicals are extremely serious and (can) cause a variety of life threatening illnesses that are not to be taken lightly.”
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Recently, the CCHCC has opened up its own investigation after the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the city of Champaign refused to look further into the complaint.
Claudia Lennhoff, CCHCC Executive Director, said Champaign has now addressed the problem in order to avoid a lawsuit.
“We are pleased with the city’s response. What they are going to do is that they are going to excavate at the pipe outlet and going to remove one or two of the pipe sections.
“They will also clog the pipe end with concrete,” she said.
However, the CCHCC has requested additional action, such as personnel on the worksite and that excavated materials are tested.
If those demands are met accordingly, the CCHCC does not intend to file a lawsuit, Lennhoff said.
Champaign resident Ebbye Cook said this issue affects numerous people as the creek runs through Champaign-Urbana.
“It probably affects people all the way across town from Champaign to Urbana through campus, University and where ever the Boneyard goes to,” he said.
Assistant Champaign Attorney Joseph Hooker said, in a letter to the CCHCC dated April 5, that based on the city staff’s assessment of the pipe, Champaign believes the Boneyard Creek is not a problem.
Eleanor Blackmon, assistant Champaign engineer for the environmental section, said that it is not possible for toxic chemicals to spew out since the pipes have not been in recent use.
“I don’t see how (spewing toxic chemicals) is possible since after the pipe is filled and the dirt is dry and has been dry after our reinspection,” Blackmon said.
However Lennhoff said that she disagreed with the city of Champaign’s position.
“This is why we have the laws like the Clean Water Act. When you have no recourse to get the responsible parties to do the right thing, you can depend on the law,” Lennhoff said.
