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Life
Safety Commission
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Captain
Mike McElroy, Chairman
Adele Benck, Commissioner
Susan Cascio-Villalovos, Commissioner
Theresa Cislak, Commissioner
Wayne Demonbreun, Commissioner
Gene Myers, Commissioner
Trustee Mary Rhein, Liaison |
Visit
the Lucas Berg Mission Site
(just
click above)
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The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has
proposed to carry out dredging of sediments
from the Indiana Harbor and Canal (IHC) to allow
its continued use as a navigable waterway. Some
of these sediments are contaminated by toxic
chemicals,
including polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), polycylclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy
metals.
The principal source of sediment and sediment contamination
is due to combined sewer
overflows, municipal and
industrial discharge,
and urban runoff. Because of the contamination
in the sediments, U.S. EPA
has examined, and is continuing to examine, the
environmental impacts of the project, particularly
the risks to people and the environment. (
The Midwest Hazardous Substance Research Center,
Michigan
State
University )
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Recent
Developments
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Visit
Our
Protect Our Streams Flyer! |
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Pictured
is Cook County Commissioner Joan Patricia
Murphy, Mayor Randy Keller, Trustee Mary
Rhein and "Capt." Mike McElroy.
The Commissioner presented us with a
resolution indicating the County's support
for the Village's opposition to the Army
Corps use of the Lucas Berg Nature Preserve
for a hazardous canal-dredgings dump.
Thank you Commissioner Murphy for sponsoring
this resolution!
The resolution was adopted by the Cook County Board in August and will send another
strong message to those who hold Lucas Berg's fate in their hands. The message
is NO TOXIC DREDGINGS, AND NOT IN OUR TOWN! |
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Worth
moves to keep sludge from Cal-Sag out
of local lake Prepped in the 1980s to take sludge,
Lucas Berg lake site still undergoing
safety study
July 23, 2010|By Janice Neumann,
Special
to the Tribune |
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This
is a video that was put together by
a Northwestern University
student about the CITO ( Cash In Trash
Out ) before the Cacheapoloza event
in Worth. A CITO is where geocachers
get together and clean up an area before
treasure hunting.
It
features some familiar faces and places
in Worth.
You
can even see
some of our volunteers in Nicor shirts
cleaning
up!
Designed by Nolan Feeney. Copyright
2010. |
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If
dredgings from the Cal-Sag Channel are placed
in Lucas Berg Nature Preserve,
How will it affect you?
What YOU can
do to help:
Meetings
are open to the public
and are every 3rd Wednesday at the Village Hall at 7pm.
History |
The
Life Safety Commission was formed in 2005 by
the Village Board to provide information, guidance
and research for the residents. The goal of the
committee is to prevent the Army Corps of Engineers
from using the Pit as a repository for maintenance
dredgings from the Illinois Waterways.
The Lucas Berg Nature Preserve is located at 7600 W 111th
Street in Worth and comprised of 74 acres. Approximately
90% of the pit lies in the Village of Worth. The pit was
a source of sand and gravel industry for many years until
the early 1970s. Later, a conditional permit for the pit
to be used as a garbage dump was obtained from a landfill
operator but the village was spared the landfill through
the actions of citizens and local groups. The Worth Park
District and Village Board in coordination with the Army
Corps of Engineers requested the MWRD purchase the land
so it may be filled with maintenance dredgings from the
canal. This alternative for a landfill would provide for
land to be used for parks and recreations once the pit
was full. A through understand of the nature of chemistry
of the dredgings was not known at the time. The Village
was let to believe that this would be "Good Clean
Fill." Some modifications to the pit, including an
installation of a clay liner, pumping tower and sanitary
sewer took place prior to the operation. The pit has not
been used until now.
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Mission
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The
goals of the Life safety Committee are.
1) To ENSURE that the area known as the Lucas Berg Nature
Preserve is not utilized by the US Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) as a repository for contaminated dredge material
from the Cal Sag project and premote its removal from the
USACE's list of placement property forever.
2) To PROTECT the fragile ecosystem, flaura and fauna that
have since developed at Lucas Berg after 30 years of neglect
by the USACE. The Lucas Berg hosts an abundance of fish
and wildlife in a wetland that are currently not protected
or recognized by the USACE, they will certainly be destroyed
should we fail.
3) To PROTECT the safety of the people of the Village of
Worth by insisting to the USACE that all protective measures
and tools be included in the analysis of this site for
use ,while exposing the chemical and biological dangers
that contaminants will pose. We insist on the highest level
of testing, protections and scientific research.
4) To COMMUNICATE our findings and research with the Worth
Village Board and community, suggest courses of action
and lobby the USACE for the release of Lucas Berg from
the site selection process.
5) To SUGGEST alternate locations and processes ,further
away from populated areas, to the USACE in an effort to
lessen the possibility of Lucas Berg being selected.
6) To PARTNER with local and federal political representation,
suggest legislation, and promote the use of Lucas Berg
for recreational, environmental and aestitically pleasing
activities open to all people to enjoy.
7) To ACT as stewards of this beautiful land, seek out
grants, appropriations and funding that will be used to
promote ecology and environmental science within the preserve
upon our success.
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For
the most current up to date information
Visit us at:
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Loss
in your property’s value,