Document oegYzbwQdVxB8aLdgEzww7Me7

August 16, 1978 From: To: G. F. Barton L. A. Miller - B3SA E. T. Mollies - B3SA R. S. Nelson - B3NJ R. A. StOhr - B2SC J. C. Weber - B2SK D. Wood - B2SD FYI |0? Unit of SCA Services Is Told It Must Close Toxic Waste Dump ' Tiny Illinois Community Grts Court Ruling Against Site, One of Largest in Nation TH*L"iAIL 29vrKEE7 JOURNAL. __ Wednesday. An;. 16. I97S CARLINVILLE. III. I API-The 700 real denis of Wilsonvtlle. 111., Joined by the state's top lawyer, won a round In a legal battle to rid themselves of one o( the na tion's biggest dumping sites for toxie indus trial wastes. . A circuit court judge ruled in a year-old fight between the southwestern Illinois com munity and Earthline Corp., owner of a 130acrc waste disposal site 40 miles northeast of St. Louis. Earthline is a subsidiary of Boston-based SCA Services Inc. Judge John Russell, calling the disposal site a public and private nuisance, ruled that Earthline must close the site and cart away (he dangerous liquids and solids it lias stored there since November 1970. Judge Russell's opinion didn't include an order closing Hie site but he directed attorneys in the case to draw one up for his signature. He said the site menaces residents because metal containers of wastes could decom pose, possibly in a few years. Judge Russell also ruled that Earthline didn't "show good faith and misled the com munity of Wilsonvillc ami officials of Macou pin County" about the identities of wastes to be burled. Stuart Ifobbs. a lawyer for Earth line, said Judge Russell s ruling contained "harsh language" and added that Earthline maintains the storage drams will las*, for centuries. Mr. Dobbs said the concern will appeal any closure order. Slate Attorney General William Scott called the ruling a legal landmark. He said it will force corporations to take a second look at the long-term dangers of storing cor rosive. toxic or cancer-causing chemicals and wastes near populated areas. He said chemicals at the site include mercury; an- pesticides. ' "*"TJp*T5' 1.000 hazanJous waste sites are being operated in the U.S., with several of the largest in Illinois. Critics charge that storage containers corrode and leak their contents into the air or water. Dlsj-osal firms argue that they select geologically suitable sites and take precautions against leaks, seepages or mixing of chemicals. HONS 003030