Congressman Lipinski Works to Prevent Dumping in Lucas-Berg Pit

Lipinski Seeks Alternative Site for Channel Dredgings

CHICAGO- Today, Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-03), pictured above, brought to the table the Rock Island Army Corps of Engineers, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), and the Mayor of Worth, Ed Gudziol at the Worth Village Hall to discuss possible alternatives to dumping dredged material into the Lucas-Berg pit. As community concerns grow in Worth, Lipinski continues to push these key players to seek a new location for the Cal-Sag Channel dredgings.

"My goal is to find an alternate location so that we can prevent the dredgings from being dumped into this pit and this community," Lipinski said. "We are working with the Army Corps and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to seek another site for this project."

According to federal law, MWRD must furnish a different site for the Army Corps in order for Lucas-Berg not to be used. At the meeting Congressman Lipinski asked Terry O'Brien, President of MWRD, to look into possible alternative sites.

"We would be happy to look in to feasible sites as alternatives to Lucas-Berg," said O'Brien. "There are limitations-MWRD can only facilitate a new site based on the land we currently own, there are fiscal restraints, and legal commitments to be met as well. "

The Lucas-Berg Confined Dredged Disposal Facility (CDF) was constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers in the early 1980s for the dumping of dredgings from the Cal-Sag Channel about 1200 feet from the pit in the heart of Worth.

"This project was started back in 1977 and the facility has remained unused for nearly thirty years now," continued Lipinski. "The fencing is continuously cut away, maintenance is increasing, and the environmental impact has yet to be determined in the last three decades, all of which should be concerns for both the community and the Corps."

In Washington, Congressman Lipinski met personally with Steve Stockton, Deputy Director for the Army Corps and Zoltan Montvai, the Deputy Chief of the Mississippi Valley Division of the Army Corps as well as Terry O'Brien, President of MWRD and Jack Farnan, Superintendent of MWRD to address the problems with Lucas-Berg and the avenues which to pursue.

"The Army Corps, MWRD, and the Mayor have all been team players," stated Lipinski. "I believe everyone wants the best for Worth. I am very happy to bring everyone to the plate to focus on all the alternatives."