U.S. rejects challenge to Robbins incinerator

The federal government apparently has cleared the way for anincinerator in south suburban Robbins that could take 1,600 tons ofgarbage a day.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rejected an appeal toorder reconsideration of the $275 million project. The appeal hadbeen filed by the Illinois attorney general's office.

Construction could begin in six to nine months and will takethree years to complete, said the developer, Reading Energy Co.

However, Reading still must obtain financing and negotiategarbage contracts with south suburbs. And environmental groupsoppose the project.

The Illinois EPA last year issued a permit for the incinerator.Then-Attorney General Neil Hartigan asked the U.S. EPA to order thestate EPA to reconsider the permit.

Hartigan said the state permit, which would allow theincinerator to release up to 2.2 tons a year of toxic mercury, is nottough enough. Mercury builds up in the food chain, and animal testshave linked it to birth disorders and nervous system damage.

In turning down Hartigan's appeal, U.S. EPA AdministratorWilliam Reilly said his agency does not have the authority toregulate mercury emissions. Reilly said "it would not beappropriate" to second-guess the state's regulation.

Attorney General Roland Burris, who replaced Hartigan inJanuary, is studying Reilly's ruling and has not decided whether toappeal further, a spokeswoman said.

Reading Energy has said pollution from the incinerator's375-foot stack would disperse safely in the air. At ground level,mercury concentrations would be less than 1 trillionth of an ounceper cubic foot of air, the company said.

The 17-member South Suburban Solid Waste Agency is preparing tonegotiate a long-term garbage incineration contract with ReadingEnergy. Environmental groups said they will pressure municipalitiesto pull out of the agency before the contract becomes final.

"We're going to show (municipalities) that the long-termfinancial and environmental risks are tremendous," said Jeff Tangelof the South Cook County Environmental Action Coalition.