News|TT developer rejected

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has rejected Western Springs One LLC in their bid to receive a no further remediation letter. The development company which is looking to develop the old Timber Trails golf course submitted a report on two sections of their development to gain approval from the IEPA. A report sent to the development company by the IEPA highlights elevated levels of arsenic in the soil as well as other contaminants in nearby ground water including manganese and lead. IEPA Project Manager Todd Hall said that the development company is committed to the process and the IEPA will wait for the company’s response to the comments included in his letter to the company. Hall added that this first rejection is not uncommon and that they are working on a solution with Western Springs One. IEPA Community Relations Coordinator Stan Black said that although the NFR is not a law it does make lending more comfortable for lending institutions. Black said that it is more comfortable because the letter basically says that the site does not pose a risk for public health or the environment. Meanwhile, Save the Timber Attorney Ellen Raymond said that her concerns were with a possible air contamination if arsenic were released from the soil. Raymond said that “when you dig to put a foundation you dislodge the contamination and put it in the air.” Hall said that the development company has air monitors out at the site to ensure that the air quality met health based standards and that arsenic had not been detected in the air. Save the Timber is a group of people who are looking to preserve a portion of the Timber Trails for a township park. Raymond said that it was her group that alerted Western Springs on the possibility of contaminants from pesticides used on the Timber Trails Golf course. Meanwhile, Raymond said that there haven’t been any developments on the proposal for the township park but that township highway commissioner Steve Landek did attend a standing room only meeting held on October 5 by the group. Raymond said that the negotiations with the township are still ongoing and that they hope to attain at least 8 acres from Timber Trails for the township park.