State Representative Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth) announced Thursday that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) is taking action to address odor complaints at a trucking facility on the west side of Clinton.

Ongoing odor complaints have been linked to two outdoor lagoons used to hold washwater and biosolids washed out of trucks. According to the IEPA, one of the problems detected at the facility is that the solids in the lagoons have not been breaking down as fast as they should, due to a lack of oxygen in the material. To address this, the IEPA has been working with the company to apply various odor treatments to the lagoons, including the recent installation of aerators to help break down the material quicker, thereby reducing the odors.

Thursday, Rep. Mitchell said quote-“My office has received a number of complaints about odor problems at this facility located near Clinton High School. I reached out to the Illinois EPA to see what was being done to address this problem. I am pleased to announce that the Agency will be issuing a permit to install a totally enclosed separation tank on site, which should eventually resolve the issue.. I want to thank the IEPA and concerned citizens for working with me to address these complaints.”-end quote.

The enclosed separation tank is designed to separate out all the solids before the washwater is pumped into the lagoons, an action the IEPA believes will eliminate most of the odor problem as the cleaner separated washwater replaces the material already in the lagoons.

The IEPA has already scheduled a follow-up inspection of the trucking facility for June 23. Nearby residents have been contacted and have agreed to keep logs to monitor the odors, which will be reviewed by the IEPA.

Regional Radio News is investigating the complaints and will have further details in the coming days.