February 24, 2010 FAA update:
OUTRAGE received an e-mail today from Gary Wilson, Program Manager, FAA Chicago Airports District Office. Mr. Wilson stated the FAA completed a preliminary review of the documents provided by Tom Volini. Mr. Wilson also stated Mr. Volini informed his office the proposed landfill is currently under legal review and as a result, the FAA, if or when appropriate will inform Mr. Volini of the requirements to file an FAA Form 7460-1, Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration, to receive an official FAA Determination on the proposed flood relief channel and garbage dump near the Kankakee Valley Airport runway.
Editors note: The legal review mentioned is the December 4, 2009 Illinois Appellate Court ruling against the proposed dump which Mr. Fred Barbara and his partner Tom Volini are now appealing to the Illinois Supreme Court. Click here for the Appellate Court decision.
January 6, 2010 FAA update:
Mr. Gary Wilson, Program Manager, FAA Chicago Airports District Office, met with Tom Volini on 1/5/10 regarding the his proposed landfill with Fred Barbara located near the Kankakee Airport runway. In an e-mail to OUTRAGE, Mr. Wilson states, Mr. Volini provided an overview of the proposed project and left some additional documents for the FAA to review. Mr. Wilson stated, he would keep OUTRAGE informed.
December 10, 2009 FAA update:
OUTRAGE called Jim Keefer, Manager, Chicago Airport District Office, Federal Aviation Administration.
Mr. Keefer stated his office will do whatever it takes to stop the proposed Fred Barbara Chicago Regional Landfill. He said it is the responsibility of the Kankakee Airport Authority to keep his office informed about anything proposed in their air space, however they did not and the FAA was not aware until the OUTRAGE letter with 7 supporting documents was sent to his office and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood’s office in Washington D.C.
Mr. Keefer also stated the recent announced National Guard base, which will be located at the Kankakee Airport, makes it even more important for his office to do whatever it takes to stop the proposed dump.
November 10, 2009 Update
OUTRAGE called Jim Keefer, manager of the Chicago Airports District Office. 1-847-294-7336. His office is handling the required FAA new review of the proposed Fred Barbara dump, the 2007 Illinois Department of Natural Resources required flood relief channel, proposed 18 acre composting site near the dump and the GPS measurements showing all will be less then 10,000 feet from the Kankakee Valley Airport runway.
In a letter written to OUTRAGE August 14, 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation , Federal Aviation Administration says this is in violation of the FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5200-33B, "Hazardous Wildlife Attractants On or Near Airports" which is mandatory for a Federally obligated airport like IKK, Kankakee Airport. The AC establishes a minimum 10,000-foot separation between an airport servicing turbine-powered aircraft and the proposed landfill which is within 10,000 feet of the nearest runway. The AC also has a restriction of five (5) statute miles between the Airport Operation Area and the hazardous wildlife attractant when the attractant could cause wildlife movement into or across the approach or departure space. All of this will be on the west side of the airport. The Iroquois meets the Kankakee river on the east side of the airport thereby creating the opportunity for birds to fly between both bird attractants, east to west and west to east.
Mr. Keefer told OUTRAGE they have contacted the Kankakee Airport about the documents from OUTRAGE and stated nothing can go forward without his office's approval. He confirmed the FAA had never been told about the relief channel, compost site and how close all of this will be to the runway of the airport. As a result the Kankakee Airport is being required to respond. He also went on to say to date they have not responded. They are still waiting. The FAA will also require Fred Barbara's company, Kankakee Regional Landfill, LLC to respond. (Editors note: It sure would be nice if the Journal would follow up on this.)
August 19, 2009 Update!
The U.S. Department of Transportation , Federal Aviation Administration has responded to a letter with supporting documents from OUTRAGE. See the OUTRAGE letter with supporting documents below. Read their response here.
July 16, 2009
OUTRAGE
ORGANIZATON UNITED TO REVERSE ALL GOVERNMENTS’ EXCESSES
To: Mr. Barry Cooper
Regional Administrator
US FAA
2300 Devon Avenue, #439
Des Plaines, Ill. 60018
From: Darrel Bruck Jr. President of OUTRAGE
Subject: SERIOUS Bird Strike Threats
Where: Kankakee Regional Airport
7/16/09
Dear Mr. Cooper:
On behalf of my organization, I am writing to express our support of any runway expansion or improvements at the Kankakee Valley Airport. We believe it can be an economic growth engine in our area which is badly needed. However, there is a serious potential threat to the safety of the flying public if not remedied, Runway expansion should only be considered if safety precautions are expanded commensurately.
The threat emanates from the proposed Kankakee Regional Landfill. KRL filed a first application for the landfill in 2002. That application was denied by the Illinois Supreme Court for its failure to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents. In 2003, the landfill operator filed a second application for the same landfill. There is substantial community disapproval of the proposed landfill, which is manifest in another case against it, which is presently languishing in the courts.
On July 26, 2007, five years after the first landfill application, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources informed the developer of his failure to meet his obligations to their department and, therefore, they would not permit the developer to go forward with development of the landfill. Subsequent Data submitted by the developer, clearly demonstrates that the site is, in fact, in the floodway of a 100 year flood plain. (Exhibit#1 Letter from IDNR declaring landfill site in a 100 year flood plain)
As a result, the IEPA issued a conditional construction permit based upon a plan to flood proof the entire site. A major requirement of the flood proofing requires the developer to construct an estimated 65 acres of holding ponds and relief channels. While the holding ponds were part of the original landfill plan, the additional requirement of a large relief channel was not. (Exhibit #2 Conditional Permit from IDNR), (Exhibit #3 Layout of required relief channels.)
This massive water reservoir coupled with the food source a landfill presents, will create a natural feeding and watering source for thousands of birds. The site is located 1.67 miles from the end of the runway (Exhibit #4 & Exhibit 5 GPS maps showing distance of runways to landfill.)
This conjunction of water, waste and proximity to the runway dramatically increases the probability of bird strikes and is in direct violation of the F.A.A. regulation prohibiting construction of new landfills within 6 statute miles of a runway. (Exhibit #6, FAA regulation)
The last action taken by the Kankakee Valley Airport Authority in regards to the landfill proposal was on March 13, 2006. Well over a year before the Illinois Department of Natural Resources declared the landfill site as being in a 100 year flood plain requiring the addition of a huge relief channel. They approved the landfill and an ineffective bird control program provided by the landfill developer. (Exhibit #7 Kankakee Valley Airport Authority Ordinance 03-13-06)
The 2007 designation of the landfill site as being in a 100 year flood plain, resulting in the required huge relief channels, causing the attraction of birds just 1.67 miles from the runway has increased exponentially, the probability of bird strikes by air traffic using the Kankakee Valley Airport.
Last fall, near the Marion, Illinois airport, a landfill was stopped by the F.A.A. The conditions here are quite similar to those that caused the F.A.A. to intercede in the Williamson County Situation. Recently Flight 1549 refocused the attention of the public, the F.A.A. and the U.S. Department of Transportation on the true dangers of bird strikes. Both federal agencies have announced priority efforts to reduce the potential of bird strikes.
I ask that your agency and other agencies, withhold all funding from the Kankakee Valley Airport Authority for any improvements to the airport until this serious threat to the safety of the flying public is stopped. To do otherwise would not be an effective and efficient use of taxpayer money. Further, collaborative efforts to stop the landfill from all agencies would be welcomed.
Sincerely,
Darrel W. Bruck Jr., President
CC: National Director of the FAA
Secretary Ray Lahood of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation
Representative Debbie Halvorson
Illinois Dept of Transportation, Aeronautics Div.
OUTRAGE 2943 CHIPPEWA DRIVE , BOURBONNAIS IL
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