It's Too Close To Williamson County Regional Airport

The FAA and proponents of a new landfill near Williamson County Regional Airport (IL) are talking trash these days. Literally.

Kibler Development Corporation is trying to build the Marion Ridge Landfill just northeast of the airport. Company executives say they don't need approval from the FAA. Not so, says the FAA.

"The FAA has sent a letter to the attorneys for the landfill developer stating that no matter what the intended use might be the developers would need to have FAA approval," Airport General Manager Doug Kimmel told the Marion Rotary Club Thursday. He was quoted in the Marion Daily Republican.

Federal regulations say any landfill built near an airport must have FAA approval if it holds rotting or decaying household waste. But Kibler executives say the landfill will only be used to dispose of demolition waste and should therefore be exempt.

Already, Kibler has started surveying the site and building an access road. The company does have a state permit to turn about 189-acres of land near the airport into a waste repository.

Stay tuned.

FMI: www.wilcoairport.com, Kibler's Application To Develop Landfill