While the Army Corps of Engineers is in a permit process for a barge fleeting proposal east of Seneca, so is the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. IDNR is taking public comments until August 10. The address to send them to is: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, Illinois 62702. People can also call William Lavelle at 217-785-3334 with questions.
The Corps of Engineers comment period ended last month. A Corps spokesman says it’s possible that its regulatory specialists would schedule a public hearing or open another public comment period. It will take at least a few months for the Corps to decide what it will do next.
Project opponents are concerned that having up to 106 barges would choke river traffic, that there’ll be a lot of noise, and that the environment is at risk of a barge leaking oil. Illinois and Michigan Oil LLC is the company applying for the permits. Its representative named in the permits hasn’t responded to our request for more information.
Links you may find useful:
IDNR notice on I&M Oil LLC’s request
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers notice on I&M Oil LLC’s request