A company that wants to park up to 106 barges on the Illinois River east of Seneca says it will have almost no effect on the site’s ecology. Two property owners going to court over the proposal disagree. Attorney Jack Foley says the permitting process has fallen short of adequate public hearings.
He says Gov. Pritzker and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul must oppose the project unless the General Assembly approves, but they haven’t. He’s concerned that explosive material and other dangerous chemicals could be stored on the barges.
Illinois and Michigan Oil Company says it respects the environment and will have almost no effect on the site’s ecology. We have asked the governor’s and attorney general’s offices for comment. We will provide their comments when we hear from them.