Resident urges county to study water, waste and permitting before any small modular reactor siting
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Summary
During public comment a resident urged the county to require site inspections, clarify water-supply issues, plan for ash disposal and consider ordinance changes before any proposal for a small modular reactor reaches the board.
During the public-comment period a resident urged the county to begin preparatory work if it wants to be ready for any small modular reactor (SMR) proposals, raising concerns about site suitability, water supply, waste handling and local permitting authority.
The commenter asked for site inspections and noted that previous plans for a reservoir had failed, warning of possible conflicts over groundwater: “Champaign County is having great apoplexy and heartburn over the thought that somebody would be going after water from their aquifer. I don't blame them a bit. We don't want anyone messing with our aquifers in Vermilion County either,” the speaker said. The commenter also asked who would be responsible for ash cleanup, whether revenue bonds would be needed to build a reactor, and whether the county would pursue partnerships or related developments (for example, data‑center or AI industry interest) on the same site.
The speaker said there were no current ordinances or resolutions specifically authorizing SMR construction and recommended the board consider what requirements it would ask of a site developer, including rights‑of‑way access and agreements to repair lines or poles needed for grid connection. The remarks were presented as public comment; no formal board action was taken at the meeting on the SMR topic.
Article provenance: public-comment segment raising SMR siting, water and waste concerns.