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LaSalle County discusses EPA inspection of salt storage near nursing‑home well; relocation could cost millions
Summary
County staff told commissioners an EPA inspection flagged county salt beds within 400 feet of a nursing‑home well; options discussed included increased monitoring, moving a smaller bin, or a costly $2 million relocation for the larger bin; staff said they are awaiting EPA follow‑up.
An EPA inspection that flagged LaSalle County’s salt storage near a nursing‑home well prompted discussion at the highway agenda, and county staff told commissioners they are still awaiting federal follow‑up and clarity on required monitoring or remediation.
The department presenter said the county’s salt pans are “within 400 feet of the well at the nursing home,” a proximity that may trigger regulatory limits. The presenter said the county expected a response from EPA about 30 days after an inspection visit but had not received it in the expected time frame: “It’s been probably 60 days at least,” the presenter said.
What the county said it might do: staff outlined options including a stricter water‑quality monitoring program, moving the smaller salt bin (relatively straightforward), or relocating the larger bin — which the presenter estimated could cost roughly $2,000,000. Another option described was extending city water service to the nursing home, which staff said might be less expensive than moving the larger bin.
The presenter emphasized uncertainty: officials have not yet received a formal EPA determination on whether the existing storage is grandfathered or requires changes. “We don’t know until we actually get the phone call from the EPA to set up a meeting to discuss it,” the presenter said.
Why it matters: Salt storage can affect groundwater near potable wells; an EPA determination could require infrastructure changes, monitoring or capital expenditures that would affect county budgets and operations.
What’s next: County staff said they are waiting for EPA contact to set a meeting, will consider increased monitoring, and will return to the board with options after consultation and clearer regulatory guidance.
Attribution: All quotes and attributions in this article are from speakers recorded in the meeting transcript. The transcript does not identify the highway presenter by name; the article attributes remarks to an unnamed county highway department presenter consistent with the meeting record.
Closing note: No formal decisions were recorded at the meeting; commissioners asked procedural questions about the inspection and monitoring cadence and the item remains under staff follow‑up.
