Celebrating ELPC 30 Years - 2023 Gala

Confined Disposal Facility, SE Side Chicago

Victory

A Victory Celebration for Environmental Justice

Chicago’s lakefront is for people and parks, not for toxic waste dumps.

By Howard A. Learner, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director

Wonderful victory celebration on Saturday with Alliance of the Southeast (ASE), ELPC, Friends of the Parks (FOTP) and community leaders gathering to celebrate stopping the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ misguided proposed new toxic dredged waste landfill along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Chicago’s Southeast Side. As a result of community opposition, a lawsuit brought in the U.S. District Court by ELPC public interest attorneys on behalf of Plaintiffs ASE and FOTP, and the Illinois EPA’s denial of required state clean water permits, the Army Corps officially withdrew its flawed Record of Decision for the Environmental Impact Statement.

Chicago’s Southeast Side has long been overburdened by toxic pollution. Stopping the Army Corps’ proposed new toxic waste landfill is a major victory for environmental justice and protecting Lake Michigan.

As I’ve said many times in the journey of this case:  Chicago’s lakefront is for people and parks, not for toxic waste dumps. We are now celebrating a hard-earned victory as Chicago community activists, public interest attorneys and parks supporters have worked hand-in-hand to advance environmental justice, lakefront protection and common sense together.

This victory is an important precedent for Chicago and the Midwest. The Army Corps has withdrawn its misguided proposal to add more toxic pollution instead of facilitating the long-promised new lakefront park for community residents and all Chicagoans to use and enjoy.

I’m really proud of the ELPC’s team effective advocacy with our community clients and partners to achieve this important success.

Next steps:

  • First, Army Corps must clean up and remediate the site.
  • Second, Chicago Park District should design and develop the long-promised new lakefront park for local residents and all Chicagoans to enjoy.

We look forward to the Army Corps cleaning up and remediating the site and moving on to better alternatives.

Going forward, let’s work together to build on this success to keep advancing environmental justice and achieve better protection for our Great Lakes where we live, work and play.

The teams from ELPC, ASE, and FOTP

 

Learn more about this case:

Howard A. Learner

Howard A. Learner,

Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director

Howard Learner is an experienced attorney serving as the Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. He is responsible for ELPC’s overall strategic leadership, policy direction, and financial platform.

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