CLINTON - DeWitt County residents will get the chance to voice their opinions on whether to allow the disposal of chemical waste at the Clinton Landfill.

The DeWitt County Board voted 6-5 Thursday to place a nonbinding referendum on the Feb. 5 ballot, following the suggestion of a newly-formed group opposed to such waste disposal.

In September, the board unanimously approved an amendment to the landfill host agreement which indicated it supported landfill owner Area Disposal Service Inc. in its effort to get a federal permit for chemical waste disposal.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has the final say on the permit.

Matt Varble, president of WATCH (We're Against Toxic Chemicals) spoke to the County Board Thursday night to request the referendum.

"WATCH feels it is important that all voters be given the opportunity to express their opinion," Varble said. "Any action other than a 'yes' vote - such as tabling the matter or voting it down - will be viewed as an indication that this board does not want public input on this matter."

At issue is the storage of PCBs, a group of toxic, carcinogenic organic compounds.

Such chemicals already are legally being stored there, said Ron Edwards, vice president of Peoria Disposal Co., Area's parent company. A change in government regulations, however, is forcing the landfill to apply for a new permit to continue to store those materials, he said.

When the issue of the permit first arose this summer, company officials said it was needed as part of a planned expansion at the landfill and that it didn't automatically mean the landfill would take a wider range of hazardous materials. Edwards said that explanation needed to be clarified to stress that the company is simply continuing something it already does.

Opponents of the proposal say the landfill is too close to the Mahomet Aquifier, which provides much of the drinking water for Central Illinois. If that water source were to be contaminated, several thousand area residents could be affected, they say.

Edwards told the County Board on Thursday the process for applying for the permit is continuing.

Landfill officials say they hope to ease public concerns by offering a public open house on Oct. 27 and by being willing to answer any questions or concerns.

"We are satisfied that the county did the right thing and are going to let the public have their say," Varble said. "Our work isn't done though. We still need to get the word out that these chemicals could be hazardous to our community."