CLINTON - DeWitt County will hire an independent expert to gather information regarding the potential storage of chemical wastes at the Clinton Landfill.

The County Board voted 6-5 Thursday to hire G. Fred Lee of El Macero, Calif., to research Peoria Disposal Co.'s request to store chemical waste at the Clinton Landfill.

Peoria Disposal has filed an application with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to allow the storage of wastes at the landfill, but a local watchdog group opposes the plan.

A decision by the IEPA could come within a year, and a public hearing is expected to be held next month in Clinton.

Land use committee Chairman Mike Bray told the board that Lee is an expert on the liners that are used in landfills. He also is an expert in Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the multiuse industrial chemicals that would be stored at the site if the permit is approved.

"What the EPA has told us so far is that they have not found any reason not to grant this chemical waste permit," Bray said. "But this expert will review the reports and the information that is available. He will be able to tell us if it is safe or not.

"If he helps to make a decision to protect 7,500 people and the water supply, I think it is well worth it," Bray said.

The county put a $10,000 cap on what it will spend on the expert's services.

Finance committee Chairman Ed Young was among those opposed to the plan.

"I don't think we should spend the money for doing research for something the EPA gets paid to do," Young said.

Officials from the EPA are expected to attend the land use committee meeting on April 7.