Regional Affairs

Volunteer efforts stop landfills near Illinois airport

Plans to build two separate landfills near Morris Municipal Airport in Illinois have been abandoned thanks, in large part, to the efforts of AOPA Airport Support Network (ASN) volunteer Michael Kenaga. For more than a year, Kenaga tracked plans for the landfills, rallied the support of local pilots, and even prompted the FAA to get involved. Kenaga also testified at public hearings about the dangers of the proposed landfills, located under the VOR and ILS approaches for the airport. His efforts paid off this month when developers for both landfills withdrew their site applications. "It's this kind of grass-roots commitment that keeps general aviation strong and airports open," said Greg Pecoraro, AOPA vice president for regional affairs. "When local volunteers dedicate themselves to protecting airports, they can beat almost any odds."

November 30, 2007