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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Alex Alexandrou, Chief Management Officer
Ken Schroth, Director of Public Works/City Engineer
Robert Leible, Superintendent of Water Production
DATE: June 27, 2024
SUBJECT:
Third Amendment of the City's existing lease agreement with Holcim-MAMR, Inc. (Holcim), formerly known as LaFarge Aggregates Illinois, Inc.
PURPOSE:
To clarify specific language in the existing lease agreement as the Third Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Lease between Holcim and the City of Aurora without needing to renegotiate any terms.
BACKGROUND:
The Holcim limestone mine is located at the intersection of Interstate 88 and IL Highway 25. The mine is approximately 200 to 400 feet below grade, is located in both Aurora and North Aurora, and is mainly used to produce limestone and dolomite aggregates for construction uses. The portion of the mine located in Aurora is typically referred to as the south mine and currently has two distinct levels with a third level to be constructed in the future. The first two levels of the mine are almost spent (completely excavated) and thus are longer useful for material production.
Lengthy discussions between Holcim and the City have produced two options for disposal of lime residual material produced by the City's water treatment process. Initially the Illinois EPA issued an Underground Injection Control permit in 2015 to pump lime slurry to excavated areas of the south mine. This method was not implemented. Subsequently in 2016 an alternate transfer method to place dried lime residual material into the Holcim mine was conceived. Additional regulatory approvals were needed for the alternate transfer method. In 2023 legislative approval was received via House Bill 3095 and signed by the governor in July 2023. This approval requires the Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB) to adopt rules for the placement of municipal utility-generated limestone residuals in a limestone mine that is lo...
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