12_io_04;12:45PM
    312 996 3858;~
    Chicago
    Chicago,
    Recycling
    RO. Box
    IL
    60680-044287442
    Coalition
    R~
    DEC
    CEIVED
    K’S
    10
    OFFICE
    2004
    STATE OF ILLINOIS
    December 0, 2004
    Pollution Control Board
    Illinois Pollution Control Board
    Springfield,600
    S. SecondIL Street,62704 Suite
    402
    r
    (Chicago office
    far
    312-814-3669)
    To
    the members of the Board,
    On behalf of the Chicago Recycling Coalition, I am writing
    in
    support
    of
    the Illinois EPA proposal
    to limit the discharge ofphosphorous into Illinois streams. The CRC is an organization of several
    hundred members based in Chicago and its suburbs, and our main focus of
    courSe
    is solid waste. But
    we also understand that pollution issues are inteirelated, and the effects ofmultiple sources~
    cumulative. For this reason, we believe it is our responsibility to write in regards to the. issue at hand.
    Concerning phosphorus pollution, we agree with the Illinois EPA that it is not sufficient f~•
    discharges to only be regulated when they flow into lakes and lake tributaries. It would be like
    regulating landfills in the counties borderingLake Michigan, while allowing the rest of the State to
    use unlined garbage dumps!
    We therefore fully support the IEPA proposal for an interim monthly average phosphorous effluent
    limit of I mgfL for many new or increased discharges. We understand that these limits would be
    consistent with existing legislation, including the Clean Water Act and Illinois water quality
    staedards. In addition, the proposal would only address new or increased pollutant discharges, and
    these are already covered by antideregulatioii regulations.
    We also understand that this proposal is neither pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking nor an onerous
    burden to agriculture or industry, but can be readily achieved, as It has been for phosphorus entering
    tributaries to the Great Lakes since the 1970s~Ofcourse, it is our hope that this proposal to limit
    phosphorus pollution is just the beginning of a continued direction to clean Illinois’s land, air, and
    Water. Therefore, we reiterate our strong support forthe Illinois EPA’s proposal before you.
    Yours sincerely,
    Betsy \4ndercook
    President, Chicago Recycling Coalition
    Phone: 312-996-3088
    Fax: 312-996-8858
    betsyv@uic.edu

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