—
November
12, 2009
I
2L’jc.
John
Themault,
Assistant
Clerk
L(J
Ilimois
Pollution
Control
Board
0IIUtu,r
c
ILLINois
100
West
Randolph
Street, Suite
11-500
5 1
°fltroi
Chicago,
Illinois
60601
tt—
RE:
Rule
Making
RO8-009
Dear Illinois
Pollution
Control Board:
On behalf
of responsible
citizens
in South Elgm,
I am writing
to
express
my
support
for
the recommended
water
quality
standard improvements
proposed
by the
Illinois
EPA for
the
Chicago
Area
Waterways
(CAWS)
and Lower
Des Plaines
River
as
rule
making
R08-009.
These
changes
are
long
overdue
and
recommended
only
after five years
of
study
on the
CAWS
and
seven
on
the
Lower
Des Plaines.
We
should
all support
the
Illinois
EPA’s effort
and approve
the
changes.
As
a
concerned
member
of
this community,
I think
it is
critical
that:
•
The
Metropolitan
Water
Reclamation
District
disinfect
sewage treatment
plant
effluent to
kill
bacteria and
protect public
health
and
•
Temperature
and dissolved
oxygen
standards
be implemented
to protect
fish and
help them
flourish.
Over
the
years,
the
entire CAWS
system
has
changed
dramatically.
The
water,
once
full of raw
sewage
and industrial
filth, has
vastly improved
through
the leadership
of agencies
like the
Metropolitan
Water
Reclamation
District
and its Tunnel
and
Reservoir
Plan.
Public
access
has increased
considerably
as
local
govermuents
incorporated
these rivers
into
their
master planning.
The
City of Chicago,
the Chicago
Park
District,
and
suburbs
like Blue
Island
and Skokie
have
poured
millions
into
river
access
for paddling,
fishing, and
crew.
And
so much work
has been
done to improve
habitat
and control
pollution
that
in
the
Chicago
River
system, species
of fish
have climbed
from under
10
to nearly
70, including
game
fish
favorites
like
large-mouth
bass
and
bluegill
and
yellow
perch.
Because
a
review
like
this
only comes
along
every
20
years, right
now we
have a once-in-a-generation
opportunity
to
continue
our
momentum
by
supporting
the Illinois
EPA
recommendations
so we can
make
the
next quantum
leap
forward
in
water quality.
There
is no
magic
bullet
and or all-in-one
measure
that
can
eliminate
water
pollution
but we
know
that
if
we want
the
Chicago
River
to
continue
to
improve
and
serve
our communities
as a
recreational,
natural
and
economic
resource,
disinfection
and the rest
of
the Illinois
EPA’s
recommendations
are essential.
I believe
that
as
a society
it
is
our
moral
obligation
to
ensure
that
we work
to achieve
the highest
potential
for
shared
resources,
including
and
especially
water.
And
as
stewards of
these
natural
resources,
we
should
not
be
seeking
the
minimum
in improvement,
but
the
maximum.
Thank you,
Jean
Panichi
721
W
Thornwood
Dr
South Elgin,
Ii
60177