RECEKVED

CLERK’S

OFFICE

J/~N~ 5 2G01

STATE OF

ILLINOIS

Pol/u~j~j,.,Control Board

Ms. Dorothy Gunn, Clerk of the Board

Illinois Pollution Control Board

Chicago,100W.

RandolphIllinois

60601St.,

Suite 11-500

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Re: Illinois EPA’s Proposed Antidegradation Rules

Dear Ms. Gunn:

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As a person concerned about Illinois’ streams, I urge the Illinois Pollution Control

Board to adopt a strong antidegradation policy. Such a polic~iis essential to

protecting the well being of Illinois’ waters and to guarantee that our waters are

free of pollution.

I encourage the Board to adopt rules that will keep our waters clean and safe for

fishing, swimming, and other recreational activities and that will protect the

diverse communities of aquatic organisms which depend on our waters.

Specifically I would like to request that the Board the final rules accomplish the

following:

• Ensure that new or increased sources ofpollution are not allowed to degrade

water quality;

• Guarantee that fish, mussels, and other aquatic organisms are not harmed by

new or increased levels ofpollution to our waters; and

• Protect existing uses ofour water~sto make sure that they are safe for drinking,

swimming, paddling, hunting, fishing, and recreational activities of all types.

Illinois has done much to~leanup our waters since 1972. In order to make sure

the water quality gains of the past are not lost in the future, we urge you to adopt

strong antidegradation rules.

Thahk you,

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