LiS

el

C.

5

/iustei

Mc!

icr

~rv

County

Board

District 6

i i..:

~J

r~’~

u ~k’o

V~iIk’y

Rocict

Mn

I2~4t,(1’~,

11.. 000984)680

(Il)8l5.3:~

.~t)T

•

i1,815.337.2650

Cottilty

j~tfl~i’

~I

)I(,~

t:

815

.

334.4214

!)ATE:

November 6, 2000

TO:

Illinois Pollution Control

State of illinois

FROM:

Ersel C. Schuster

Supervisor, Seneca Township, McHenry County Illinois~und

Member,McIcnry

County Board, Mdflenry County Illinois

Re:

IN

THE

MATTER OF;

Natural gas..fired, peak-load

)

electrical power generating

)

R

1-10

facilities (peaker plants)

)

~,

Thank you forthe opportunity to address yourboard on

this important issue.

As an elected official with

responsibilities

to those residents most closely affect

hy ih~

siting of“private peaker power” planta, I wish to make the following comments:

Having reviewed numerous professional opinions presented throughout your

hearing process on electrical generating facilities, several concerns come to mind.

1 will

not however take your time by repeating thecomments ofthose professionals and

informedcitizens such as Greg Zak, Brian Urbaszewski, Derek Winstanley, Dianne

Turnball, ChristopherRomaine, Susan

Zingle,

Dr. Tom Overbye

and

others.

I do support

theirconcepts

and

suggestions.

The point I wish

to make is that of“enforcement.”

The concern is for the

enlbrcement ofthe standards and regulations issued by

the

JEPA/ PCB for the private

p~aker

power industry through the petition / licensing process.

Standards and regulations are only as good as the tools and means to enforce

them,

As local officials we are the “front line;” those expected to address concernsover

the operation of such facilities.

However,

as is often the case, we neither have the

authority, technical expertise, nor the financial ability to ensure that the operator is in

compliance with theregulations.

Noise, airpollution

and

all theotherrelated issues

.~urroundingthese facilities need swift

and

immediate action.

Experience suggests that

enforcement is not swift or

immediate,

nor is it always effective.

Local officials must have a means

of

effective enforcement of such operations in

order to protect

and

defend

those residents who are affected by these private businesses.

I

would ask that this be an issue worthy ofinformed, in-depth, and local considerat’

Int~r~’(1on

J~cy(i(P~’er