ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    January
    5,
    1989
    IN
    THE
    MATTER
    OF:
    LIMITS
    TO
    VOLATILITY
    OF
    )
    R88-30
    GASOLINE
    )
    CONCURRING
    OPINION
    (by
    B.
    Forcade):
    The
    original
    order
    proposed
    in
    this
    proceeding
    would
    have
    authorized
    inquiry
    hearings.
    By
    a
    4-3
    vote,
    an
    amendment
    to
    that
    order
    removed
    the
    authorization
    to
    go
    to
    inquiry
    hearings.
    That
    amendment
    to
    the
    original
    proposal
    has
    weakened
    the
    Board’s
    ability
    to
    fashion
    the
    best
    record.
    Only
    written
    comments
    will
    now
    be
    received.
    Written
    comments
    are
    not
    prepared
    under
    oath
    and
    are
    not
    subject
    to
    cross-examination
    as
    testimony
    is
    at
    a
    hearing.
    No followup can
    be done to
    a written comment unless by cumbersome
    written questions which may or may not
    lead to more unsworn comments.
    In
    short, the process
    of developing meaningful
    and accurate information has
    been
    weakened and delayed.
    Ozone
    reduction in the Chicago and Metro East metropolitan
    areas
    is
    a
    major public
    health
    need.
    The U.S. Environmental Protection
    Agency estimates
    that
    as many as
    35
    (one—out—of-three)
    persons are sensitive to high ozone
    levels.
    These two
    Illinois metropolitan areas
    contain some 7,700,000
    Illinoisans.
    Thus, some 2,700,000 of these are
    at risk to their health
    from
    high ozone
    levels.
    This proceeding
    is equal
    in importance to any matter now
    before the Board.
    My fervent hope
    is that this Board
    will
    fully realize the public
    health
    risks
    as enunciated by the Chicago Lung Association and the Citizens for
    a
    Better
    Environment,
    in their joint
    letter of December
    28, 1988,
    and authorize
    public hearings after March
    1,
    1989.
    If the Environmental
    Protection Act means anything
    it means
    first and
    foremost the protection of the
    public health.
    The
    Board here,
    by its
    weakening amendment,
    has.-taken only
    a hesitating half—step in that
    direction.
    It needs
    proceed with
    a
    firm
    stride
    as quickly
    as possible.
    I,
    Dorothy N.
    Gunn,
    Clerk
    of the Illinois Pollution Control
    Board, hereby
    certify t
    at the above
    Concurring Opinion was submitted
    on the
    ~
    day
    of
    ,
    ~89.
    Cl e
    r
    k
    Illinois Pollution Control
    Board
    95-~253

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