ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    January 22, 2004
    IN THE MATTER OF:
    )
    )
    REVISIONS TO RADIUM WATER QUALITY
    )
    R04-21
    STANDARDS: PROPOSED NEW 35 ILL. ADM. )
    Rulemaking - Water
    CODE 302.307 and AMENDMENTS TO
    )
    35 ILL. ADM. CODE 302.207 and 302.525
    )
    ORDER OF THE BOARD (by N.J. Melas):
    On January 13, 2004, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Agency) filed a
    proposal to amend Part 302 of the Board’s water quality standards. The Agency proposes to
    amend the water quality standard for radium from 1 picocurie per liter (pCi/L) to 5pCi/L and
    change the standard’s applicability from general use to apply specifically to public and food
    processing water supplies.
    In the proposal, the Agency states that radium is a naturally occurring radioactive metal
    that exists in several isotopes, and is commonly found in Illinois groundwater. According to the
    Agency, the proposed changes to Sections 302.207 and 302.525 eliminate the existing general
    use and Lake Michigan (respectively) water quality standards for radium 226, yet retain the
    existing radioactivity standards for gross beta particle activity and strontium 90. Statement at 7-
    8.
    1
    The proposed new Section 302.307 establishes a public and food processing water supply
    standard for radium 226 and 228 combined.
    Id
    . at 7. The Agency states that these proposed
    amendments correspond to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Maximum
    Contaminant Level for finished drinking water.
    Id
    . at 8. This final drinking water standard
    became effective December 8, 2003. National Primary Drinking Water Regulations;
    Radionuclide; Final Rule. 65 Fed. Reg. 76707 (Dec. 7, 2000).
    The Agency contends this proposal will primarily benefit publicly owned treatment
    works (POTWs) and public drinking water supplies. Statement at 15. According to the Agency,
    POTWs that are attached to public drinking water supplies using high radium groundwater as the
    potable raw water source will benefit because this Agency proposal increases the water quality
    standard for radium 226 and 228 combined from 1pCi/L to 5pCi/L.
    Id
    .
    The Board finds that the Agency’s rulemaking satisfies the content requirements of
    Section 102.202 of the Board’s procedural rules. 35 Ill. Adm. Code 102.202. The Board accepts
    this proposal for hearing and directs the assigned hearing officer to proceed expeditiously under
    the rulemaking provisions of the Act and Board procedural rules. 415 ILCS 5/27, 28 (2002); 35
    Ill. Adm. Code 102.
    IT IS SO ORDERED.
    1
    The Agency’s Statement of Reasons included in the rulemaking proposal will be cited as
    “Statement at _.”
    2
    I, Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control Board, certify that the above
    order was adopted on January 22, 2004, by a vote of 5-0.
    Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk
    Illinois Pollution Control Board

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