RECEIVED
CLERK’S OFFICE
Robert E. Hamilton
Consulting Engineers,
P.C.
DEC
I)
72004
3230 ExecutiveDrive
Joliet, Illinois
STATE
OF
ILLINOIS
60431
Pollutson Control Board
Robert E. Hamilton, P.E.
Area Code 815
John A. Djerf, P.R.
Phone: 730-3444
Robert B. Hamilton, P.R. (1948-1991)
Fax:
730-6703
Howard J. Hamilton, P.E.
REHamilton.org
Joseph A. Regis, P.E.
Albert J. Zanzola, P.E.
Curtis A. Craigmile, P.R.
Robert P. Chi, P.E., S.E.
James E. Davidson, Jr., P.L.S.
Timothy R. Juskiewicz, P.E.
December 6, 2004
Ms. Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk
Illinois Pollution Control Board
James R. Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph Street, Suite 11-5000
Chicago, IL 60601
Re: Docket No. R-04-021
Revisions to Radium Water Quality Standards
Dear Ms. Gunn:
Since 1949 I have been actively involved in the development and design ofwater and wastewater
treatment systems. In 1955 I formed Robert E. Hamilton Consulting Engineers, P.C. serving
mainly Will County communities. In these 50 years I’ve seen innumerable thinking water,
effluent, and water quality standards promulgated throughout the State. In my opinion, only in
the last several years have standards with limited to no public benefit been considered and in
some cases implemented. The idea of a radium water quality limit, which is unobtainable
without use of only one type of drinking water treatment technology, is the latest example of
“trying to fix what isn ‘t broken.”
I understand that the Board may have found itself in a situation which (due to the propagation of
a misleading public relations campaign by a company which stands to benefit from new
standards) may require new standards to be set. Therefore, I urge the Board to consider standards
which are:
1. Supported by reasonable health and environment studies,
2. Achievable by a variety oftechnologies, and
3. Have a reasonable costlbenefit relationship.
Thank you for your consideration ofmy comments on this important issue.
Very truly yours,
Robert E. Hamilton
REH/rt
\MISC\04000 RAD LTR
