“Improve the economic well-being ofagriculture and enrich the quality offarmfamily l~fè.
December6, 2004
RECEIVED
CLERK’S OFFICE
Dorothy Gunn, Clerk
DEC 07 2904
Illinois Pollution Control Board
STATE
OF ILLINOIS
James Thompson Center
Pollution Control
Board
100W. Randolph Street, Suite 11-500
Chicago, IL 60601
RE:
R04-021
Dear Ms. Gunn:
Please accept these comments from illinois Farm Bureau regarding the proposed
Revisions to Radium Water Quality Standards that would increase the allowable amount
ofradium from one picocurie per liter to five picocuries per liter.
Illinois Farm Bureau is a voluntary, grassroots organization whose members include
~tboutthree-fourths of the farmers in the state of Illinois. We believe that decisions on
government policies and standards should be based on sound scientific research. We rely
on the scientific community for good, unbiased research to provide the answers to
environmental questions so that policies are not based on unfounded beliefs.
Illinois Farm Bureau is not a scientifically-based organization with the technical expertise
to determine whether the proposed radium standard is safe or not. We leave that to the
Illinois Pollution Control Board and others to ask what a safe level for radium in water
should be and then to delineate the risk involved in increasing the standard to five
picocuries per liter.
The outcome of this issue must be based on scientific reality. The explanation of the rule
change should address concerns over safety that are logically raised when anyone
discusses radiation and possible effects on health and property values.
The proposal is very complex and we commend the Pollution Control Board for their
diligence in analyzing the issue.
Sincerely,
~ax1/~ckMr~
NancyEric4c~on,Director
Natural and Environmental Resources
ILLINOIS AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION®
1701 N. TowandaAvenue
•
P.O. 2901 ‘Bloomington, Illinois
•
61702-2901
Phone: 309.557.2111 ‘Fax:
309.557.2559
•
http://www.ilfb.org
P
