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DOWNERS GROVE I~t
July 19, 2006
Mr. G. Tanner Girard
Acting Chairman Illinois Pollution Control Board
1021 North Grand Avenue East
P. 0. Box 19274
Springfield, IL 62794-9274
Re:
Village of Downers Grove Resolution 2006-67 : A RESOLUTION
CALLING FOR REDUCTION OF MERCURY EMISSIONS FROM
COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS IN ILLINOIS AND SUPPORTING THE
ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S PROPOSED
MERCURY EMISSIONS REDUCTION RULE
Dear Mr. Girard:
At its regular meeting on July 18, 2006, the Downers Grove Village Council
adopted Resolution 2006-67 calling for reduction of mercury emissions from
coal-fired power plants in Illinois and supporting the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency's proposed mercury emissions reduction rule .
I am enclosing a copy of the resolution .
Very truly yours,
h . ji/m,
April K. Holden
Village Clerk
VILLAGE OF DOWNERS GROVE
encl : a/s
cc:
Doug Kozlowski, Director, Marketing & Media Relations
DEPARTMENT OF
COU .NSEUNG AND SOCIAL SERVICES-"w ^crnn
842 Curtis% Street
Downers Grove
Illinois 60515-4761
630 434 5595
FAX 630 .4345599
R
E
'S OFFICE
JUL 2 6 2006
Pollution
STATE OF
Control
ILLINOIS
Board
RESOLUTION NO
. 2006-67
A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR REDUCTION OF MERCURY EMISSIONS
FROM COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS
IN ILLINOIS
AND SUPPORTING THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S
PROPOSED MERCURY EMISSIONS REDUCTION RULE
WHEREAS,
mercury is a known neurotoxin that damages the human brain, heart, and immune system
; and
developing fetuses and children are especially at risk as even low-level mercury exposure can cause learning
disabilities, developmental delays, decreased IQ, and difficulties with memory and attention
; and the dominant route
of human exposure to mercury is eating fish contaminated with it
; and mercury contamination of fish is already
widespread in Illinois so that in DuPage County, the State's testing has found that 40 percent of fish samples are
contaminated at a level that could cause a public health problem
; and
WHEREAS, due to mercury contamination in Illinois waters, the Illinois Department of Public Health warns
people to eat no more than one meal per week of any predator fish caught in the State so that mercury in these fish
endangers everyone, doing disproportionate harm to people in our communities for whom our State's fisheries are
central to life
: the sports anglers, commercial fishermen, charter boat operators and their clients
; but, it also affects
Illinoisans who buy local fish at the market --
and all of their families; and
WHEREAS, the 21 coal-fired power plants in Illinois are the single largest source of in-state mercury
emissions, emitting more than all other human activities combined
; and researchers tell us that most of this mercury
will be deposited locally
; and a recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration study concluded that 16 of
the 25 top sources of mercury deposited in Lake Michigan are coal-fired power plants
; and
WHEREAS, despite the profundity of the mercury problem, reducing power plant emissions tinder Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency's proposed rule is a solution that we can implement now because affordable,
readily available technologies can capture 90% of mercury emissions
; and
WHEREAS, right now the federal government is implementing rules that will delay meaningful mercury
reductions for at least another decade, putting another generation of developing children and the health of Illinois
waters at risk
. In response to the insufficient federal policy, three states have already put their plants on a schedule to
eliminate 90% of their mercury emissions
; and our State should do the same
; and for the sake of Illinois' 1,237,000
anglers, 1,200 commercial fishermen, and families that want a healthy environment for their children, and on behalf
of the citizens of Downers Grove whom we represent, we support approval of the Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency's mercury reduction vile
.
WHEREAS, the Village of Downers Grove wishes to re-affirm Resolution No
. 99-61 and continues to
support imposing conditions on coal-fired power plants in the State of Illinois requiring compliance with Clean
Air
Standards
.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
by the Mayor and Village Council of the Village of Downers
Grove, DuPage County, Illinois, as follows :
Section 1 .
That the Village of Downers Grove calls for reduction of mercury emissions from coal-fired
power plants and supports approval of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's mercury reduction rule by the
Illinois Pollution Control Board .
Section 2
.
That the Village Clerk be and is hereby authorized and directed to forward certified copies of this
Resolution to Illinois Pollution Control Board, Governor Rod Blagojevich, members of the Illinois Joint Committee
on Administrative Rules, Federal and State members of the DuPage delegation and the DuPage Mayors and
Managers Conference .
Section 3 .
This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption and approval in the
manner provided by law.
Passed
:
July 11, 2006
Attest:
h.
I
Villag Clerk
I\,nw4e .OSMercur7Red
