1
    BEFORE THE ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    IN
    THE MATTER OF:
    PROPOSED EXTENSION OF ADJUSTED STANDARD
    APPLICABLE TO ILLINOIS-AMERICAN
    WATER COMPANY'S ALTON PUBLIC WATER
    SUPPLY FACILITY DISCHARGE
    TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
    UNDER 35 ILL. ADM. CODE 304.124 AND 304.106
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    AS 2007-2
    (Adjusted Standard)
    13
    14
    TESTIMONY OF JAMES E. SCHREMPF
    WITNESS IDENTIFICATION AND BACKGROUND
    15
    Q.
    16
    A.
    17
    Q.
    Please state your name and address.
    My name is James E. Schrempf. I live at 1500 Woodc1iffe in Alton, Illinois 62002.
    Where is your house in relationship to Illinois-American Water Company'swater
    18
    treatment plant?
    19
    A.
    My house is adjacent to the Alton plant. I built my home approximately 19 years ago. One of
    20
    my neighbors built his home approximately 15 years ago. We both look out from our
    21
    property to a scenic view of the Mississippi River, directly over the existing Alton plant.
    In
    22
    fact, the area between our houses and the plant's buildings is an area that would be used for
    23
    construction
    of dewatering residual lagoons. So, my property and those of about eight to ten
    24
    other neighbors,
    will be directly affected, adversely, if lagoons are built in our back yards.
    25
    PURPOSE OF TESTIMONY
    26
    Q.
    27
    A.
    What is the purpose of your testimony in this proceeding?
    The purpose of my testimony is to: (1) explain why I believe the Adjusted Standard should be
    28
    extended
    beyond its 2007 sunset; (2) discuss the disturbance to myself, my neighbors and the
    29
    natural habitat
    near our houses that will be caused by increased truck traffic and the
    Electronic Filing, Received, Clerk's Office, August 24, 2007
    34
    Q.
    35
    36
    A.
    37
    Q.
    38
    A.
    39
    40
    41
    42
    43
    44
    45
    46
    47
    48
    49
    50
    51
    52
    30
    construction
    of lagoons in the event the Adjusted Standard is not extended; and (3) explain the
    31
    disturbance that will be caused to Piasa Park
    if the Adjusted Standard is not extended.
    32
    THE ADJUSTED STANDARD SHOULD BE EXTENDED BECAUSE THE GOALS BEHIND
    33
    THE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD'S2000 DECISION HAVE BEEN ATTAINED
    Have you
    read the decisions rendered by the Illinois Pollution Control Board on
    September 7
    and October 19, 2000?
    Yes, I have.
    What conclusions,
    if
    any, have you drawn from those orders?
    The first conclusion was that a great deal of thought went into the formation ofboth orders. I
    am an attorney in private practice in the city
    of Alton. In fact, I serve as the attorney for the
    City
    of Alton and the Village of Godfrey. Although I have been in private practice for a
    number
    of years, I am not accustomed to reading the orders of the Illinois Pollution Control
    Board. But I was impressed by the detail analysis
    of the facts in the Board'sdecisions. The
    final decision appears to be well reasoned and in the best interests
    of everyone.
    It
    is clear to me that the Pollution Control Board decided that the Adjusted Standard should
    expire in October, 2007. But it also appears clear to me that the Pollution Control Board and
    all
    of the other parties-the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Illinois-American
    Water
    Company-intended that the Adjusted Standard would continue to be accepted if the
    goal behind the adoption
    of the Standard was met. As I read the Board'sdecisions, the goal
    was to achieve a sediment reduction flowing into the Mississippi River
    of 2 to 1. That is, the
    reduced sediment achieved by the efforts
    of the Great Rivers Land Trust should have reduced
    sediment from Piasa Creek going into the Mississippi River by twice the amount
    of sediment
    being discharged from the Alton water treatment facility. From what I have read in the filings
    Electronic Filing, Received, Clerk's Office, August 24, 2007
    53
    in the present case, the Great Rivers Land Trust and Illinois-American Water Company have
    54
    already exceeded the ten year goal
    of 2 to 1.
    55
    I find it incredible and against logic that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency now
    56
    takes the position that the Adjusted Standard should no longer be applicable for the Alton
    57
    plant and that all
    of the good work previously done shall not be accepted as a final resolution
    58
    of the issue presented. This is especially puzzling to me since I have been informed that
    59
    Illinois-American Water Company is willing to maintain the sediment reduction projects in
    60
    the Piasa Creek Watershed.
    61
    The offset proj ect which sprung out
    of this Adjusted Standard has worked beautifully. Such
    62
    plans should be encouraged and not discouraged by the state
    of Illinois.
    63
    TRUCK TRAFFIC AND LAGOONS ARE BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND BAD FOR
    64
    OUR COMMUNITY
    65
    Q.
    66
    67
    A.
    68
    Q.
    69
    70
    71
    A.
    72
    73
    74
    75
    76
    77
    78
    79
    As a neighbor of Illinois-American Water Company'sAlton plant, do you travel along
    the scenic highway
    that runs between the plant and the river?
    Sure I do. I drive along that road on a regular basis.
    What impact, if any, do you believe the added truck traffic would have on the scenic
    highway in the event residuals
    had to be hauled from lagoons at the water treatment
    plant?
    The impact would be significant, in my opinion. According to pleadings filed by Illinois-
    American Water Company in the original case in 2000, and filed more recently in 2007, there
    could be anywhere from 2 truckloads to 17 truckloads traveling on the scenic roadway each
    day. From what I have read, this evidence is not contradicted
    by Illinois EPA.
    The Great River Road has recently been named one
    of the "Seven Wonders of Illinois" by the
    Illinois Bureau
    of Tourism. For decades, our community has been very proud of this road.
    Our pride goes well beyond transportation.
    It is a beautiful area. No one would want to
    encourage heavy truck traffic along a road with such beauty.
    But there would be no way
    around it. The Great River Road is the only point of access from the water treatment plant to
    Electronic Filing, Received, Clerk's Office, August 24, 2007
    80
    81
    82
    83
    84
    85
    86
    87
    Q.
    88
    89
    A.
    90
    91
    92
    93
    94
    95
    96
    or from local landfills. Truck traffic into and out
    of the water plant has been minimal since
    the new facility was built seven years ago. With the lagoon system, that truck traffic would
    increase substantially, and it would present a real detriment to the Great River Road. In
    addition, that truck traffic would also have to pass over a well-established and heavily used
    bike trail that runs parallel to the northern edge
    of the Great River Road. The bike trail is
    between the road and the Alton water treatment facility. So, heavy trucks would have to drive
    over that bike path going into the facility and coming out
    of the facility.
    What impact, if any, do you believe the truck traffic would have on the area between
    plant and your house?
    When Illinois-American Water Company built its new plant, it entered into an agreement with
    myself and some
    of my other neighbors. According to that agreement, the water company
    was to grade, seed and maintain the acreage to the north
    of its buildings. This is the acreage
    which otherwise would be used for lagoons and truck loading. The water company has
    fulfilled its obligations under the contract. The area is now a beautiful, tranquil area filled
    with native prairie grasses. My neighbors and I have grown to enjoy and appreciate this area.
    But I also want to point out that numerous bird species and other animals have made the area
    their home and their hunting grounds. Without question, the construction
    of lagoons and
    97
    roadways for the heavy equipment and trucks would destroy this natural habitat and create
    98
    unwelcome noise pollution.
    99
    PIASA PARK
    100
    Q.
    101
    102
    A.
    103
    I believe there is a park near the Alton plant, Piasa Park. Please describe Piasa Park for
    the Board.
    Piasa Park is a new park along the Great River. With assistance from state and federal
    funding sources, the City
    of Alton established this park after the Adjusted Standard was issued
    Electronic Filing, Received, Clerk's Office, August 24, 2007
    104
    105
    106
    107
    108
    109
    Q.
    110
    111
    A.
    112
    113
    114
    115
    116
    Q.
    117
    118
    A.
    119
    120
    121
    122
    123
    124
    125
    126
    by the Pollution Control Board. One
    of the dominant features of the park is a new Piasa Bird
    painted on the face
    of the limestone bluff. The painting was done by a cooperative effort of
    volunteers from throughout the community. Alton residents are very proud of this new park.
    It includes a parking are which is utilized by people not only enjoying the park, but bringing
    their bikes to the bike trail.
    What impact would there be to the park, if any, if the Adjusted Standard was not
    extended?
    If the Adjusted Standard is not extended and treatment lagoons are built at the water treatment
    plant, there will be an impact from truck traffic. Heavy trucks, hauling tons
    of soil, will enter
    and exit through the Piasa Park and its parking facilities. The trucks will have to drive over
    the bike path, too. This would substantially interfere with the ambiance, safety and use
    of the
    new City park.
    Do you have anything further to say to the Illinois Pollution Control Board, Mr.
    Schrempf?
    Yes. I beseech the Board to extend the Adjusted Standard or make it permanent. I do not
    understand why the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency would fully and
    enthusiastically support the Piasa Creek Watershed Project for offset trading in 2000, then
    oppose the offset project seven years later after it has become successful. But I know my
    personal beliefs and those
    of my neighbors and city officials in Alton and Godfrey-we
    support a continuation of the offset project, and we oppose lagoons and the truck traffic that
    would be incidental to the landfilling
    of the residual waste. I do not know anyone in our
    community who supports a termination
    of the Adjusted Standard. Therefore, I ask that the
    Board extend the Adjusted Standard and allow this valuable offset project to continue.
    Electronic Filing, Received, Clerk's Office, August 24, 2007
    127
    128
    Electronic Filing, Received, Clerk's Office, August 24, 2007
    STATE OF ILLINOIS
    )
    )
    COUNTY OF MADISON
    )
    AFFIDAVIT
    I, James E. Schrempf, after being duly sworn on oath, state that the foregoing Testimony is
    true and correct to the best
    of my knowledge and belief.
    SUBSCRIBED
    AND SWORN to
    '"
    ,~,
    I-~'
    before me thisc;2
    r
    day
    of August, 2007
    Electronic Filing, Received, Clerk's Office, August 24, 2007

    Back to top