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BEFORE THE ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
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IN
THE MATTER OF:
PROPOSED EXTENSION OF
ADmSTED
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
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AS 2007-2
(Adjusted Standard)
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TESTIMONY OF MICHAEL J. CAMPION
WITNESS IDENTIFICATION AND BACKGROUND
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Q.
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Please state your name and business address.
My name is Michael J. Campion. My business address is 6810 Godfrey Road, Godfrey,
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Illinois 62035.
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By whom are you employed?
I am the Mayor of the Village of Godfrey, Illinois, and a farmer.
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PURPOSE OF TESTIMONY
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What is the purpose of your testimony in this proceeding?
I want to offer testimony on behalf of the Village of Godfrey in support of the Amended
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Petition filed by the Illinois-American Water Company. I have four points to make: (1) to
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explain the benefits we have observed in
our community as a result of the partnership forged
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between the
water company and Great Rivers Land Trust; (2) to explain some of the financial
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consequences I expect to follow
if the Pollution Control Board denies the relief requested by
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the water company; (3) to explain the beneficial economic impact of the water company's
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contribution here in the Piasa Creek Watershed; and (4) to encourage the Pollution Control
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Board to extend the Adjusted Standard.
Electronic Filing, Received, Clerk's Office, August 24, 2007
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COMMUNITY
BENEFITS
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What benefits have you observed in the Godfrey community, Mayor Campion, as a
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result of
the partnership between Illinois-American Water Company and the Great
Rivers Land Trust?
I have observed a number of benefits. When the water company first contemplated entering
into a partnership with Great Rivers Land Trust, local residents in the Godfrey area and
elected officials from Godfrey and Alton came together to encourage this partnership. At the
time, the residents and elected officials were motivated because they did not want lagoons at
the new water plant, and they did not want increased truck traffic on our scenic highway, the
Great River Road, in order to haul residuals from the lagoons. So, there was an initial effort
involving the water company, an environmental organization, elected officials and residents
coming together for a common cause. That is good for our community. But after the water
company and Great Rivers Land Trust signed a contract and began work in the watershed,
good things continued to happen. Obviously, the environment benefited because projects
were put in place to prevent soils from running into Piasa Creek and the Mississippi River.
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addition, local residents (farmers, in particular) began to understand the benefits of sediment
reduction projects and took a real interest in having sediment reduction proj ects on their
property. I give the credit to Great Rivers Land Trust representatives for spreading the word
about those benefits. I have even heard that some farmers have sought out Great Rivers Land
Trust representatives to explore the possibility
of sediment reduction projects. So, there has
been an increase in environmental awareness in our community, and I attribute that to the
partnership between the water company and Great Rivers Land Trust.
Electronic Filing, Received, Clerk's Office, August 24, 2007
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What other benefits have you observed?
There have been financial benefits to the community, as well. Engineering firms are needed
to design the sediment reduction proj ects and construction companies are needed to build
those projects. Also, I am aware that some
of the farmers have been compensated for the
projects undertaken on their property. Expenditures like these are beneficial for our
community.
I also want to point out that the contributions made by the water company to support the Piasa
Creek Watershed Project have a ripple effect.
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is my understanding that Great Rivers Land
Trust has been awarded some grants by public and private entities to further support work in
our watershed. These grants were obtained because the Piasa Creek Watershed Project has
been so successful. I do not believe the project would have been successful without the
contributions
of Illinois-American Water Company.
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FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES
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Q.
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Do you believe there will be the financial consequences if the Pollution Control Board
does not extend the Adjusted Standard, Mayor Campion?
I am concerned that if the Adjusted Standard is not extended and lagoons have to be built to
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treat wastewater, it will mean higher water rates for Godfrey residents. Lagoons and the
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residual-handling that comes with lagoons at a treatment facility like the Alton plant are more
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expensive than the direct discharge option. These additional costs ultimately would be passed
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on to our local water ratepayers.
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THE BOARD SHOULD EXTEND THE ADJUSTED STANDARD
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Q.
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Is
there anything else you would like to tell the Board regarding the request to extend
the Adjusted
Standard?
Electronic Filing, Received, Clerk's Office, August 24, 2007
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Yes. We have had seven successful years
of reducing soil discharges into Piasa Creek and the
Mississippi River. I want to see that progress continued. One
of the projects implemented by
Great Rivers Land Trust has been the reconstruction
of Boy Scout Lake, which had been
nothing more than a dry lake bed for years due to the build up
of sedimentation. As I
understand it, there are at least 40 other projects in the watershed as welL All
of them result
in a direct benefit to the water quality in Piasa Creek and the Mississippi River. None
of this
would have happened without the Adjusted Standard.
If Illinois-American Water will
continue to fund more projects through 2010, and maintain projects to keep the 2 to 1 offset,
as they promise to do, there will be an even greater environmental benefit in our community.
We need it.
I also want to point out that the discharge
of residuals into the Mississippi River by the water
company has been the practice here for more than 100 years.
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is my understanding that this
direct discharge practice does not negatively effect the river environment. The water
company is discharging back into the river only what it originally removed from the river.
I hope the Pollution Control Board will consider this testimony and approve Illinois-American
Water Company'sPetition for extending the Adjusted Standard.
It
makes sense for local
residents in Godfrey.
It
makes no sense to disallow it, after seven successful years and the
many benefits to local residents and the local environment.
Electronic Filing, Received, Clerk's Office, August 24, 2007
STATE OF ILLINOIS
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COUNTY OF MADISON
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AFFIDAVIT
I, Michael J. Campion, 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
before me this
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of August, 2007
OFFICIAL SEAL
NOTARY PUBLIC STATE OF ILLINOIS
MY
COMMfSSION EXPIRES 2-11.2009
Electronic Filing, Received, Clerk's Office, August 24, 2007
