BEFORE THE ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
IN THE MATTER OF:
WATER QUALITY STANDARDS AND
EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS FOR THE
CHICAGO AREA WATERWAY SYSTEM
AND THE LOWER DES PLAINES
RIVER:
PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO
35 111. Adm
.
Code Parts 301, 302
,
303 and
304
R08-9
(Rulemaking
-
Water)
METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT OF GREATER
CHICAGO'S PRE-FILED QUESTIONS TO ALAN L. JIRIK
1.
On page 3 of your testimony, concerning reversing the flow of the Chicago River away
from Lake Michigan, you state, "Indeed this function remains important even today as
evidenced by advisories and beach closings that often result when the locks are opened to
prevent urban flooding during extreme rain events."
A.
You refer to a National Geographic Magazine article from 2002 in support of the
link between opening the locks and beach closings. Are you aware of any
instances when the locks were opened to Lake Michigan in the last five years
(2003-2007)?
B.
Are you aware of any factors that would result in advisories or beach closings
other than opening the locks of the CAWS?
C.
Could advisories or beach closings be caused by bacteria contained in stormwater
runoff?
Animal droppings?
2.
On page 5, you mention that the quality of the physical habitat of the Chicago Sanitary
and Ship Canal ranges from poor to very poor and thus restricts the diversity of aquatic
life supportable by the Sanitary and Ship Canal. You describe much of the bank along
the Sanitary and Ship Canal
as consisting
of vertical concrete or rock walls, or steep earth
or rock
slopes.
A.
Do you know whether recreational fishing has been observed in the section of the
Sanitary and Ship Canal near Corn Products?
B.
Are you aware of any canoeing, kayaking, or jet skiing taking place in the section
of the Sanitary and Ship Canal near Corn Products?
C.
Are you aware of any recreational boating taking place in the section of the
Sanitary and Ship Canal near Corn Products?
THIS FILING
IS BEING SUBMITTED
ON RECYCLED PAPER
Electronic Filing - Received, Clerk's Office, August 25, 2008
2
3.
On page 6, you mention the fish barrier on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Is Corn
Products located upstream or downstream of the fish barrier?
Dated: August 25, 2008
By:
Fredric P. Andes
David T.
Ballard
BARNES
&
THORNBURG LLP
Suite 4400
One North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(312) 357-1313
482124v1
Respectfully submitted,
METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION
DIST
GRE,ATFJA CHJqAGO
Fre 'c P. Andes
2
Electronic Filing - Received, Clerk's Office, August 25, 2008
