November
9,
2008
S
OFFICE
NOV
1
2008
posiTAt
OF
1L.LINO
Is
John
Therriault,
Assistant
Clerk
rol
GOard
Illinois
Pollution
Control
Board
100
West
Randolph
Street,
Suite
11-500
Chicago
, Illinois
60601
p
“
Dear
Mr.
Therriault:
RE:
Rule
Making
R08-009
:
For
Clean
Water
and Healthy
Fish
We
are members
and
friends
of the
Faith
and Public
Issues
program
at St.
Pauls
United
Church
of
Christ
in
Chicago.
We
are
interested
in
preserving
and
improving our
natural
resources.
We
have
signed
the
enclosed
petition
to
express
our
support
for
the
recommended
water
quality
standard
improvements
proposed
by
the
Illinois
EPA
for
the Chicago
Area
Waterways
and
Lower
Des
Plaines
River
as
rule
making
R08-009.
We think
it
is
critical
that:
•
The
Metropolitan
Water
Reclamation
District
disinfect
sewage
treatment
plant
effluent
to
kill
bacteria
and
protect
public
health
and
•
Temperature
and
dissolved
oxygen
standards
be implemented
to
protect
fish
and help
them
flourish.
We
know
the
entire
Chicago
Area
Waterways system
has
vastly
improved
through
the
leadership
of
agencies
like
the
Metropolitan
Water
Reclamation
District
and
its
Tunnel
and
Reservoir
Plan.
Much
work
has
been
done
to
improve
habitat
and control
pollution
that
in
the Chicago
River
system,
species
of
fish have
climbed
from
under
10 to
nearly
70, including
game
fish
favorites
like
large-mouth
bass
and
bluegill
and
yellow
perch.
But
progress
can
and should
be made.
Because
a
review
like this
comes
along
only
every
20
years,
right
now
we
have
a
once-in-a-generation
opportunity
to
continue
our
momentum
by
supporting
the
Illinois
EPA
recommendations
so
we can
make
the next
quantum
leap
forward
in
water
quality.
We
know
that
if
we want
the Chicago
River
to continue
to improve
and
serve
our
communities
as
a
recreational,
natural
and
economic
resource,
disinfection
and
the
rest of
the
Illinois
EPA’s
recommendations
are
essential.
Sincerely,
Members
and
friends
of
the Faith
and
Public
Issues
program
at
St. Pauls.
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FOR
CLEAN
WATER
AND
HEALTHY
FiSh
PETITION
TO
THE
ILLINOIS
POLLUTION
CONTROL
BOARD
To
adopt
recommended
water
quality
standard
improvements
proposed
by
the
Illinois
EPA
for
the
Chicago
Area
Waterways
and
the
Lower
Des
Plaines
River
as
Rule
Making
R08-009
Print
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Address
Zip
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November
13, 2008
CLV
John
Therriault,
Assistant
Clerk
NOV
Illinois
100
WestPollutionRandolph
Control
Street,Board
Suite
11-500
POIIUtI(-,fl
sr,-
o
Q
“I_INOIs
2008
Chicago,
Illinois
60601
fltrol
RE: Rule
Making R08-009
Dear Illinois
Pollution
Control Board:
D
J
I am writing
to express
my support
for
the recommended
water
quality
standard
improvements
proposed
by
the
Illinois
EPA
for
the
Chicago Area
Waterways
(CAWS)
and
Lower Des
Plaines
River
as rule
making
R08-009.
These changes
are long
overdue
and
recommended
only after
five years
of study
on the CAWS
and
seven
on the Lower
Des Plaines.
We should
all
support the
Illinois
EPA’s
effort
and
approve
the
changes.
As
a
Chicago
citizen
who
uses
the
River
on
a
regular
basis,
I think it is
critical that:
•
The Metropolitan
Water Reclamation
District
disinfect
sewage
treatment
plant
effluent to kill
bacteria
and protect
public health
and
•
Temperature
and
dissolved
oxygen
standards
be
implemented
to
protect
fish
and
help them
flourish.
Over the
years,
the
entire
CAWS
system
has changed
dramatically.
The
water,
once
full of raw
sewage
and
industrial
filth,
has
vastly
improved
through
the leadership
of agencies
like the Metropolitan
Water
Reclamation
District
and
its Tunnel
and
Reservoir Plan.
Public
access has
increased
considerably
as local
governments
incorporated
these
rivers into
their master
planning.
The
City
of Chicago,
the Chicago
Park
District, and
suburbs
like
Blue Island
and
Skokie
have
poured millions
into
river access
for paddling,
fishing,
and crew. And
so much
work has been
done to
improve
habitat and
control pollution
that
in the
Chicago River
system,
species of
fish
have
climbed
from
under
10 to nearly
70,
including
game
fish
favorites
like large-mouth
bass
and
bluegill
and
yellow
perch.
Because
a review like
this only
comes along
every
20 years,
right
now we
have
a
once-in-a-generation
opportunity
to continue
our
momentum
by
supporting
the Illinois
EPA
recommendations
so
we
can make
the
next
quantum
leap
forward
in
water
quality.
There is
no magic bullet
and or
all-in-one
measure
that
can eliminate
water
pollution
but we
know
that
if
we want
the Chicago
River
to
continue
to
improve and
serve
our communities
as a
recreational,
natural
and
economic resource,
disinfection
and
the rest
of
the Illinois
EPA’s
recommendations
are
essential.
I believe
that
as a
society it
is
our
moral obligation
to ensure
that
we
work to
achieve the
highest
potential
for
shared resources,
including
and
especially
water.
And
as stewards
of these
natural
resources,
we
should not
be seeking
the minimum
in improvement,
but the maximum.
Thank
you,
Abraham
P.
Kelly
1543 W. Arthur
Avenue,
#1C
Chicago,
Illinois 60626
773.573.8650