December

19

th

2008

ECEVED

John Therriault, Assistant Clerk

CLERK’S

OFFICE

Illinois Pollution Control Board

100 West Randolph Street, Suite 11-500

DEC

2 t

2008

Chicago, Illinois 60601

\_—

STATE

OF

LUNOIS

RE: Rule Making R08-009

/

PoHutior

Contrd

Board

Dear

Illinois Pollution Control

Board:

On behalf of my wife and I. 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

recreational tourist, that enjoys the Chicago River for canoeing, 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,

Robert and Barbara

Bevan

1467 Castillion Dr NE

Warren, Ohio

44484-1406

330-856-2375