January 21; 2008

Illinois

JhnJherriau1t,

Pollution

Assistant

Control

BoardClerk

LEAK

v

ED

100

West

Rand+ph Street,

Suite

11-500

Chicago,

Illinois

60601

MAY

2

L

2009

STArEOF

RE: Rule Making

R08-009

PoIIutj

0

Cortr,OI8

Dear Illinois

Pollution Control

Board:

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.

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 Mpolitan 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,

Name:

LN

‘‘‘

Address:

\

Telephone:

---

January

21,

2008

RECEVED

Jhn_Therriault,

Assistant

Clerk

CLERKS

OFFICE

Illinois

Pollution

Control

Board

AAV

9

‘

100

West

Randolph

Street,

Suite

11-500

L

2009

Chicago,

Illinois

60601

STATE

OF

ILLINOIS

RE:

Rule

Making

R08-009

PoHution

Control

Board

Dear

Illinois

Pollution

Control

Board:

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.

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

Mpolitan

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,

Name:

tkM¼Z-

---

Address:

-7

Ik’k

Telephone:

fl•

270

D21

---

January

21, 2008

kthnJherriault

Assistant

Clerk

Illinois

100 West

Pollution

Randolph

Control

Street,

Board

Suite

11-500

-ECEBV

CLERK’S

OFFICE

Chicago,

Illinois

60601

MAY

22

2009

RE:

Rule Making

R08-009

STATE

OF

ILLINOIS

Dear

Illinois

Pollution

Control

Board:

Pollution

Control

Board

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.

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

M

politan

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.

9_’i.

tiian.

I

you,

Name:

(I()

/

L

Address:

C

2

-I-

L)

‘

Telephone:

3’]

7

3/

/

‘—/5

---

January

21; 2008

ECEUVED

JnJherriau1t,

Assistant

Clerk

CLERK’S

OFFICE

Illinois

Pollution

Control

Board

100

West Randolph

Street,

Suite 11-500

MAY

222(109

Chicago

Illinois

60601

ATE

OF

ILLINOiS

RE: Rule

Making

R08-009

POlIt,

Control

Board

Dear Illinois

Pollution

Control Board:

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.

I

think it

is

critical

that:

•

The

Metropolitan

Water Reclamation

District

disinfect

sewage

treatment

plant

effluent

to kill

bacteria

and

protect public

health and

o

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

fifl,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

éommunities

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,

Name:

c/

cJe

Address:

‘‘

Telephone:

---

January

21, 2008

JhnJherriault,

Assistant

Clerk

E

CE

§

V

E

Illinois

Pollution

Control Board

CLERK’S

OFFICE

V

100 West

Randolph

Street Suite

11-500

Chicago, Illinois

60601

1

22009

RE: Rule

Making R08-009

SIATE

OriUifOfl

OF

Control

ILLINOIS

Board

Dear Illinois

Pollution

Control

Board:

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.

V

V

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.

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

M(opolitan

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.

V

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

óommunities

as a recreational,

natural

V

and economic

resource,

disinfection

and

th 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,

V

//VV!Vyk4

Name:

%C((V/

t(Vy

V

Address:

iItq

L,LVVV

JI

Telephone:

g

LII?

(

11,,

---

January

21; 2008

JhnJherriault,

Illinois

100

West

Pollution

RantHph

Assistant

Control

Street,

BoardClerk

Suite

11-500

RE

CLEHK’S

CE

OFFICE

Chicago, Illinois

60601

MAY

2

j7Q9

RE:

Dear

Rule

Illinois

Making

PollutionR08-009

Control Board:

STATE

OIIUtfOfl

OF

Controi

ILLINO,$

BOarc

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.

I think

it is critical that:

o

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 Me(opolitan

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

seekingthe minimum

in

improvement,

but

the maximum.

Thank

you,

Name:

I

Address:

\J’

Telephone:

---

January 21,

2008

JohnJherriault,

Assistant Clerk

Illinois

Pollution

Control

Board

100

West Randolph Street,

Suite 11-500

Chicago,

Illinois

60601

RE:

Rule Making R08-009

Dear Illinois

Pollution Control

Board:

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.

I think it is critical

that:

o

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 M6fpolitan

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.

RECEVED

CLERK’S

OFFICE

MAY

22

2009

Pollution

STATE

OF

Control

ILLINOIS

8

oard

Thank

you,

Name:

La

(i,i’I

a

Address:

Telephone:

tdo

yyu(

---

January 21, 2008

khnJherriau1t,

Assistant

Clerk

illinois Pollution Control

Board

100

West Ranh,+ph Street,

Suite 11-500

ERK’S

OFFICE

•

Chicago

Illinois 60601

hAy

‘‘“

RE:

Rule

Making R08-009

Dear Illinois Pollution

Control

Board:

Corjt

ro,

ooard

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.

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 M(opolitan

Water

Reclamation District

and its Tunnel and Reservoir

Plan. Public

access has increased

considerably

as local

govemments

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

he 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,

Address:

Name

23

L

S

7

Telephone:

---

January

21; 2008

JohnJherriault,

Illinois Pollution

Assistant

Control BoardClerk

R

V

D

100

West

Ranlülph

Street, Suite

11-500

8

OFFICE

Chicago, Illinois

60601

MAY

2

2

2009

RE:

Rule

Making

R08-009

SThTE

J;:NOIs

Dear Illinois

Pollution Control

Board:

OErc1

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.

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 M(opolitan

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.

V

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 th 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,

Name

Address:

C

-

Telephone:

‘Zg

Sz—f

‘Z

t9

V

---

January

21, 2008

JhnJfherriault,

Assistant

Clerk

Illinois

Pollution

Control

Board

CLE

VE

100

West Randrlpi

Street,

Suite

11-500

‘‘

OFp,

Chicago,

Illinois

60601

MAy

2

22009

RE:

Rule

Making

R08-009

7ArE

LINOI

Dear

Illinois

Pollution

Control

Board:

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.

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

Mopolitan

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,

Address:

Telephone: