ALLIANCE
    FOR
    THE
    GREAT JAKES
    ENSURING A LIVING
    RESOURCE EOR ALL GENERATIONS
    September 23, 2009
    John Therriault, Assistant
    Clerk
    Illinois Pollution
    Control Board
    ‘
    24
    200g
    100
    West
    Randolph Street, Suite 11-500
    OF
    Chicago, Illinois 60601
    OI(LItIOr;
    coJ0IS
    oOar
    RE:
    Rule
    Making R08-009
    Dear Illinois
    Pollution Control Board:
    On
    behalf of the
    Alliance for the Great Lakes, representing 8,000 plus volunteers and
    members,
    a
    partner
    network of 100 plus other mission-based groups, and a prestigious
    board of more than 25
    established and respected
    professionals
    in
    various private and public sectors, we are writing to
    express our 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
    non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of this region’s
    watersheds and as
    users of the river, we 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 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.
    17
    N.
    State Street • Suite
    1390 Chicago, Illinois 60602 • T: (312) 939-0838 • F: (312) 939-2708
    e-
    i1Iinoisgreatlakes.org
    700 Fulton Street
    • Suite A• Grand Haven, Michigan 49417 T: (616) 850-0745 F: (616)
    850-0765
    michigan@greatlakes.org
    1845 N.
    Farwell Ave.
    Suite 100
    Milwaukee, WI
    53202 • T: (414) 277-7927 • F: (414) 273-7293 • wisconsingreatlakes.org
    P.O. Box
    30247•
    Cleveland, OH•
    44130 T: (216)
    630-8140 • F: (312) 939-2708 ohiogreatlakes.org
    www.greatlakes.org
    Chlorine Free, Vegetable Based Ink,
    50%
    Total Recycled\30% Post
    Consumer
    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 rn4gicbullet 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
    recreatiohal, 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.
    For further information on the case for disinfection, please refer
    to an Alliance for the Great
    Lakes report entitled, “Protecting
    Public Health, Caring for Chicago’s Waters (An Agenda
    For
    Action)” 2007, found online at
    http://www.greatlakes.org/Document.Doc?id=142.
    Thank you,
    Eliance for the
    Great
    Lakes
    17 N. State
    St., Suite 1390
    Chicago, IL
    60602
    312-939-0838
    17
    N.
    State Street • Suite
    1390 Chicago,
    Illinois 60602 • T: (312) 939-0838 • F: (312)
    939-2708
    • e-
    illinoisgreat1akes.org
    700
    Fulton
    Street
    • Suite
    A • Grand 1-laven,
    Michigan 49417 T: (616) 850-0745 • F: (616) 850-0765
    • michigangreatIakes.org
    1845
    N. Farwell Ave.
    • Suite 100
    Milwaukee, WI 53202 • T:
    (414) 277-7927 . F: (414) 273-7293 • wisconsingreatlakes.org
    P.O.
    13ox30247•
    Cleveland, OH•
    44130 T: (216)630-8140.
    F:
    (312) 939-2708
    ohio@greatlakes.org
    yygreatlakes.org
    Chlorine
    Free,
    Vegetable Based Ink, 50% Total Recycled\30% Post Consumer

    Back to top