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Assisting Illinois Communties
Topics
Learn More About the Resources Available For Local Government! Representatives
from Illinois EPA will be available to answer your specific questions.
Land
- Brownfields
- Brownfields are abandoned or underused industrial and commercial
properties. The Office of Brownfields Assistance offers grants, loans,
and technical assistance to local government for redevelopment of brownfields.
- Household Hazardous Waste Collections
- This program provides the public with a free, safe, efficient and
environmentally sound method to dispose of potentially hazardous materials
commonly found in the home. Local governments may cosponsor these collections
in their communities.
- Open Dumping
- Abandoned piles of garbage, construction debris, unwanted appliances
or other refuse, known as open dumps, pose a risk to public health and
safety and the environment.
- Site Remediation Program
- A fee-based voluntary program that offers review and evaluation services,
technical assistance and no further remediation determinations for cleanup
of sites containing hazardous substances which pose a threat to human
health and the environment.
- Used Tire Program
- The Illinois EPA conducts used/waste tire cleanups for individuals
and units of local government to eliminate the presence of improperly
managed used/waste tires in the environment. The Illinois EPA will discontinue
the countywide used/waste tire collection program in favor of a used
tire management education program designed to ensure the proper management
of used tires.
Air
- Asbestos
- To protect the public and the environment from asbestos exposure,
asbestos is regulated during demolition, renovation and disposal. Information
on the proper removal and disposal of asbestos and asbestos containing
material will be available.
- Air Permitting
- Learn how Illinois EPA’s Air permit process works, including
determinations of what sources need to be permitted, peaker power plants
and requirements of the Clean Air Act.
- Ethanol
- Ethanol is a renewable fuel produced from plants that can help reduce
air pollution from vehicles. Information on the uses of ethanol and
ethanol refueling stations throughout the state will be available.
- Green Fleets Program
- An incentive program where businesses, government, and other organizations
gain recognition and additional marketing opportunities for having clean,
alternative fuel vehicles in their fleet.
- Partners for Clean Air Program
- A coalition of regional businesses, transportation organizations,
health advocacy groups and local governments committed to improving
overall air quality and public health by advocating voluntary actions
in Chicago.
- Vehicle Emissions Testing Program
- Since 1986, Illinois EPA has contracted with a private vendor to perform
vehicle emission testing in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan
areas in order to meet requirements under the federal Clean Air Act.
The program operates 35 inspection stations (28 stations in Chicago
area, 7 stations in the Metro East St. Louis Area) in the state.
Water
- Ammonia Limits on Lagoons
- Ammonia mixing zone rules have been adopted and discharge permits
for new or expanded lagoons will now contain ammonia limits.
- Community Water Supply Testing Program
- State laboratory chemical and microbiological testing program is designed
to provide affordable laboratory services for municipalities and other
entities supplying safe drinking water to the citizens of Illinois.
- Conservation 2000
- An initiative that offers three grant programs designed to identify
the causes and sources of lake impairment and obtain recommendations
for future lake protection/restoration practices; educate citizens about
Illinois lakes and watersheds; and protect, restore, and enhance publicly-owned
lakes.
- Drinking Water/Wastewater Loan Program
- Two low interest loan programs designed for local government for the
construction of community water supply or wastewater facilities.
- Drinking Water/Wastewater Operation Program
- Illinois EPA staff in both the drinking water and water pollution
control programs routinely provide technical assistance to help municipalities
achieve and maintain compliance. Assistance may range from recommendations
made to plant operating staff during inspections to participation in
a more formal, longer term program. Also, Illinois EPA personnel can
help provide information to aid municipalities in identifying and addressing
water and wastewater facility security concerns.
- Groundwater/Source Water Protection Program
- Restoring, protecting and enhancing the State’s groundwater as
a natural and public resource is the goal of the Agency’s groundwater
protection program. Further, the goal is to protect watersheds used
as a source of drinking water.
- Non-Point Source Pollution
- Precipitation moving over and through the ground picks up pollutants
from farms, cities, mined lands, and other landscapes and carries these
pollutants into rivers, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater. Funding is
available to implement nonpoint source corrective and preventative projects
or to develop programs to educate the public about non-point source
pollution.
- Radium/Arsenic Drinking Water Rules
- Recently published federal regulations will require a reduction in
the acceptable levels of radium by December 2003 and arsenic by January
2006.
- Storm Water
- Overflows from combined sewers and sanitary sewers are subject to
regulation by both State and Federal agencies. New permit requirements
for separate storm sewers in urban areas are soon to come into effect.
All the areas are receiving increased Federal and State attention.
- Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program
- A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that
a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards. Illinois
EPA must identify water bodies not meeting water quality standards and
then establish TMDLs for water quality restoration.
- Unsewered Grant Program
- This program provides grant assistance to unsewered units of local
government for construction of centralized collection and treatment
facilities.
Multi-Media
- Environmental Helpline
- A toll free service that connects you with Illinois EPA to obtain
plain language answers to your environmental questions.
- Green Communities
- This demonstration grant program provides funds to communities to
develop a vision, goals, and an action plan for improving the local
environment. Environmental issues that can be addressed include clean
air and water; energy efficiency; waste reduction; natural areas protection
and restoration; clean fleets; and environmental education.
- Pollution Prevention Program
- Illinois EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention employs a staff
of field engineers and technical specialists that can help industrial
and local government facilities identify ways to prevent pollution while
saving money and improving operating efficiency. This program also recruits,
places and trains college students to work on pollution prevention and
energy efficiency projects at sponsoring facilities at no cost during
the summer. Statewide conferences and regional workshops are held periodically
to inform facilities about the latest developments in pollution prevention
techniques and practices.
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