2000 Annual Environmental Conditions Report
Preface
Illinois continues to build a better partnership with USEPA that more
clearly focuses on specific environmental progress goals and communicates
the results to the public in a clearer and more concise fashion. The 2000
Annual Environmental Conditions Report continues to reflect the performance
measurement system jointly adopted by the Environmental Council of States
and the USEPA.
- The new Air Quality Index (AQI), which replaces the Pollutant Standards
Index (PSI), includes the 8-hr ozone standard. It also includes six
categories of air quality: good; moderate; unhealthy for sensitive groups;
unhealthy; very unhealthy; and hazardous. The percentage of days with
good or moderate air quality declined in 2000 as a result of the change
to the AQI. If the PSI had been used, the percentage of days in both
the Chicago and Metro-East areas with good or moderate air quality would
be 100%.
- We also continue to see more waterways achieve a good condition and
to see some reduction in nonpoint source impacts. The population served
by safe drinking water supplies increased due to an improvement or reduction
in nitrate excursions as well as a reduction in microbial problems.
- New information is provided on the amount of sludge produced, utilized
and disposed.
- The cumulative total area remediated since 1981 is almost 49,000
acres or 54% of the environmental objective of 90,000 acres by 2005.
- Since 1987, the number of active landfills has fallen, however, landfill
capacity has increased during the same period due to expansion of existing
landfills and new landfill construction. The amount of waste disposed
at the landfills has not changed significantly over the past 10 years.
However, the amount reported in 1999 represents a 12.9% increase which
may signal a trend that merits careful watching.
- The backlog of open dump sites needing cleanup has decreased to 12%.
This means that over 88% (or 3,161 out of 3,573) of all open dumps discovered
since 1997 have been cleaned up. About 50% of all open dumps are cleaned
up within 12 months of their discovery.
The Agency welcomes comments and suggestions on this sixth report. We
also hope this report provides useful information for the public and interest
groups that have a stake in environmental protection.
Thomas V. Skinner, Director
July 2001
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