Environmental Progress - Spring 2003

Illinois Continues to Move Ahead

Important programs launched for air, land and water

This issue of Environmental Progress highlights a number of steps forward in the last few months as Illinois continues to be a leader in improving the quality of our air, land and water.

On May 1, Illinois became the first state in the Midwest to implement statewide regulations that will reduce, by 56 percent, a major pollutant from power plants that contributes to smog formation during the summer.

The nitrogen oxide regulations are an important step in Illinois’ ongoing effort to meet the federal Clean Air Act standards for ozone. As Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich noted, “Illinois’ leadership in implementing these regulations on power plants will have positive benefits for the health and environment of our citizens.”

The regulations will result in a 63,000 ton reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions - the equivalent of all the nitrogen oxides put out by the more than 4.5 million on-road vehicles in the Chicago metro area.

In March, Illinois EPA and Partners for Clean Air were honored to receive a national “Clean Air Excellence Award” from the U.S. EPA for last summer’s innovative “Green Pays on Green Days” program in the Chicago metro area. This fun and educational program motivated more than 41,000 individuals in the Chicago metro area to “take the clean air pledge” and take green actions to improve air quality during the summer. We are looking forward to citizens again taking the “clean air pledge” this summer and participating in our “Green Pays on Green Days” program.

Finally, on the air front, Illinois EPA sponsored a stop at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield in May for veteran actor and environmental clean energy activist Dennis Weaver’s “Drive to Survive” caravan of alternate-fuel vehicles. It highlighted the importance of clean fuels and clean-burning vehicles and the caravan also stopped at a new E-85 (85 percent ethanol fuel) pump in Pontiac along I-55. This is an area in which Illinois EPA has been very active in partnership with the private sector. In April, we sponsored an important conference on clean diesel fuels in Lisle (“Trucks and Buses in the 2lst Century Environment”) and our Green Fleets program continues to expand with “Green Fuels” and“ Green Dealers” initiatives.

This issue of Progress also highlights the continuing efforts to improve the quality of our waterways. I was recently pleased to announce a comprehensive multi-year evaluation of the current conditions and potential for expanded uses of the Chicago Waterway System. This in-depth study will show us how far we have come in cleaning up the Chicago River and its tributaries and what still needs to be done in the future. As Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter, noted: “This is a major step toward finishing the job of cleaning up the Chicago River and making it safe again for recreation and wildlife.”

We recently launched Project SCALE—-Streambank Cleanup and Lakeshore Enhancement——which will provide grants to help support 37 local cleanups of stream and river banks by helping pay for litter bags and disposal costs for these important volunteer events around our state. In this time of an acute state budget crisis, it is important to note that the Chicago Waterway Study and Project SCALE are being funded entirely through federal grants we were able to obtain.

We continue to make progress in cleaning up contaminated sites from the past. In May, we held another well-attended Brownfields Conference and presented grants to 17 communities to assist in the cost of environmental assessments and cleanup plans. This issue of Progress also highlights the lead contamination cleanup efforts in East St. Louis.

The issue includes an article about the launch of Project TREAD— Tire Reduction, Education and Disposal—-that is seeking additional assistance from citizens and local officials in identifying abandoned tire piles and expanding the success of the Agency’s Used Tire Unit. This is especially important as we enter another summer with the threat of West Nile Virus and other mosquito borne illnesses that may use waterfilled tires for breeding.

Children and youth continue to be an important constituency of Illinois EPA and in this issue of Progress you can read about the new Environmental Excellence Award presented at the State Science Fair in Champaign in May to four students and the 16th annual poster and prose contest winners ——5th and 6th grade students recognized for their creative works about the importance of safe, clean water.

Several Illinois EPA staff members again joined Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in the annual Lincoln Trail Hike litter pickup and were recognized this year by a special proclamation from Gov. Blagojevich. Finally, I would like to highlight some recent changes in the senior staff at Illinois EPA.

Ron Burke has joined us as Associate Director and will oversee the work of the Office of Pollution Prevention, Office of Community Relations, Division of Environmental Outreach and Environmental Quality and Innovation, and act as key policy advisor in those areas as well. Ron was previously with the Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest and with the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago and brings to us a wealth of knowledge in the environmental field.

John Cross, who has been our Legislative Liaison, has accepted the position of Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison, as well as handling federal and special legislative and non-legislative projects. Jessica Pickens, who has served IEPA ably as Assistant Legislative Liaison, is now our Chief Legislative Liaison and has been joined by Brock Phelps as Legislative Liaison. Happy Reading!