Environmental Progress - Summer 2003

We're also Doing "More With Less"

Budget problems require stretching resources

As everyone knows, these are difficult financial times for Illinois state government and our economy in general and Illinois EPA shares in the challenge of "doing more with less."

The fiscal crisis has resulted in some recent shifts in how the Agency's operations are funded and also emphasizes the importance of maximizing the resources we can obtain from the federal government and through enforcement efforts.

In recent months, because of 80 percent federal funding, we have been able to continue to assist many communities with public water supply and wastewater treatment infrastructure projects, through our low-interest revolving loan programs. One of the priorities now is to assist communities with naturally-occurring radium (radionuclides) levels in their drinking water supplies that exceed the federal standard with a December compliance deadline. For example, we worked with Lockport on a $5.3 million loan to enable them to install equipment to remove radionuclides as well as other upgrades. Knoxville, whose current water source also exceeds the radium standard, is using a $410,326 loan through IEPA to build water mains to connect to the nearby Galesburg public water supply. Spring Valley is using its $3 million in loan funds for a reverse osmosis treatment system to bring its water in compliance with the radium standard. Sugar Grove is also using a $1.35 million loan to install treatment equipment to remove radionuclides as well as to drill a new well.

We continue to provide this vital financial help to other communities that simply need to update older infrastructure. For example, a $2.5 million loan to Flossmoor will allow it to replace an older portion of its sewer system that has been plagued by backups in residential basements.

However, there are still unmet needs around our state that must be addressed and I have asked our state's Congressional delegation to work to secure additional funding for the loan programs. Under the Presidential budget, Illinois would receive an estimated $70 million for both programs while USEPA has estimated current drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs in our state at more than $300 million.

The federal Clean Water Act Section 319 program also continues to be an important source of funds for vital projects to reduce pollutants from "non-point sources" such as materials carried by rainwater flowing over parking lots and farm fields, and erosion, from degrading our state's waterways.

A recent example is a $700,000 grant for Springbrook Creek, a significant, biologically-diverse creek in DuPage County that has been targeted for restoration with a Section 319 grant through Illinois EPA to the Forest District of DuPage County. An innovative stream reconfiguration will improve water quality and habitats in the 1700-acre grassland preserve in Naperville. On-site materials and native vegetation will be used to stem erosion and stabilize the stream banks.

A $339,113 grant to reduce pollution and protect water quality on Lake Arlann in Pekin is an excellent example of a cooperative effort among several partners. In this case they include not only the Lake Arlann Drainage District and the city of Pekin but the Lake Arlann Homeowners Association. Together we are working to implement "best management practices" such as shoreline and ravine stabilization to reduce sedimentation by at least 7,800 tons per year.

New applications were taken this summer for the 319 program and we look forward to continuing these partnerships with other communities and organizations.

Another vital need for resources are the Superfund sites in our state, which have qualified for that status by posing significant environmental and health hazards.

We are working with Senator Dick Durbin and other members of our Congressional delegation on behalf of adequate funding for Superfund hazardous waste sites in Illinois.

Because of the inadequate federal funding, progress on our current highest-priority Superfund site, Jennison-Wright, an abandoned railroad-tie treating factory in Granite City, has come to a halt. Governor Blagojevich and I were extremely concerned that funding was not provided again for this site in a priority listing recently issued by U.S. EPA.

While we have demolished and removed several buildings, removed asbestos and other on-site waste, dioxin-contaminated soil and groundwater contamination pose an ongoing threat that needs to be addressed.

In addition to federal funding sources, we also continue to look to our enforcement programs to provide cost recovery, penalties and increasingly, "supplemental environmental projects" (SEPs).

SEPs are increasingly a part of the settlements for significant environmental enforcement cases and provide funding for projects that will result in direct or tangible environmental benefits at the facility or within the county where the violations occur or that promote the overall goals of environmental compliance and remediation.

Some examples of these in Illinois have included funding for waste collections, debris cleanups, emergency response activities, pollution prevention, restoration or enhancement of wetlands, streams and other important ecological areas. A few years ago, a settlement involving an industrial facility in Southern Illinois included a SEP that provided funding for the Illinois Conservation Foundation to acquire land for wetlands and wildlife, equipment for a local Hazmat team, proper management of chemicals used in a local school district; and upgrading the plant facilities to reduce pollution.

I am happy to announce that we will soon be using our web site to seek and encourage participation from citizens in suggesting ideas for a "SEP Bank" that can be withdrawn when settling enforcement cases. We look forward to some exciting and creative idea "deposits" from the public into the bank