Environmental Progress - Winter 2005

Illinois EPA Proposed Budget Includes New Funds to Crack Down on Illegal Dumps

Lake Calumet area to get $17 milion for cleanup and restoration

In his February budget proposal, Governor Rod Blagojevich recommended a fiscal year 2006 budget for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) that includes $5.5 million for a new initiative, Project IRID (Illinois Removes Illegal Dumps), that will shut down open dumps, crack down on landfill violators and regulate construction debris disposal sites. The proposed budget also earmarks $17 million for environmental cleanup and restoration projects in the once heavily industrialized Lake Calumet area of Chicago. Funding for IRID will come from existing fees paid by landfills, and funding for Lake Calumet area assistance will come from a portion of the Governor's capital budget reserved for environmental and natural resource renovation projects.

The IEPA's overall recommended budget for operations and grants is $330,912,200, decreased from $335,779,000 for the current fiscal year.

"The funding and companion legislation to bolster the state's enforcement and regulatory authority will give IEPA the tools it needs to get rid of illegal dumps, get tougher with violators and take charge at construction debris sites," said Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano.

The new IRID funding allots $1.5 million for additional IEPA landfill inspection and enforcement staff who will take on new responsibilities for regulating an estimated 500 abandoned quarries and sand pits in Illinois that are used for disposal of construction and demolition waste. An additional $1 million would be used for increased grants to county governments that help inspect landfills and open dumping. The remaining $3 million would go towards cleaning up the estimated 600-900 open dumps across the state where responsible parties cannot be found, and to assist communities in removing construction and demolition debris from brownfield sites needed for redevelopment.

Director Cipriano also praised Governor Blagojevich for his commitment to the Lake Calumet area and other contaminated sites and brownfields around the state. "Governor Blagojevich has taken a key leadership role in addressing the blighted, former industrial area around Lake Calumet by committing $17 million in his capital budget," said Director Cipriano. "I am hopeful that this will be a catalyst for additional local government and private sector investment as well."

Governor Blagojevich also announced his budget would earmark at least 10 percent of capital budget bond funds to protect and enhance natural resources. This will include an additional $2 million to help communities clean up abandoned commercial or industrial sites with potential contamination problems and includes projects in Aurora, Suburban South Cook County, and the Quad Cities.

Almost all of IEPA's proposed $330,912,200 budget now comes from regulatory services fees and federal grant funds. In FY06, only $846,600 would come from state General Revenue Funds (GRF) — less than 7 cents a year for each Illinois resident — compared to $28.5 million in GRF three years ago.

Other key budget initiatives for FY06 include:

— Safe and Healthy Schools —
Includes the Governor's Clean School Bus Program to reduce harmful diesel bus emissions at schools as well as workshops to reduce dangerous chemical in schools and small grants to encourage other "green" efforts.

— Illinois Green and Clean Energy Initiative —
Includes education programs and rebates to encourage the use of biodiesel and other clean-burning alternate fuels.