FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
February 5, 2002
Jack Darin 312-251-1680
Rob Moore 217-344-2371
Legislature Approves New Stream Protection Rules
"Biggest Improvement to Illinois' Clean Water Protections in Decades"
Major new protections for Illinois' rivers, lakes, and streams against future pollution were finalized today when the Illinois General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) approved rules adopted by the Illinois Pollution Control Board.
"These new stream safeguards will protect drinking water and for wildlife for generations to come," said Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. "We commend the Pollution Control Board, members of JCAR and Governor Ryan's administration for turning a deaf ear to polluters who wanted to fill the rules with loopholes."
The proposal by the Illinois Pollution Control Board would establish new procedures for implementing the "antidegradation" procedures of the federal Clean Water Act, and have been under discussion for over four years. The rules establish clear procedures for analyzing proposals for increased pollution into Illinois waters, to ensure that they will not degrade the river, lake, or stream the pollution is dumped into. Also, the rules establish a process for designating very high quality waters as "Outstanding Resource Waters", which would receive a higher degree of protection due to their unusual quality and value to the State.
"This is the most significant improvement in Illinois' water quality safeguards in decades," said Albert Ettinger, Staff Attorney for the Environmental Law and Policy Center, who represented clean water advocates before the Board.
Lobbyists for Illinois' biggest polluters had been pressuring state legislators earlier this month to delay and weaken the proposal, which was adopted unanimously by the Illinois Pollution Control Board in December and supported by clean water advocates.
"These rules are essential to protecting Illinois' rivers and will allow local communities to seek permanent protection against future pollution of our highest quality waters," said Robert Moore, Executive Director of Prairie Rivers Network.