April 18, 2002
Sierra Club Calls on
Illinois EPA
to Make Illinois' Waters Safe Again
Earth Week Radio Ad Campaign Launched Statewide
Sierra Club this week began its largest-ever Illinois radio outreach campaign to urge Illinois EPA to step up enforcement of the Clean Water Act in Illinois to address pollution that is making fish dangerous to eat, closing beaches, and threatening drinking water supplies.
"The recent warning that women who want to have children and kids could be harmed by eating large fish caught anywhere in Illinois is a reminder that toxic water pollution remains a threat to Illinois families," said Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. "Illinois EPA can make our waters safe again by beefing up enforcement of the Clean Water Act, and we are asking Illinois residents to urge them to do just that."
The ad campaign to mark the 30th anniversary of Earth Day comes in the wake of a warning by the State of Illinois that children and women who may have children in the future should limit consumption of large "predator" fish, such as bass or walleye, due to the level of toxic mercury in Illinois' rivers, lakes, and streams. Mercury enters the water from coal-burning power plants, incinerators, and industrial sources, and can cause major neurological and other health problems in developing fetuses, children, and adults.
"It's simply unacceptable that anglers can't take their catch home to the family because of mercury pollution," said Darin. "We know where this pollution is coming from, and how to stop it, and we need to act now to end this threat."
Sierra Club is also calling on Illinois EPA to take other actions to reduce water pollution in Illinois, including expediting the preparation of cleanup plans for over 300 polluted rivers and lakes in the state, reversing a proposal to weaken limits on cyanide and ammonia discharges from industries, and establishing limits on phosphorous pollution from sewage treatment plants.
The 60-second ads are running on stations around Illinois through Earth Day, Monday, April 22. A script or audio copy is available upon request.
How Illinois EPA can make our water safer >>