Sierra Club Joins Lt. Gov. Quinn and Local Officials to Fight Proposed Banner Strip Mine
Lt. Governor Pat Quinn launched a campaign to “Protect Banner Natural Resources” at a press conference July 18th south of Banner, Illinois. Representatives from a variety of groups joined Lt. Governor Quinn in speaking at the event. John Grigsby, head of the Coalition for the Preservation of Banner Township, spoke for local citizens. Others participating were long-time anti-mine activist Jane Johnson, Citizens for the Preservation of Knox County; Terry Ingram, Eagle Nature Foundation; Joseph Standing Bear, Midwest Soaring Native American Fellowship; Joyce Blumenshine, Conservation Chair Illinois Sierra and board member with the local Heart of Illinois Sierra group; and Ken Fuller, Mayor of Banner. 
The Lt. Governor's office has established an online petition site to protest the strip mining proposal at www.SaveOurEagles.org and everyone is urged to vote online in opposition to the mine. Heart of Illinois Sierra Club and other groups are circulating printed petitions to get additional signatures to demonstrate support for protecting the area.
There are major environmental and pollution issues with a mine at the proposed location.
The proposed strip mine would be located in 643 acres of fields and wetlands located at the edge of Banner, Illinois, 25 miles south of Peoria near the Illinois River. It would be between the Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area and Rice Lake State Conservation Area, which are both listed as Illinois Important Bird Areas. A natural area lies to the east of the proposed strip mine acreage and the Illinois River is not far beyond. Copperas Creek, a major water drainage, is separated from the proposed strip mine site by only the Banner Dike Road, and the road has flooded in high water years.
Bald eagles, white pelicans, great blue herons, and ospreys are only a few of the birds frequenting the area. A variety of songbirds and small mammals make their homes in wooded sections across the fields.
Capital Resources Development Company, Chicago, owns the land and filed with IDNR for a mining permit in 2004. Their application is pending. The Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals responded to their permit request with 50 some concerns with the permit application, and Capital Resources has to respond to the questions.
There could hardly be a worse location for a strip mine, both for its impacts on nature and on the local inhabitants. Banner is a town of 200, and many people rely on their shallow wells for drinking water. The town sewage plant is immediately adjacent to part of the proposed strip mine fields, and local people are very concerned that blasting from the mine would damage their wells and their sewage treatment plant.
Please sign the online petition to protect Banner natural areas at:
www.SaveOurEagles.org
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