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Sierra Club Report Shows "Illinois At Risk" From
Bush Administration Environmental Policies

But Illinois Leaders Responding To Maintain Many Protections

As President Bush prepares to accept the Republican Party's nomination for a second term as President, with little discussion of the Administration's environmental agenda, the Illinois Sierra Club today releases a report addressing the local impacts of Bush Administration environmental policies on Illinois' air, land and water.

"Illinois families depend on the federal government to protect our air, water, and open spaces from harm, but the Bush Administration has betrayed that trust with a pattern of loopholes and rollbacks that put our communities at risk," said Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter.

Sierra Club was joined by Rockford Mayor Doug Scott, who shared concerns about the impact changes in federal toxic waste cleanup programs are having on the pace of Superfund cleanups in the Rockford area. The Bush Administration eliminated a tax on polluters that helped fund cleanup of contaminated sites nationwide. Taxpayers now must fund cleanups instead of polluters, and as a result, Superfund sites in the Rockford area continue to threaten public health and hinder economic development while awaiting cleanup action.

The report addresses the Illinois implications of several other Bush Administration policy changes and proposals, including:

Weakening the Nations Efforts to Control Toxic Mercury Pollution

The Illinois Department of Public Health warns women of child-bearing age about the dangers of eating large predator fish from any lake or river in Illinois due to mercury pollution from coal plants. The USEPA is scaling back an earlier proposal to reduce mercury pollution by 90% by 2008 to allow for fewer reductions over a longer period of time.

Letting Big Air Polluters Avoid Modern Pollution Controls

The Bush Administration's "Clear Skies" initiative would allow Illinois' biggest polluters, in many cases, to avoid installing modern pollution controls.

Allowing Raw Sewage In Our Waterways

A USEPA proposal would allow raw sewage to be "blended" with treated wastewater and dumped into Illinois' rivers during heavy rain events.

Putting Illinois at the Crossroads for Nuclear Waste Shipments

The Bush Administration's proposal to bury high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada means Illinois roads, highways, and rail lines would see frequent shipments of dangerous, high-level nuclear waste for many years to come.

Removing Protections For Most of Illinois' Remaining Wetlands

Illinois used to depend on the federal government to protect its remaining wetlands, but a Supreme Court decision and the Bush Administration's interpretation of it mean that up to 60% of Illinois' last remaining wetlands have lost all federal protection.

Stopping Progress On Nutrient Pollution in Illinois Rivers

Nutrient overload, from fertilizer runoff and wastewater discharges, is Illinois' most widespread water pollution problem. USEPA has waived a 2004 deadline, set by the Clinton Administration, to address nutrient pollution and its harmful effects on aquatic life.

"The Bush Administration record is clear - they have established themselves as the most-anti-environment administration in our nation's history", said Paras Bhayani, the Sierra Student Coalition Illinois Coordinator, and an author of the report.

The report notes that Illinois' leaders have reacted to the changes with counterproposals and other efforts to counter or reverse the damage done to environmental protection from federal policy changes.

While the Bush Administration rolls back protections for our environment, many leaders in Illinois are fighting back by enacting or proposing these responses to the Bush agenda:

Coal Plant Cleanup Rules

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's Environmental Protection Agency is expected to announce new limits on pollution from coal-burning power plants this fall, including significant reductions in the amount of toxic mercury pollution. Requiring strict pollution controls for mercury in Illinois would counteract the Bush Administration's attempts to weaken national mercury limits.

Taking The Case for Clean Air to Court

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, working with the Illinois EPA, filed suit in federal court in 2003 against the Bush Administration's proposal to exempt many businesses from modern pollution control requirements.

Protecting Our Water From Nutrient Pollution

Unregulated nutrient pollution is Illinois' most pervasive water pollution problem. After the USEPA pulled the plug on a federal program to address nutrient pollution, Gov. Blagojevich's EPA proposed new limits on phosphorus pollution from expanding wastewater treatment plants. Blagojevich's proposal will help protect water quality in fast-growing areas that were left vulnerable by the federal government's decision to halt progress against phosphorus pollution.

Protecting Illinois' Last Remaining Wetlands

Because Illinois historically has had no statewide protection for wetland areas, we have relied on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to protect the 10% of Illinois' original wetlands that remain. State legislators, led by State Representative Karen May (D-Highland Park) and State Senator Terry Link (D-Waukegan) have introduced the Illinois Wetland Protection Act to create a statewide program to protect wetlands left unprotected by the federal government.

Promoting Clean Energy Choices

The Bush Administration has proposed a national energy policy that promotes new nuclear power, more dirty coal, more exploitation of our public lands for energy extraction, and relaxed pollution controls. By contrast, State Senator Patrick Welch (D-Peru) and State Representative Art Turner (D-Chicago) have introduced legislation that would promote the development of clean, renewable energy in Illinois by requiring a percentage of power sold in Illinois to come from these safe sources.

Closing Clean Air Act Loopholes

State Representative Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook) and State Senator Barack Obama (D-Chicago) have introduced legislation to close, in Illinois, the Clean Air Act loophole created by the Bush Administration's "Clear Skies" initiative. The legislation would restore the "New Source Review" provisions of Illinois' clean air rules that were in effect prior to the federal changes

Cracking Down on Scofflaw Polluters

While USEPA's enforcement efforts have suffered from budget cuts and high-profile resignations under the Bush Administration, Attorney General Madigan in 2003 prepared and fought for a new state law, the "Safe and Clean Communities Act", to strengthen punishment for polluters who repeatedly violate Illinois environmental laws. The Act provides for stiff fines to better deter illegal pollution, and gives Illinois EPA more authority to deny new permits to companies with bad track records.

"Fortunately for Illinois families, our state leaders are taking many actions to attempt to counter the impact of the Bush Administration's loopholes and rollbacks," said Darin.