Help Defeat 3 bills in the Illinois House

PLEASE CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY at 217-782-2000 AND ASK HIM/HER TO VOTE NO ON 3 BILLS WHICH HAVE ALREADY PASSED THE SENATE AND ARE CURRENTLY IN THE HOUSE

Ask your state representative to vote NO on each of three following anti-environmental bills that have passed the Senate. Please urge him/her to help defeat these bills in the Illinois House.

SB 2333

Provides that complaints collected by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency alleging a violation arising out of agricultural production (crops, livestock, and aquatic products) must be accompanied by the name and mailing address of the complainant. Requires the Agency to keep the name and address of the complainant confidential, but, nonetheless, could discourage a potential whistleblower concerned about reprisals at work, no matter how serious the violation. Specifies that the Agency may not accept citizen complaints that are anonymous. Also requires the Agency to verify that the complainant exists. Agricultural production includes production for commercial purposes of crops, livestock, and livestock and aquatic products

SB 2580

Requires the rulemaking processes for permits and licenses to include a process for expediting their issuance, and provides that any additional costs for expedited permits shall be borne by the applicant. SB2580 would reduce the amount of time available for citizens and citizen groups to comment on proposed permits to pollute by allowing a company to pay $100,000 to have their pollution permit application moved to the front of the line.

SB 2744

Provides that no person may bring a civil suit based on potential nuisance with respect to a proposed livestock management facility until all required federal, State, and local permits have been granted and animals are present and operations have actually begun at the proposed facility. It shall be presumed that a proposed livestock management facility can be lawfully operated in accordance with those permits.

For more information, visit http://illinois.sierraclub.org/ and click on “Legislative”.

You can find out who your Illinois representative is and his /her phone number at 217 782 2000 or at

http://elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/AddressSearch.aspx You can also access his/her email at this website.

Be sure to leave your name and address so they know you are a constituent.

Thank you!!!!