The public has until June 1 to call on Illinois regulators to do more to protect beachgoers from E. coli bacteria by identifying and addressing pollution sources that cause Lake Michigan beach closings each year.The federal Clean Water Act requires that all states update their lists of impaired waters every two years and submit them to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. States must also submit plans for improving water quality for those waters that fall short.
For years, Illinois has identified its entire Lake Michigan shoreline and virtually every beach along it as impaired by unknown sources of bacterial pollution. Although the proposed 2010 Illinois list continues to list these beaches as impaired, the report fails to identify the sources of bacterial pollution or set a timetable for developing plans to make these beaches fit for swimming.
“People should be able to enjoy the beach without being made sick by pollution,” said Lyman Welch, Alliance Water Quality Program manager. Waterborne bacteria and viruses can cause vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache, nausea, headache and fever, with children the most susceptible.
Pollution that may cause bacterial pollution at the beach includes stormwater runoff, outdated sewer systems, as well as trash and wildlife on the shoreline.“Simply compiling a laundry list of contaminated beaches year after year does nothing to clean them up for public use,” said Welch. “It’s time for Illinois regulators to find the sources of bacterial pollution and set a schedule for completing plans to finally address them.”
Illinois regulators must also do more to address nitrogen and phosphorus pollution near the Lake Michigan shoreline and in downstate waters.
Kim Knowles, of Prairie Rivers Network, said that although high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen are causing foul-smelling algal blooms that threaten business interests, public health and the health of fish and wildlife, Illinois no longer wants to list nitrogen as a source of pollution on its impaired waters list.
“Rather than developing a plan to resolve nitrogen and phosphorus pollution and the nasty algae that results, Illinois regulators are fighting with US EPA over whether nitrogen will stay on the list. It’s a ridiculous waste of resources better used to clean up Illinois lakes and streams,” Knowles said.
Send written comments to:
Hearing Officer Dean Studer, Mail Code 5
Re: Integrated Report 2010
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
1021 North Grand Avenue East
P. O. Box 19276
Springfield, IL 62794-9276
More information on Illinois’ impaired waters list at IEPA’s web site >>
IEPA public notice >>
Posted 5-13-10