Southeast Side to Quinn: Veto Leucadia

Cheryl Johnson (far right) rallying against the proposed Leucadia plant on Chicago’s SE side.

My community of Altgelt Gardens is widely known as the “toxic doughnut.” We are surrounded by a ring of toxicity, including 50 documented landfills and 382 industrial facilities. Nearly two dozen of the region’s top polluters are within 8 miles of Altgeld Gardens and other neighborhoods on the Southeast side. Yet, there is legislation sitting on Governor’s Quinn’s passed in the final hours in Springfield creating a coal plant pushed by a New York company that would make matters worse. The Leucadia coal plant is an assault on environmental justice.

My name is Cheryl Johnson and I am a lifelong resident of the Chicago Southeast side community where the Leucadia plant would be built. I am the executive director of People for Community Recovery, an environmental justice organization founded by my mother Hazel Johnson, who is nationally recognized as the “mother of the environmental justice movement.”

My mother started an environmental justice movement here in Southeast Chicago after my father prematurely died of lung cancer. She used industry data and census figures to highlight how poor African-American and Latino neighborhoods throughout the nation are disproportionately affected by air and water pollution. One of her achievements includes getting the Chicago Housing Authority to clean up asbestos on its Altgeld Gardens property and even brought in a young community activist named Barack Obama to help. Perhaps you’ve heard of him?

The air we breathe on the Southeast side is over the legal limits for air pollution. Our neighborhood experiences some of the highest rate of respiratory ailments, cancer and lung disease in the country. More than one out of two children between ages of 6 and 15 years old have asthma on the Southeast side. As if that weren’t enough, Leucadia wants to add another polluting plant to our community.

We are tired of the environmental assault.

The site where Leucadia wants to build their polluting facility is two blocks from Washington High School, where 1,500 students sit and learn every day. The air monitor located on the roof of the school shows the neighborhood’s air already has the state’s highest levels of toxic chromium and cadmium, as well as sulfates, which can trigger asthma attacks. It also has some of the state’s highest levels of lung-damaging soot and brain-damaging lead.

What will the Governor and the state legislators say to the parents of these children who are struggling to breathe because of their severe asthma attacks triggered by the toxic air?

Bringing the dangerous Leucadia to our already struggling community is the worst idea I have ever heard. After Chicago recently made an historic commitment to clean air by retiring two existing coal plants located within the city limits, where is the logic in building a new one that would pollute the air we just cleaned? Would you mop the floor and then walk across it in muddy shoes?

We want jobs and we want industry that don’t pollute our neighborhoods and make our children sick.

Mr. Governor, last summer you approved legislation to create an environmental justice commission intended to address concerns about high asthma and cancer rates in low-income neighborhoods. You said, “Race, income or nationality should not determine the quality of the air one breathes or the water one drinks.”

Stand behind your words. Veto the Leucadia coal plant.

Cheryl Johnson is the Executive Director of People for Community Recovery

Join Cheryl. Tell Governor Quinn to veto Leucadia today!

Asian Carp Visit Chicago

Photo credit: WGN

This was a big week for Asian Carp awareness here in Chicagoland. Scientific studies, legislation and even carp-consumption have served to inform and update the public on this troublesome invasive species.

Today the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans released their risk assessment of Asian Carp infiltrating the Great Lakes. The study names the Chicago Area Waterway as the most likely entry point and affirms that they can and will spread to the other Great Lakes. The most noteworthy finding is that as few as 10 female and male fish would provide a 50% chance of establishing a population within the basin of a Great Lake; this is significantly less than previous estimates.

“This study is a clear warning that our beautiful Lake Michigan is at serious risk from Asian Carp,” said Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter.   ”If these dangerous invaders get into our Lake, they are likely to explode in population and wreak havoc on the Great Lakes ecosystem.   Fortunately, there are solutions that will keep the carp out and give us healthier waters here in the Chicago region, but time is short and we need to work urgently to plan and implement these solutions before it’s too late.”

Yesterday, the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee, which consists of federal and state agencies working together to stop the spread of Asian Carp, held a public meeting to provide updates on their monitoring programs. This update included recent legislation affecting the Army Corps’ GLMRIS study, which is focused on solutions to prevent the transfer of invasive species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins.

The Corps’ most recent study reported nearly 15% positive results for Silver Carp DNA in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS), a significantly higher percentage than previous monitoring results.

The recent passage of the Stop Invasive Species Act was confirmation that, like the public, legislators are concerned about the urgency of this problem. The act was signed into law on Friday as part of the massive federal transportation, student loan and flood insurance bill. The bill pushes the Army Corps to expedite the GLMRIS study within the next 18 months. The act also mandates an interim report within 90 days outlining how they will complete the study.

Chicagoans also got a chance to sample some delicious carp sliders at the Taste of Chicago at a booth co-hosted by the Department of Natural Resources and Dirk’s Fish and Gourmet Shop. Commercial fishing isn’t a permanent solution to the problem of aquatic invasives but it is a helpful control measure to help communities already impacted by the nuisance species.

A Night Under the Stars: Ravinia 2012

The time has come for our annual fundraiser at Ravinia!

Come and join the Sierra Club for a summer evening under the stars at the Ravinia Festival as we enjoy the innovative sounds of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing, “Brahms Bonanza.”

This year, we are proud to honor retiring State Representative Karen May for over a decade of hard work fighting for our environment in Springfield. Karen has been one of our tireless champions in Springfield who has fought for wetlands protection, clean energy initiatives and green healthy schools. We will truly miss her leadership and voice in Springfield. We plan to work hard to make sure we find another champion that can carry the flag for our environment daily. Come out and thank Karen for her great efforts in protecting our environment and the health of Illinoisans.

Tickets are $75 per person; $250 to be a Host (includes 4 tickets). All tickets can be purchased at http://tinyurl.com/sierraclubilravinia

Dinner drinks, chairs and tables will be provided. The event is rain or shine! We will be under the stars, not under a tent, so please prepare for the weather!All proceeds will benefit the Illinois Chapter PAC and will be used to help elect pro-environment champions and ensure that Illinois has a safer, cleaner future. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Event Details

Friday, July 13, 2012                                                                                                           200 Ravinia Park Road – Highland Park                                                                6:00pm- Food, Drinks and Welcome/ Dinner Served by He’s Kitchen Catering    8:00pm- Brahm’s Bonanza                                                                                   Featuring: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra

*Because 100% of your contribution will be used to help elect pro-environment candidates, contributions are not tax-deductible. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is available for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.

Putting Fertilizer Back Where it Belongs

Photo: Brett Berger

Illinois lawmakers sent legislation to Governor Quinn today that establishes a new program to help farmers use crop fertilizers more effectively, which is expected to reduce nutrient losses and deliver significant improvements in water quality. 

The legislation, House Bill 5539, creates a Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC) which will utilize a fertilizer tonnage fee to establish and implement nutrient research, education and water quality programs.

The bill is part of the “Keep it for the Crop” initiative, which is supported by a coalition of agricultural and environmental organizations, including Sierra Club, working to improve soil and water quality in Illinois.

The program seeks to fund a vibrant nutrient research and education program and provide fertilizer suppliers and farmers with science-based recommendations and in-field practices to reduce nutrient losses and enhance nutrient efficiency through the adoption of the 4Rs- Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place.

Nutrient pollution occurs when excess nitrogen and phosphorus occur in bodies of water, which promotes excessive algae & plant growth leading to oxygen depletion, which can kill fish and other aquatic life.   According to IEPA, both point sources and non-point sources contribute to the problem; this legislation fills a critical need for a program to specifically address how non-point sources including agricultural lands can reduce phosphorus and nitrogen losses.

Advocating for legislation like HB 5539 and the 2010 Lawn Care Act (prevents the use of phosphorus containing fertilizer by hired applicators) is just one part of the strategy Sierra Club is working on to reduce nutrient pollution in Illinois.  More steps still need to be taken to remove nutrients from all major sources including sewage treatment plants, urban runoff and agriculture. Click here for more information about nutrient pollution

Feel the Power! Illinois Towns Embrace Green Energy

In an unprecedented clean energy move, residents in over 55 communities in Illinois now have the option to go green, and save some green while they’re at it!  Thanks to the hard work of Sierra Club volunteers across the state, a record number of Illinois towns will lower bills and support green energy rather than traditional brown power through a process called municipal aggregation.

Aggregation is a process where a town, authorized by a voter referendum, pools the residents’ demand for electricity and uses this volume to negotiate a better energy package.  Oak Park was the first town in Illinois, and possibly the nation, to go 100% green last fall and now dozens of towns are following their lead. Towns like Palatine, Urbana, Peoria, Lake Forest, Lombard, and Evanston opted to provide the best value for residents by securing 100% green energy through Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) at significant savings from current electricity bills. RECs assure that clean energy, from sources like wind and solar, are put onto the grid although they may not directly power your lights.

Some towns initially balked at offering 100% green energy, but the work of Sierra Club volunteers to educate community members and city staff on the tremendous economic and health benefits was ultimately successful. In many cases, green energy was less than 2% more expensive then brown power and will help cities make good on their commitments to reach climate pollution reduction goals.

Congratulations to all the volunteers who have worked to bring the benefits of green energy to their community! To learn more about greening the aggregation process visit: http://bit.ly/GreenCCA

State Contributes $10 Million for Chicago River Disinfection

At a press conference on Thursday Governor Quinn announced that the state will be contributing $10 million to help disinfect the Chicago River. Chicago is the only city that doesn’t currently disinfect its wastewater and this money will pay for about half of the initial $21 million cost to engineer and design the project. Construction for disinfection will begin in the fall and the entire project is expected to be finished by December 2015 and disinfection processes fully implemented for the 2016 recreational season.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, EPA director Lisa Jackson, and  Metropolitan Water Reclamation District executive director David St Pierre also spoke at the announcement. All four spoke about the river as a new recreational frontier and destination spot for residents and visitors in the city. The path to disinfection has been long and tedious journey for environmental groups like the Sierra Club and Friends of the Chicago River so it is exciting to see enthusiasm from these leaders for continued improvements in water quality.

Emanuel Shoots Down Gun Range Near Eagles’ Nests

Statement of Christine Williamson
Chair, Sierra Club, Chicago Group

“Sierra Club is thrilled and gratified by Mayor Emanuel’s decision to withdraw support for locating a new police firing range too near important and sensitive wetland habitat in the Lake Calumet region.

Mayor Emanuel’s decision will allow a variety of bird species, including nesting bald eagles, to flourish in this vital habitat right here in the City of Chicago. These wetlands are part of the proposed Millennium Reserve, which will allow visitors to experience their natural beauty. Now visitors to the Reserve and residents of nearby neighborhoods will be able to have a true urban wildlife experience, rather than hearing gunfire.”

Recent Polling Shows Public Support for Permanent Barriers in Chicago Area Waterways

A conceptual rendering of of the barrier and transportation improvements on the Calumet River near Lake Calumet. *GLC Study

There is strong public support in the Chicago area for placing permanent barriers in the region’s waterways to prevent the spread of Asian carp, according to a poll by OpinionWorks, an independent, non-partisan opinion research organization.

The poll of 401 adult Chicago-area residents found that 57% favor addressing Asian carp by “placing one or more permanent barriers in the canals around Chicago to return the waters to a more natural state,” with 17% opposed.  The poll has a margin of sampling error no greater than ±4.9%.

Support for a permanent barrier rises to 77%, with 10% opposed, if “other problems could be solved” along with the Asian carp problem, such as those outlined in a recent report from the Great Lakes Commission.  That report said construction of one or more permanent barriers would necessitate addressing stormwater, wastewater, transportation, and green infrastructure issues.

According to the poll, neighborhood flooding and sewer overflows, which are two key problems addressed in the Great Lakes Commission Report, are a problem for a significant share of the public:

Region-wide, 17% of residents describe flooding in neighborhoods after a hard rain as a “very serious problem.”
Thirteen percent (13%) call sewer overflows and water pollution a “very serious problem.”
Nearly one-quarter (23%) of the region’s residents are personally affected by flooding in their own neighborhood at least occasionally.

The Army Corps of Engineers continues to address the problem of invasive species through the GLMRIS project which is projected to be finished in 2015. The Corps has publicly stated that they will evaluate the information gathered for the Great Lakes Commission report into their final work and has hinted that this will shorten their timeline although no new end date has been announced.

This poll shows that there is strong public support for separation and emphasizes the need for renewing our outdated water infrastructure and investing in a permanent solution to reduce water pollution, flooding and stop the transfer of aquatic invasive species.

Normal to get “Revenge”? You bet!

Fisker Electric Sports Car outside the Chicago Premiere of "REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR" November 2011

No, we’re not advocating retaliation, just renewable electrification! This Thursday January 26^{th ,} Normal IL will host an EVening of EV’s as the hit movie “Revenge of the Electric Car” makes its way to the Normal Theater (encore showing Friday night). The event includes an EV gala with many of the newest electric cars on display, including the flashy Fisker and a Tesla Roadster that local Executive Producer Stefano Durdic will drive down from Chicago.  Following the 7pm screening there will be a panel discussion with Durdic, Normal Mayor Chris Koos and Joe Delello Mitsubishi’s Director of EV operations.

It’s becoming the norm in Normal to see electric vehicles cruise down Main street in this mid sized university town located about 130 miles outside of Chicago.  It is home to the only US Mitsubishi manufacturing plant, and has been dedicated 1,000 of the car company’s new electric vehicle called the “i”.  Normal is quickly earning its name EVtown as it plans and installs a robust network of charging stations.

Although you might not be able to distinguish an EV from a gas guzzler just by looking at it, a lack of noise (points for sneakability) and tailpipe emissions could help clue you in.  In President Obama’s 2011 State of the Union address, he set the goal of 1 million electric cars on the road by 2015. Now a year in, Illinois is doing its part to break our dependence on oil and move to cleaner sources of power generation, like the solar charging canopies I-GO car sharing is installing for 2012. The state of Illinois also offers residents a rebate of up $4,000 for electric vehicles and plug in hybrids from the Alternate Fuels Rebate Program.

For those who can’t make the EVening of EV’s in Normal, Revenge of the Electric Car is now out on DVD and a movie not to be missed.

More Event Details: http://bit.ly/normalEV

For more information on electric vehicles, check out Sierra Club’s Go Electric campaign.

LaSalle County Board Approves Starved Rock Sand Pit

January 12, 2012 – The LaSalle County Board today approved an application for a massive open pit sand mine next to Starved Rock State Park, despite objections from local residents and a growing outcry from citizens across the state who had urged the County to protect Starved Rock, prime farmland, and local residents from the impacts of the project.

“We’re very disappointed that LaSalle County has put Starved Rock at risk.  There are many places to mine sand, but there is only one Starved Rock,” said Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter.

The mine site includes a state-recognized natural area, and would be adjacent to Starved Rock State Park.  The mine would pump millions of gallons of water per day for its operations, and those withdrawals threaten springs and marshlands within the Park.   In addition, water pollution from mine operations could drain through the Park, its ravines, and canyons, which are an important outdoor recreation asset for Illinois. Over two million people each year visit the state park, which recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of its protection.

Despite strong opposition from local residents and thousands of comments against the mine from around Illinois, the County Board appeared to give minimal consideration to concerns about the project.

“I am saddened and angered that the LaSalle County Board failed to recognize that Starved Rock is an important economic engine for the area. Instead they have jeopardized existing tourism jobs for a few new ones that promise to pollute our air and water while degrading the experience for all Starved Rock visitors,” said Tracy Fox, a Sierra Club member who attended today’s county board meeting.

In the wake of LaSalle County’s approval, the project now must be approved by state agencies that will examine the mine’s impacts on water quality, archeological resources, natural areas, and the state park.

“The fight to protect Starved Rock from this open pit mine is far from over,” said Darin.   “Starved Rock is one of Illinois’ most special places, and citizens across the state are rallying to protect it.”