For nearly two decades, PRN has worked to prevent the pollution and degradation of Illinois’ rivers. Water Resources Scientist, Traci Barkley, and Water Resources Specialist, Kim Knowles, review permit applications for wastewater discharges from municipal, mining and industrial practices that have the potential to harm Illinois waterways.

Here is an update on some of their latest work:

Challenged dam proposal for Sangamon County

Summary: A new dam has been proposed for Horse Creek in Sangamon County that will bury over 100 acres of wetlands, 80 acres of streams and more than 1,500 acres of forest. Proponents claim Hunter Dam is needed to create a backup water supply for the City of Springfield, but we believe there are more sustainable and less environmentally harmful ways of ensuring an adequate water supply.

Current actions: PRN and Sierra Club joined together to challenge the dam. We gave testimony at a public hearing and wrote extensive comments in opposition to the project. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) is now in the process of reviewing nearly 1,500 pages of mostly negative comments received from the public. A decision on whether to permit the dam is expected from the IEPA in mid-2009.

Looking forward: PRN is talking to elected officials and providing support to citizens of Springfield concerned about the negative impacts of Hunter Dam.

Appealed coal mine permit, Franklin County

Summary & Current Actions: PRN and partners, Environmental Law and Policy Center and the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club, have appealed a permit issued by IEPA for discharges of pollution into the Middle Fork of the Big Muddy and into Akin Creek from the proposed new Sugar Camp coal mine. We objected to this permit because we believe the mine must use enhanced pollution treatment methods in order to avoid the further destruction of these streams; the Middle Fork of the Big Muddy and Akin Creek are already damaged from decades of agricultural and mining activities and should be protected from further decline.

Challenged the weakening of water quality protections for Spring Creek, Sangamon River and Illinois River

Summary: PRN opposed a petition filed by Springfield’s City Water Light & Power (CWLP) asking the Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB) to allow the CWLP coal-fired power plant to discharge increased amounts of the pollutant boron into Spring Creek and the Sangamon and Illinois Rivers.

Current actions: Traci Barkley testified at two public hearings before the IPCB challenging CWLP’s assertions that it could not afford to treat its waste to remove boron adequately and criticizing the company’s failure to thoroughly assess the impact of greater amounts of boron on fish, mussels, and insects in these streams. Traci’s testimony provided important insight to the IPCB on how boron harms stream ecology. She was also able to show the IPCB that viable methods of removing boron are available.

Looking forward: We expect the IPCB to rule on CWLP’s petition this spring.

Speaking out against polluting ethanol plant on Drummer Creek, Ford County

Summary: The IEPA is proposing to grant another weak permit to an ethanol plant that will discharge pollutants into Drummer Creek. Drummer Creek has been rated a “Biologically Significant Stream” by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources because there are many different kinds of fish and other species living in the stream. A public hearing on One Earth Energy’s permit application was held on March 16th in Gibson City.

Current actions: PRN opposes this permit because, as currently written, it fails to protect clean water in Drummer Creek. Traci and Kim attended the hearing and demanded that One Earth Energy be required to adopt responsible water use practices and other practices to limit the amount of pollution that will be discharged into the stream.

Looking forward: We expect a decision from IEPA on the permit by this summer.