Champaign, February 4, 2003: Prairie Rivers Network expressed concern today regarding a proposed permit that will allow the discharge of wastewater into Hickory Creek in Will County. In a letter to Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), the group objected to the issuance of the wastewater discharge permit for the Village of New Lenox because it does not ensure that required water quality standards will be met.

According to Beth Wentzel, Prairie Rivers’ watershed scientist, “Despite pollution impacts in recent decades, Hickory Creek remains a significant ecological resource with a unique history and promising prospects for recovery. If not modified, the discharge permit which would allow New Lenox to increase its discharge of waste, will threaten the Creek and the possibility for restoration.” {Continue Reading »}

Champaign, [July 25, 2002]: Prairie Rivers Network, the statewide river conservation organization based in Champaign, took the first steps toward filing a lawsuit today in response to the fish kill caused by Urbana-Champaign Sanitary District’s (UCSD) Northeast Sewage Treatment Plant and the University of Illinois.

Prairie Rivers Network filed a 60-day notice letter, notifying the UCSD of their intent to file suit in federal district court for violations of the Clean Water Act. The 60-day notice is required by the Clean Water Act for citizen suits. A similar letter will be filed next week with the University of Illinois. {Continue Reading »}

Champaign, [July 16, 2002]: Prairie Rivers Network, the statewide river conservation organization based in Champaign, was alarmed by reports that toxic chemicals were apparently discharged by the Urbana-Champaign Sanitary District’s (UCSD) Northeast Sewage Treatment Plant between July 12th and 14th. A large quantity of ammonia was discharged that resulted in a massive fish kill on the Saline Branch of the Salt Fork of the Vermilion River that extended 9 miles from the plant to the confluence of the Salt Fork. The Saline Branch originates in Champaign-Urbana.

“Two years ago Prairie Rivers pushed for more stringent ammonia limits on UCSD’s plants to protect aquatic life,” said Robert Moore, Executive Director of the conservation group, “and this is the reason why.” {Continue Reading »}

Champaign, October 25, 2000:  The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has made a tentative decision to restrict the amount of pollution released by the City of Georgetown’s sewage treatment plant.

This week the IEPA public noticed a water pollution permit that will restrict the amount of pollution that the City of Georgetown’s sewage treatment plant can release to the Little Vermilion River.  Prairie Rivers Network applauded the Agency for their efforts to protect the Little Vermilion River and the willingness of the City of Georgetown to voluntarily accept the more stringent pollution limits. {Continue Reading »}

FRWRD Seeks Permission to Triple Discharge to Fox River at One Plant, Exemption From Standard Pollution Controls at Another

At an Illinois EPA hearing Tuesday night in Elgin, Fox River advocates will be seeking answers to serious questions about the impact of two Elgin sewage treatment plants that dump nearly 30 million gallons of treated wastewater each day into the River.

Under IEPA’s proposed permits, neither plant will be required to install controls for phosphorous and other nutrients, which are the major pollution problem in the Fox River. {Continue Reading »}

February 23, 2000: This week Illinois EPA acted to protect some of the state’s most threatened streams from increased levels of pollutants. The move was hailed by clean water advocates from around the state including Prairie Rivers Network, the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club, and Friends of the Fox River.

Along the Fox River the Agency restricted the amount of pollution which Island Lake Sanitary District was allowed to release. This included more stringent limits on the discharge of ammonia and fecal coliform. {Continue Reading »}