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Clinton Landfill and the Mahomet Aquifer Public Informational Meeting
Prairie Rivers Network is co-sponsoring a public informational meeting on the Mahomet Aquifer and the threats posed by a proposed hazardous waste landfill in Clinton, IL.
There will be presentations followed by a Q&A, and several public officials should be present. Please come out to learn more about what’s going on and opportunities to save this drinking water supply from pollution!
Date and Time: Thursday, May 17, 7-8 PM
Location: Beckman Institute Auditorium on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus,
located on University Avenue between Wright and Matthews in Champaign
Parking: There is a parking garage to the east on Matthews.
Recent news articles on the topic:
News-Gazette 5-2-12: “Aquifer bill faces more amendments, moves to different committee”
News-Gazette 5-4-12: “Senators oppose PCB permit for Clinton landfill”
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Illinois EPA to hold public availability session for
Starved Rock Sand Mine permitting
Our push for transparency and public involvement in the permitting process has paid off! The upcoming Public Availability Session is a result of our effort to allow concerned citizens’ voices to be heard.
When: Wednesday, May 23rd, 6-9 PM
Where: Illinois Valley Community College, 815 North Orlando Smith Street, Oglesby, IL
If you go, and we hope you do, read our blog post first.
You can provide comments online here.
Don’t miss our recent blog post on the Asian Carp barrier “oops.”
Experimental Asian carp barrier fails. We need a real solution.
Follow Robert Hirchfeld’s coverage on Twitter @PRN_Carp.
Daylighting the true costs of coal: Part 1
The state supports the coal industry completely and uncritically at the expense of impacted residents.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity currently produces and distributes a school curriculum for elementary and high school students entitled “From the Coal Mines to the Power Lines,” with the express purpose of providing students with a “sound and meaningful understanding of coal in Illinois.” Prairie Rivers Network and the Heartland Coalfield Alliance are asking Governor Quinn to stop spending taxpayer dollars on a biased curriculum intended to market the coal industry.
Press release: Illinois Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Biased Coal Curriculum in Schools
Read media coverage here.
Daylighting the true costs of coal: Part 2
A proposed mine begins to “buy up” local water resources after securing land rights.
Sunrise Coal of Terre Haute, Indiana is seeking a deal to purchase water for use in coal processing from the Village of Homer – including water from its drinking water wells near Ogden, or from the Salt Fork River.
Press Release: Proposed Coal Mine Raises Questions About Drinking Water and Salt Fork River
Media coverage:
Explore Potters Marsh by canoe with Prairie Rivers Network
Join Prairie Rivers Network and Refuge staff on Saturday, June 30 to explore Potters Marsh by canoe. There will be two programs, from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., and 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Check here for more information and registration.
Announcing our Upper Mississippi River Essay Contest winner:
Rebecca Gearhart!
Read the full essay here: Mississippi Memories: My Life in Anoka, Minnesota
“A beautiful and evocative essay. I found myself in deep empathy with its sentiments. Lovely.”
–Richard Keeling, in a comment on www.prairierivers.org
Run for Your Rivers raises $9,679
Prairie Rivers Network would like to thank our Charity Running/Walking Team and sponsors. Our 16-member team ran and walked a total of 252.7 miles in 45.32 hours at the Illinois Marathon, and raised $9,679 from 185 donors to help protect clean water and healthy rivers.
In the news: our thoughts on the Farm Bill
Stacy James, water resources scientist and agricultural pollution specialist at Prairie Rivers Network, has a Letter to the Editor in the Chicago Tribune on reducing farm pollution by tying crop insurance to compliance with conservation practices.
EarthShare Illinois
Prairie Rivers Network is one of 31 organizations in Illinois that receive donations via EarthShare’s workplace giving program. Donations through workplace giving allow us to spend less time fundraising and more time working toward a healthier environment. Does your workplace participate?
EarthShare Illinois also holds great events! Check out this evening of cocktails, dinner, and a silent auction at Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro in Chicago on June 15, 2012.
Where is my Spring edition of Prairie River Notes?
Here it is! Find the full version here, along with our annual report.
Our wealth of information on river recreation opportunities across the state!
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