6/7/11 Update: On an 8-1 vote, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s elected board endorsed a new policy that backs more stringent water quality standards for the Chicago Area Waterway system. (Click here for the Chicago Tribune article.)
As reported in my post last month, the United States Environmental Protection Agency informed the Illinois EPA that Illinois’ water quality standards for certain portions of the Chicago Area Waterway System (“CAWS”) are inadequate.
The Chicago Tribune is now reporting that “after spending eight years and more than $13 million fighting tougher water-quality standards, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is poised Thursday to officially drop its long-standing opposition.” The District’s board members are expected to vote on this issue at their Thursday meeting.
This could mean a sea change at the District, which has adamantly opposed changing water quality standards for years in the longest-running proceeding ever before the Illinois Pollution Control Board. It appears that the environmental community–now with backing from US EPA–may be on the verge of getting the changes they desire.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments. To set up a free initial consultation to discuss your legal matter, please contact Dave Scriven-Young at (312) 239-9722 or dscriven-young@pecklaw.com.
