The City of Chicago's Chief Sustainability Officer, Karen Weigert, recently gave an interesting interview concerning her work.  Some of the achievements: "We’ve been able to look at our own infrastructure. We are focused on retrofitting city buildings. We were able to do about 60 buildings recently, funded at no risk to our taxpayers.  We’ve built a Retrofit Chicago program where we collaborate with partners and make it easier for residents to become more energy efficient.  We have a single phone number for residents to access energy efficiency programs. We actually know which neighborhoods are more or less energy efficient and who’s really going to benefit from efficiency. The commercial buildings initiative of Retrofit Chicago, involves more than 50 buildings that have committed to at least a 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency within five years."  Read Part 1 of the Interview

Following the recommendation of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Illinois reduced the fluoridation requirement in its public water supply regulations, changing the requirement that all community water suplies maintain a fluoride ion concentration of 0.90 to 1.2 mg/L in the community water supply distribution system to reflect a fluordiation ion concentration of 0.7 mg/L.  The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency filed a new rulemaking to make this change with the Illinois Pollution Control Board, which is responsible for determining, defining, and implementing environmental control standards in Illinois.

U.S. EPA Region V recently issued a press release relating to cleanup at a site in Chicago.  EPA "announced a settlement with H. Kramer & Co., the City of Chicago and the BNSF Railway Co. to remove lead-contaminated soil near the Benito Juarez Community Academy in Pilsen.  The alley at 21st Place behind the H. Kramer foundry and a portion of the BSNF railway spur at 21st Place and Cermak Road will also be paved to eliminate potential exposure to lead.  EPA will oversee the cleanup, which is expected to begin this month and to be completed by the end of the year."  Read the News

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that a 95-year old agreement released a defendant from contribution costs under the Superfund statute.  In Peoples Gas Light & Coke Company v. Beazer East, Inc., Peoples Gas sued to recover costs it had incurred in conducting environmental investigation and removal activities at a property that it partially owned.  At issue in this case was the following language contained in Section 107(e)(1), of the Superfund statute, 42 U.S.C. §9607(e)(1):

According to news reports, the City of Elmhurst has completed the Salt Creek (Greenway) Trail Pumping Stations Water Quality and Landscape Enhancements project involving improvements at four pumping stations.  "The goal of this project is to model the proper use of erosion and sedimentation control techniques using best management practices and educational displays.  This work will help to manage sedimentation/siltation, mineral and nutrient mitigation, aid in stormwater detention, promote indigenous plant growth and model sustainable practices for the community of Elmhurst.  These improvements can be replicated at individual homeowner’s properties within our community to help improve water quality and reduce run-off."  Read the News

Check out the events page for a new event coming up this Saturday, September 26, 2015: National Public Lands Day.  This looks like a great day to volunteer and spend time in our public lands, and there are many sites in Illinois.  For more information, click here.

According to news reports, a "recently submitted Senate bill, the Sensible Environmental Protection Act, amends FIFRA [the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act] and CWA [the Clean Water Act] to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or a state from requiring a permit for a discharge into navigable waters of a pesticide authorized under FIFRA and clarifies the permitting of pesticide applications. The bill would eliminate the need for redundant permits." Read the News