To: The Illinois State House and The Illinois State Senate
It’s Time to Act Against Illinois' Coal Ash Problem
Groundwater at 22 of 25 Illinois coal ash sites is contaminated with one or more toxic coal ash pollutants that can cause cancer, developmental disorders, and reproductive problems. This is unacceptable!
We urge you to take action now to address Illinois’ coal ash crisis and to enact comprehensive legislation that includes permanent protection, public input and transparency, and fiscal accountability of polluters so that taxpayers aren’t left with the bill.
We urge you to take action now to address Illinois’ coal ash crisis and to enact comprehensive legislation that includes permanent protection, public input and transparency, and fiscal accountability of polluters so that taxpayers aren’t left with the bill.
Why is this important?
Illinois is one of the states most impacted by coal ash waste and pollution; we face a growing crisis that is threatening our groundwater, rivers and lakes, health, and property values. Inadequate federal and state coal ash standards have left Illinois largely unprotected. Even though coal ash is tainted with mercury, lead, arsenic and other heavy metals that are linked to cancer, nervous system damage, cardiovascular problems, and developmental disorders, it continues to be dumped in dozens of leaking ponds and landfills across the state. We have repeated reports of ongoing groundwater contamination at the majority of coal ash dumps in Illinois, including visible leaching of toxic coal ash directly into Illinois’ only National Scenic River, the Vermilion. Illinois residents and taxpayers deserve clean, safe water and air and we refuse to allow out-of-state corporations to leave us with pollution and clean-up costs.
The Illinois legislature should immediately pass comprehensive legislation that 1) PROTECTS ILLINOIS COMMUNITIES by stopping ongoing groundwater contamination and requires dry handling and disposal of coal ash; 2) GIVES CITIZENS A VOICE: access to coal ash information in their communities and meaningful participation in decisions about how coal ash will be handled locally; and 3) A GUARANTEE that holds polluters accountable for the cost and clean-up of their coal ash mess so that taxpayers aren’t left with the bill.
The Illinois legislature should immediately pass comprehensive legislation that 1) PROTECTS ILLINOIS COMMUNITIES by stopping ongoing groundwater contamination and requires dry handling and disposal of coal ash; 2) GIVES CITIZENS A VOICE: access to coal ash information in their communities and meaningful participation in decisions about how coal ash will be handled locally; and 3) A GUARANTEE that holds polluters accountable for the cost and clean-up of their coal ash mess so that taxpayers aren’t left with the bill.