Clean Water Archives - Illinois Environmental Council

Advocates Introduce Chicago City Ordinance to Combat Plastic Pollution

January 15, 2020 January 16, 2020

Aldermen, environmental groups, and consumer advocates bring the fight for plastic-free water to the Chicago City Council CHICAGO –Today, Alderman Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) announced the introduction of comprehensive legislation tackling the pervasive problem of plastic pollution in Chicago waterways and the Great Lakes. Alderman Waguespack was joined by organizations in support of the ordinance …

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Reduce Plastic Pollution in Chicago

January 9, 2020 January 15, 2020

Take action and ask Mayor Lightfoot and your alderman to support an ordinance that will reduce plastic pollution in Chicago

Cover Crops and the 200 Year Nutrient Pollution Gap

December 13, 2019 December 13, 2019

Nutrient pollution from excess fertilizer carried downstream by water and erosion is poisoning our drinking water, feeding toxic algal blooms and contributing to a massive deadzone in the Gulf of Mexico.

Take action against nutrient pollution

November 18, 2019 December 21, 2019

Take action and ask your state legislators to support the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS)

Lead Poisoning Awareness Week

October 25, 2019 November 5, 2019

By Iyana Simba | IEC Clean Water Advocate When it came to light in 2014 that residents of Flint, Michigan were exposed to elevated lead levels in their drinking water, the issue dominated headlines. Since then, cities like Newark, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, and Chicago have also found elevated lead levels in schools, childcare …

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Milestone Bill to Clean Up Coal Ash Pollution in Illinois Becomes Law

July 30, 2019 November 5, 2019

The Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act is a critical step in fixing Illinois’ coal ash problem SPRINGFIELD, IL—Today, bipartisan legislation to protect Illinois’ citizens and the environment from the effects of toxic coal ash became law. The Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act will result in stronger rules for coal ash cleanup and fund cleanup programs through permit …

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The Price of Climate Change

July 18, 2019 November 5, 2019

Midwestern farmers are paying the price of climate change

Illinois House and Senate Pass Landmark Legislation to Clean up Coal Ash

May 28, 2019 September 18, 2019

Bill addresses coal ash impoundments plaguing the state for decades Springfield, IL — Yesterday, the Illinois Legislature passed SB9, The Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act, which now heads to the Governor’s desk. The groundbreaking bill addresses the many waste pits filled with coal ash, the toxic byproduct of burning coal, located all over the state. Illinois is …

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General Assembly Sends Water Jobs Infrastructure Bill to Governor’s Desk

May 23, 2019 September 18, 2019

Clean Water Jobs for All Legislation Lays Groundwork for Thousands of New Jobs SPRINGFIELD, IL — Today, the Illinois State House of Representatives voted to approve Clean Water Jobs for All legislation (SB 2146/HB 3349), which creates the Clean Water Workforce Pipeline Program. The program provides training and resources for careers in water infrastructure and …

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Cannabis Legalization Bill Passes with Nation-leading Environmental Protections

May 1, 2019 November 5, 2019

Illinois Poised to Enact the ‘Greenest’ Cannabis Legislation in U.S. SPRINGFIELD, IL — Today, the Illinois State House of Representatives voted to pass HB1438, a bill legalizing the regulated, recreational use of cannabis that now includes nation-leading environmental and public health protections. The Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) partnered with the University of Chicago’s Abrams Environmental …

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Governor Pritzker’s First 100 Days

April 24, 2019 January 14, 2020

The Governor of Illinois has significant influence over environmental programs and policy, as well as if, and how, the state leads on these issues. This being the case, IEC welcomed the election of Governor Pritzker, whose campaign promised 100% renewable energy, clean air protections and recognized the importance of our water resources. Now that we …

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Bill Prohibiting Illinois From Regulating Carbon Pollution Repealed

March 28, 2019 November 5, 2019

State can now go beyond the federal government to take action on climate change SPRINGFIELD — On Thursday, March 28th, the Illinois State House of Representatives voted to repeal the Kyoto Protocol Act of 1998, a law prohibiting the state from creating restrictions for the “purpose of addressing the adverse effects of climate change which in …

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State Legislators, Stakeholders Announce Major Milestone for “Clean Water Jobs for All” Legislation

March 20, 2019 September 18, 2019

SPRINGFIELD — Today, State Sen. Ram Villivalam and State Rep. Justin Slaughter were joined by environmental and labor leaders from across Illinois to announce support for their Clean Water Jobs for All legislation (SB 2146/HB 3349). Sen. Ram Villivalam, sponsor of SB 2146, said, “With the Clean Water Jobs for All legislation, we aren’t just …

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The Critical Need for Water Infrastructure Funding

March 19, 2019 June 17, 2019

It is past time for dedicated capital funding for water infrastructure to ensure every Illinoisan has access to clean, affordable water.

SB 1226 Endangers Safe Drinking Water & Public Health

December 20, 2018 November 5, 2019

Rich Miller | Capitol Fax Illinois continues to reel from the fatal outbreak of legionella at the Quincy Veterans’ Home. School and park districts are scrambling to address troubling levels of lead in water lines and drinking fountains. Now the House is considering a radical measure that would eliminate longstanding protections that ensure the proper …

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Committee Deadline Week

April 13, 2018 November 13, 2019

Friday, April 13th is the final deadline for bills to get out of committee in both chambers. It was a mixed week in Springfield for IEC: while many of the proposals we support advanced towards passage, others very bad proposals moved forward despite our strong opposition. Bills that do not get out of committee by …

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What will IEC be up to in 2018?

February 8, 2018 November 13, 2019

The 2018 state legislative session began February, 30th 2018. With the Primary Election scheduled for March 20, session days are light between now and March. With continued threats to the environment coming from the federal level, we will be working harder than ever to defend existing protections and push environmental justice priorities in our 2018 …

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Staff Feature: Lindsay Keeney

December 18, 2017 November 13, 2019

By Lindsay KeeneyDownstate Outreach Director, Illinois Environmental Council You can’t protect something you don’t love. Nurtured in central Illinois creek beds that had a tendency to banish a nice pair pair of school clothes straight to the dirty clothes pile, I love water. Geography gifted me the chance play, fish and study water from an …

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Legislator Feature: State Representative Carol Ammons

November 27, 2017 November 13, 2019

IEC is excited to release our first “Legislator Feature” on our blog! Through this series, we hope to share with our supporters how legislators think about environmental issues, and what areas they are specifically interested in. For this entry, we are pleased to interview State Representative Carol Ammons. Representative Carol Ammons is serving her second …

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Preventing Lead in Drinking Water Passes!

January 11, 2017 November 13, 2019

The Illinois General Assembly approved SB550, or the Preventing Lead in Drinking Water bill. Because there is no safe level of lead in drinking water, IEC has worked hard over the past year to pass legislation that would require basic steps to protect children from lead poisoning. This bill is now on the way to …

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The High Cost of Cheap Meat

August 9, 2016 November 13, 2019

As an organization that has been working to solve the pollution crisis caused by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Illinois for years, we applaud the Chicago Tribune’s recent in-depth investigative report on large hog confinements. Few could read this piece without gasping at the stories of environmental pollution, animal abuse, and destruction of rural …

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