Victory: The final rule ensures a safer, healthier future for Illinoisans
Contacts
Paul Dailing, Environmental Law & Policy Center, (312) 771-1979, pdailing@elpc.org
Andrew Rehn, Prairie Rivers Network, (708) 305-6181, arehn@prairierivers.org
Adil Trehan, Sierra Club, (202) 630-7275, adil.trehan@sierraclub.org
Springfield, IL â
The Illinois Pollution Control Boardâs finalization of coal ash regulations makes significant strides to rectify coal's toxic footprint in Illinois. The rules create a comprehensive framework for the detection and clean up of coal ash contamination of groundwater â the first in the stateâs history to specifically address this pollution. Not only do the new rules create a new precedent for cleaning up coal ash and restoring the environment, they make necessary improvements to public participation and environmental justice. In finalizing these rules, the Board rejected utility demands to exclude certain ash ponds from the rules and expanded transparency, demonstrating its commitment to a more fair and open process.