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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives recognizes
3 the need to protect our Great Lakes from and remediate them of
4 harmful sediments contaminated with PCBs, dioxin, mercury, and
5 PAHs; these toxins are known to contaminate fish and may harm
6 those humans who eat them; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Scientific studies link the presence of sediment
8 contaminants to cancer, reproductive problems, lowered IQ's,
9 and developmental delays; and
 
10     WHEREAS, The governments of the United States and Canada
11 have recognized 43 highly polluted areas in the Great Lakes
12 region, and 10 of these sites are located along or contribute
13 to Lake Michigan, which provides drinking water for citizens of
14 Illinois; and
 
15     WHEREAS, The Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002 led to the
16 removal of 126,000 pounds of lead, 2,800 pounds of cadmium,
17 204,000 pounds of chromium, and 320 pounds of PCBs from
18 Muskegon Lake in Michigan, which is connected to Lake
19 Michigan's eastern shore; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Under the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002, the U.S.
21 EPA has successfully completed projects in Hog Island,

 

 

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1 Wisconsin; Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; Black Lagoon, Michigan;
2 Ashtabula, Ohio; and Ruddiman Creek, Michigan; has started a
3 project in Kinnickinnic River, Wisconsin; and has planned
4 projects in Buffalo River, New York; Grand Calumet, Indiana;
5 Ryerson Creek, Michigan; Riverview, Michigan; Eighteen Mile
6 Creek, New York; Ottowa River, Ohio; and Division St. Outfall,
7 Michigan; and
 
8     WHEREAS, The reauthorization of funds for this program in
9 the amount of $54 million annually is necessary to continue
10 projects aimed at removing potentially harmful sediments; of
11 these funds, the U.S. EPA would be authorized to use $50
12 million annually for contaminated sediments projects, $3
13 million annually for research into innovative remediation
14 technologies, and $1 million annually for public outreach and
15 education; therefore, be it
 
16     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
18 the House of Representatives urges the President of the United
19 States to sign the Great Lakes Legacy Reauthorization Act of
20 2008 (H.R. 6460) into law, thus allowing the continued funding
21 of the program's efforts to clean up and improve the Great
22 Lakes area; and be it further
 
23     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be

 

 

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1 delivered to the President of the United States and the members
2 of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.