HR1120 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is public policy of the State of Illinois to provide and maintain a healthful environment for the benefit of this and future generations; and

WHEREAS, It is the duty of the Illinois General Assembly to implement and enforce this constitutionally mandated right of the citizens of Illinois to a healthful environment; and

WHEREAS, The citizens of Illinois need clean waterways as a source of drinking water, for agricultural and industrial uses, as a healthful habitat for aquatic species, and for the enjoyment of recreational activities, including fishing, swimming, paddling, and boating; and

WHEREAS, Excessive levels of nutrients are degrading the quality of streams, rivers, and lakes within the State of Illinois and contributing to the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico; and

WHEREAS, The 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan called on the State of Illinois to produce a plan to reduce the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen carried in rivers throughout the State and to the Gulf of Mexico; and

WHEREAS, The State's Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture collaborated with a Policy Working Group of academia, environmental non-profits, representatives of federal, state, and local agencies, wastewater treatment professionals, and the agricultural community to develop the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy in 2015; and

WHEREAS, The Strategy's Policy Working Group released its first biennial report on the implementation of the Strategy in 2017, documenting the substantial financial and staff resource efforts to educate all citizens of Illinois about nutrient loss, including through in-person meetings, workshops, and field days, as well as communication platforms to reach all stakeholders in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The Strategy's biennial report also documented significant collaborative efforts to implement the Strategy, including through impressive resource investments in research, the installation of agricultural conservation practices across the State, and adoption of new technology to reduce nutrient levels in our waterways from wastewater discharges and runoff from agricultural and urban lands; and

WHEREAS, The Strategy's biennial report found a ten percent reduction in nitrogen loads, but a 17 percent increase in phosphorus loads; and

WHEREAS, The Strategy sets a milestone to reduce nitrogen loads by 15 percent and phosphorus loads by 25 percent by 2025 from baseline levels (1980-1996); and

WHEREAS, The Strategy's goal is to reduce both nitrogen and phosphorus loads by 45 percent by 2035; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we support the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy and the work of stakeholders on the continued implementation of the Strategy as the State of Illinois and its citizens move forward in this important effort; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage the agencies and their partners in implementing the Strategy to regularly communicate with the General Assembly and seek their support on activities and long-term programs that would help further their work and attain the Strategy's goals.