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 The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy relies on the
latest science and best available technologies to guide statewide
efforts to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen losses that end up in
Illinois waterways and the Gulf of Mexico. These nutrients spur
algae blooms that deplete oxygen levels, hinder recreation, and
threaten public health. Nutrient pollution can also degrade drinking
water quality and require cities to install costly treatment
equipment.
“The Illinois EPA recognizes the work farmers and municipalities
have done and continue to do to protect the environment, and we want
to build on that good work,” Illinois EPA Director Lisa Bonnett
said. “We thank the members of the Policy Working Group for the hard
work and expertise they brought to this process and look forward to
public participation as we move toward a final strategy.”
“Illinois agriculture has a long history of responding positively to
environmental issues,” Illinois Agriculture Director Bob Flider
said. “Programs like T by 2000 in the 1980s and 90s and, more
recently, Keep it for the Crop have enabled farmers to sustain their
industry-leading agricultural production while protecting the
state’s valuable soil and water resources. This strategy builds upon
these proven programs. It contains sound, incentive-driven
approaches to keep more nutrients in farm fields and reduce run-off
into streams and rivers.”
The strategy outlines practices to reduce nutrient losses from point
sources such as wastewater treatment plants and industrial
facilities, and non-point sources, including runoff from farm fields
and city streets. It uses scientific assessments to target the most
critical watersheds and to build upon existing state and industry
programs. The goal is to reduce the amount of total phosphorus and
nitrate-nitrogen reaching Illinois waters by 45 percent.
Recommendations include establishing committees to coordinate water
quality monitoring, developing specific measuring criteria,
improving urban stormwater programs and education, improving
agriculture stakeholder and agency collaboration, and defining a
regular review and revision process. “The Illinois Farm Bureau
appreciates the IEPA and IDOA’s lead - and all of the stakeholders'
involvement - in developing the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy,”
said Lauren Lurkins, Director of Natural and Environmental
Resources. “Further, we appreciate that education, outreach and
voluntary incentive-based practices will continue to be the primary
tools for addressing the agricultural components of the NLRS. This
approach will lend itself to more widespread adoption of necessary
best management practices to address this complicated issue.
Illinois farmers are committed to continued use of best management
practices, as they care deeply about the quality of the water in our
state and that which makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico.”
“Reducing nutrient losses is part of the fertilizer industry’s 4R
Nutrient Stewardship Program (right source, right rate, right time,
right place),” said Jean Payne, President of the Illinois Fertilizer
and Chemical Association. “Illinois ag retailers and certified crop
advisers are already making substantial progress with their farmer
customers on changes in nitrogen and phosphorus management that
minimize environmental impact and ensure long-term profitability for
the farmer. The strategy document will help us refine our 4R efforts
and enable us to provide accountability to the state on positive
changes in fertilizer management.”
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Illinois EPA and Illinois Department of Agriculture developed
the strategy with representatives from state and federal
agencies, agriculture, and non-profit organizations as well as
scientists and wastewater treatment processionals. The one-year
effort was facilitated by the Illinois Water Resources Center at
the University of Illinois and marks the most comprehensive and
integrated approach to date for addressing both point and
non-point sources of nutrients in Illinois.
“Meeting the challenge of nutrient reduction in the Mississippi
River Basin can only be accomplished through shared action,”
said David St. Pierre, Executive Director, Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. “The MWRD appreciates
the states’ leadership in creating a multi-constituent task
force, and we are moving forward on significant nutrient
reductions in support of the states’ plan.”
“The Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies, representing 8
million ratepayers of Illinois, appreciates being invited to
participate as the State Agencies have prepared this strategy,”
said Rick Manner, Nutrient Committee Chairman, Illinois
Association of Wastewater Agencies. “As front-line environmental
stewards, we’re acutely aware of the financial burden Illinois
residents pay in taxes and fees for treating their sewage. We
hope that legislators and representatives of Illinois will
review this document and weigh in as to the direction we as a
state wish to proceed.”
“Nutrient pollution is Illinois’ most widespread water quality
problem, and the release of this draft Strategy is an important
step toward solutions that will protect our drinking water and
wildlife,” said Dr. Cindy Skrukrud, Clean Water Advocate for the
Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. “We are pleased that everyone
agrees that overloading our waters with nutrients is a major
problem. We will be reviewing this draft Strategy and offering
suggestions for strong, specific actions we can take to protect
our waters and the health of Illinois families and wildlife.”
The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy was developed in
response to the federal 2008 Gulf of Mexico Action Plan, which
calls for the 12 states in the Mississippi River Basin to
develop strategies to reduce loading to the Gulf of Mexico,
where excess nutrients have led to an aquatic life “dead zone”
that stretches for thousands of miles.
A list of the Policy Working Group is attached. For more
information on the strategy and public comment period, visit
www.epa.state.il.us/water/nutrient/nlrs.html.
[Illinois Department of Agriculture] |
