Info Letter 2006
Info Letter 2006
Fax 815-834-1612 email be14400@bigfoot.com
"Above all - the protection of human health and the environment should always be considered first."
Citizens Against Ruining the Environment -C.A.R.E. would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves.
We are a volunteer grassroots non-profit organization located in Lockport who works with environmental organizations throughout the state. Our group was formed in 1994 by concerned citizens in Lockport and in surrounding communities to prevent a toxic, wood-burning incinerator from being built on the old Texaco site in Lockport. This incinerator would have been funded by the Retail Rate Law (with taxpayer's dollars.) After the defeat of the proposed wood-burning incinerator, many of the C.A.R.E. members continued to have an active role in environmental issues.
In 1995 C.A.R.E. became aware of an experimental Coal Tar Burn which was to be conducted in (now owned by) Midwest Generations Romeoville plant. At that time we learned that this location along with 22 others in Illinois was considered "Grandfathered." (The coal burn was a failure due to the antiquated equipment.)
When the Clean Air Act was passed in 1970 power companies asked Congress to exempt or Grandfather existing coal-burning plants from the new pollution regulations, arguing that those plants would soon be shut down in favor of newer facilities. The plants built between 1951-1975 were exempted. Thirty-five years later, these plants still do not have to comply by updating their technology to meet modern emission standards of other power plants. Are these plants to be exempt for eternity from the Clean Air Act? (CARE 2000)
It is now 2006 and C.A.R.E. is still committed and focused on pollution controls for grandfathered "Coal Fired Power Plants" facilities. Our efforts have also continued to clean up existing polluting industries and preventing "hazardous" industries from locating on the "Chevron/Texaco Refinery" in Lockport or anywhere in Will County or surrounding area that might affect the Health & Safety of the public and the environment.
C.A.R.E. is also known as the "community watch dogs." Unfortunately, due to government cut backs over the years the EPA does not have the staff to do an efficient job which has forced grass roots organizations such as C.A.R.E. and communities to provide their own research and protect themselves. Perhaps someday Will County and local communities will have an environmental staff or support grass roots groups such as ours but until then this is what C.A.R.E. does - creates the awareness and presents the facts.
Sincerely,
Directors
Ellen Rendulich Carol Stark Sandy Burcenski
815-834-1611 815-838-1483 815-838-1442
9.22.2006
