Letter to The Honorable Douglas P. Scott, Director, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA)
Letter
Durbin Asks About Asbestos Levels and Safety of Illinois Beach State Park
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin sent a letter late last night to state and local officials requesting a meeting to discuss recent concerns raised about asbestos at the Illinois Beach State Park. Illinois Beach State Park consists of 6.5 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline in the City of Zion in Lake County. Asbestos-containing materials, such as house siding, water and sewer pipe, floor tile, and roofing material, have been washing up onto the beach since 1997. While signs are posted on the beach alerting beachgoers to the presence of asbestos; it has since been determined safe for human use.
A story from yesterday's Chicago Sun-Times reports concerns regarding the severity of asbestos levels at the beach. Human exposure to asbestos has been known to cause serious lung problems and cancer. According to the article, tests by the Centers for Disease Control completed in August 2006 found that the most-toxic form of asbestos - amphibole asbestos - were located on the beach. Because of these findings, officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expressed concerns regarding the safety of the beach for human use in an April 24, 2007 letter to a federal health official in Chicago.
In today's letter Durbin said: "Millions of visitors enjoy the shores of Lake Michigan, and specifically the beaches at Illinois Beach State Park, every year. I want a clear understanding about any potential threats of asbestos there."
Senator Durbin has led a bipartisan group of Illinois lawmakers in assuring that Lake Michigan and its shores are safe as a recreation site and source of drinking water for millions. On July 16, immediately after being informed of a permit that will allow BP's Whiting refinery in Indiana to discharge more pollution into Lake Michigan, Senator Durbin sent a letter to Benjamin Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to express his strong opposition. Durbin and Emanuel sent a second letter to the EPA Administrator, Stephen L. Johnson expressing strong concern over the issuance of the permit and requesting for a hold to be placed on the permit until certain assurances have been met. Yesterday, Durbin and members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation met with the President of BP America to request that the company find alternatives to the dumping.
Similar letters were sent to Douglas Scott, Director of the Illinois EPA; Sam Flood, Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources; Brad Bradley, Project Manager at the US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5; Mark Johnson, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; Tim King, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Chicago Park District; Paul Kakuris, the President of the Dunes Preservation Society; Lane Harrison, Mayor of Zion; Representative Melissa Bean (D-IL); and Representative Mark Kirk (R-IL).
Text of the letter appears below:
July 25, 2007
The Honorable Douglas P. Scott
Director
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA)
1021 North Grand Avenue East
P.O. Box 19276
Springfield, IL 62794-9276
Dear Director Scott:
I would like to convene a meeting to discuss the presence of asbestos at the Illinois Beach State Park and request your participation. Your perspectives on the challenges and the role of your agency in responding would be an important contribution to the discussion.
Millions of visitors enjoy the shores of Lake Michigan, and specifically the beaches at Illinois Beach State Park, every year. I want a clear understanding about any potential threats of asbestos there.
I would like to schedule a meeting with interested parties in the next week or so. Please contact my staff to discuss availability or if you have any questions about the nature of the proposed discussions.
I look forward to discussing this important issue with you.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator
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