Landmark lawsuit reduces mercury pollution;
adds 1,100 acres along Illinois’ National Scenic River

Oakwood, July 13, 2007 ─ Prairie Rivers Network, joined by Attorney General Lisa Madigan ,officials of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), representatives of Dynegy, Inc., celebrated the State of Illinois’s recent acquisition of a site along the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River as part of a major clean air settlement reached in 2005.  The acquisition of 1,135 acres of undeveloped land across the river from Dynegy’s Vermilion power station near Oakwood, was announced at an afternoon press conference.  The land forms a natural connection between the state’s Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area to the north and Kickapoo State Park to the south.  The land is primarily wooded and dominated by a large, forested ravine system, which also contains seep-spring wetlands and other geologically-significant areas.

Following is the statement by Glynnis Collins, Interim Director of Prairie Rivers Network, at the press conference to celebrate the acquisition:

It is a pleasure to be here to celebrate the linkage of two popular parks along Illinois’ first and only National Scenic River.  We at Prairie Rivers Network are proud to be a part of this important undertaking.

It is now possible to begin thinking of building fishing access to the ponds.  A footpath would allow families to enjoy the golden glow that fills the deep ravines during autumn as the sun filters through the yellow leaves of the sugar maple trees.

In fact it may soon be possible for hikers to walk the entire 17 miles of National Scenic River frontage, to enjoy the wildlife that canoeists and kayakers have long enjoyed.  Just two weeks ago, officials from the National Wildlife Federation took a short canoe trip on the river and saw a bald eagle, wild turkey, beaver, a great horned owl, and 2 baby raccoons peering out of a hole in a hollow sycamore tree. 
Illinois residents and wildlife are soon to benefit from another component of the settlement agreement that brought about the land transfer we celebrate today. 

Dynegy has installed cutting-edge air pollution controls at their Oakwood plant to reduce mercury air pollution by 90%.  Dynegy’s leadership provided the evidence Prairie Rivers Network and other groups needed to convince Illinois lawmakers that such reduction is possible across the board.  This past January, Illinois became a national leader in air pollution control by requiring that all power plants in the state cut their mercury pollution.  This will keep a toxic chemical out of our air, which in turn will keep it out of our rivers and lakes, and out of the fish and wildlife that use them.  We look forward to the day when people can safely eat fish caught in Illinois rivers. 

Thanks to all those here whose efforts are helping to make Illinois a better place for all of us to live.

Contact Info:  Glynnis Collins, Interim Executive Director
                        (217) 344-2371,gcollins@prairierivers.org