Tallgrass Sierran^̂ ta"- ^̂ -̂ lannarw/Ealiriionf 4QQQ Wnluma OT Mf\January/February 1999 Volume 27 No.

THE HEART OF ILLINOIS GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB 4 P.O. Box 3593, Peoria, IL 61614 © (309)745-1920

WEDJAN

Group MeetingsThe Peoria Park District:Current Issues and Future DirectionsForest Park Nature Center, 7 p.m.

Peoria Park Board member David Pittman willspeak about current park district issues and share histhoughts about future directions. Mr. Pittman is a longtimeenvironmental activist and a leading advocate for seeking NaturePreserve status for Singing Woods, Other current issues sure tobe covered are the planned RecPlex along Peoria's riverfrontand the proposed sale of Madison Park Golf Course land toWalgreen's. There will be plenty of time for questions. All arewelcome! Refreshments served after the meeting.

Alaska: Nome, Denali, and thePribilof IslandsForest Park Nature Center, 7 p.m.

Fellow Sierrans Maury Brucker and Emiko Yang will presenta slide show of their 1997 trip to Alaska. Various points ofinterest include Denali National Park, Nome, and the PribilofIslands, a major seal breeding area in the Bering Sea. Come andenjoy the beautiful Alaskan scenery and wildlife as Maury andEmiko share their experiences with us! All are welcome!Refreshments served after the meeting.

A free gift, determined by adrawing, is given to an attending

nonmember at eachHOI Group meeting.

Oppose the Ring Road

BY JOYCE BLUMENSHIHF

Environmental activist Louis Marchini of Washington,Illinois, has written an extensive article titled "The Dark Side ofthe American Dream" which details concerns about the EasternRing Road proposed for the Morton, Washington, andGermantown Hills area. Copies of his article will be available atSierra Club group meetings. He urges us all to consider the longterm negative effects of the Ring Road, and relates such highwayconstruction to important issues such as food, world resources,and the quality of life itself. Mr. Marchini urges us to speak outagainst the Ring Road, and to call attention to the "dark side" ofthis project which is loss of farmland and damage to our innercities, environment, and natural resources.

y.,,

iJOIN US UN UUR ANNUAL

,V AHVKU HOCK WINTER

When - Sunday, February 7Where - Meet at Forest Park Nature Center,

9 a.m., or Starved Rock Lodge, 10:30 a.m.What - Bring Lunch for the Trail / Dress WarmWhat (About Dinner) - Mona's in TolucaWho - HOI members and the publicQuestions? - Al Harkrader, (309) 682-8462

From 1996: HOI Starved Rock winter hikers check the iceformations in Tonti Canyon where they stopped for lunch underthe frozen waterfalls. Photo: Al Harkrader

A Civil Action in Illinois:Caterpillar Dump Case Going to Trial

BY JOYCE BLUMENSHINE

Stefan Noe, Attorney for the Chicago Office of Citizens for aBetter Environment, will be battling one of Chicago's largest lawfirms in an effort to get Caterpillar to come clean about theirEast Peoria dump site. From the mid-1950's to the mid-1970's,Caterpillar, Inc., dumped cyanide, sludges, solvents, and otherindustrial wastes in a wetland near the Illinois River. Citizens fora Better Environment (CBE) filed suit under the federalResource Conservation and Recovery Act to have Caterpillar testthe site and clean it up if necessary. In November, Federal JudgeMichael Mihm ruled that "There is at least a realistic danger thatthe Illinois River will sustain a directinjury." Caterpillar does not dispute thatmaterials were disposed of at the site, andthat there potentially could be a pathwayfor ground water from the dump to enterthe river. The company maintains it hasmonitored the site and concluded that it'snot going to be a problem. (Peoria JournalStar, November 18, 1998, article by ElaineHopkins)

In addition to concerns about rustydrums of toxic substances at the dump, areal and present danger could exist forPeoria drinking water. Peoria drinkingwater is pumped from several locations,including four Dodge Street wells, locatednear the foot of Western Avenue, which isnot far across the river from the Caterpillardump site. Downstream river water usersmay also be impacted by toxics that couldbe leaching from the Cat landfill. Yourhelp is needed! Please see relatedinformation about Citizens for a BetterEnvironment and consider sending in adonation to this group.

CITIZENS FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT407 S. Dearborn, Suite 1775, Chicago, IL 60605(phone 312-939-1530 or FAX 312-939-2536)

M Yes! I want to join CBE and urge them on in their fightto have Caterpillar "come clean" on what is in CAT'S EastPeoria dump site!NameAddressCity

Phone: ( )

State Zip

Donation Amount: $25. $40. Other $

I would prefer not to be on your membership list. My donationtoward your Caterpillar lawsuit is enclosed.

Join Citizens for a Better Environment and/or Send a Donationto Help the Caterpillar Lawsuit!

BY JOYCE BLUMENSHINE

Citizens for a Better Environment wasfounded in 1971, and has offices inIllinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.Their mission is to work to prevent andfight environmental health threatsthrough research, advocacy, publiceducation and citizen empowerment.

Focusing on their Midwestern statesand regional issues, Citizens for a BetterEnvironment helped write and passlandmark waste management laws inWisconsin and Illinois that establishedrecycling goals and required long-termplanning for waste reduction; CBEstopped construction of new medicalwaste burners throughout the region andis promoting waste reduction andrecycling by health care institutions; they

helped establish Wisconsin air ruleswhich protect the state residents fromtoxins with some of the tougheststandards in the country; CBE decreasedcontamination from Minnesota's largestillegal polluters of the Mississippi Riverthrough citizen lawsuits; and they won aU.S. Supreme Court decision against theCity of Chicago that ended themismanagement of toxic incinerator ash.They have an extensive list of additionalsuccesses through their twenty-sevenyear history. Please consider joiningCitizens for a Better Environment. Anydonation toward their lawsuit againstCaterpillar would also be greatlyappreciated. Mail in your donation withthe form above.

You can make a difference!

D The White House:1600 Pennsylvania Avenue., NW,Washington D.C. 20500Comment Line: (202)456-1111

E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov

D U.S. Senators:Richard Durbin / Peter FitzgeraldU.S. Senate, Washington, D.C, 20510Capital Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

D U.S. Representatives:U.S. House of RepresentativesWashington, D.C. 20515Capitol Switchboard: (202)224-3121Local: RayLaHood (309)671-7027

Lane Evans (309) 793-5760P Governor George Ryan:

State House, Springfield, IL 62706Ph.(217)782-6830

D State Senator or Representative:State House, Springfield, IL 62706Capitol Switchboard: (217) 782-2000

Action Alert! Call Senator Fitzgerald

BY JOYCE BLUMENSHINE

Now is your chance to call Illinois' new Senator,Peter Fitzgerald and urge him to become an originalcosponsor of "America's Redrock Wilderness Act."Utah's Redrock canyonlands and desert stretches areamong the most spectacular wild lands in America, andthey contain the largest remaining roadless areas in thelower 48 states. These lands are being threatened by oilexploration, mining developments, and rapidlyexpanding off-road vehicle use. Each of us needs toencourage our new Senator to sign on as an originalcosponsor for preserving Utah wilderness. Please callSenator Fitzgerald (Illinois office 847-963-1998 orWashington, D.C. 202-224-3121) and ask that hecosponsor the "America's Redrock Wilderness Act" topreserve our nations heritage of Utah wilderness.

December PotluckHad Great Food

& Slides

If you are missing a smallsilver tongs that you took to theDecember Sierra potluck atForest Park Nature Center,please phone Joyce at688-0950. Your tongs want togo home! Also unclaimed afterthe dinner is a package of heavyduty plastic forks. Thanks to allwho joined in the winter/evening get-together. RudyHabben showed some greatslides of his Earthwatch projectand his visit to Scotland,

Peoria Park Board Likely to ConsiderSinging Woods January 27th

BY JOYCE BLUMENSHINE

The Peoria Park Board may vote on whether or not toinvestigate Nature Preserve Status for Singing Woods at itsregular meeting, Wednesday, January 27lh. If you have not yetcalled or written to your Park District trustee, now is the time!Heart of Illinois Sierra Club members have been making a realeffort to convince the Peoria Park Board that Singing Woodsshould be given the protection of Nature Preserve status. A keyissue is that the entire 900 acres of the park should be consideredfor protection. Singing Woods has no roads, and its closedcanopy of trees provides important habitat for migratingneotropical songbirds. Singing Woods also has clear waterstreams that have been rated the most biologically healthy in theentire state of Illinois (Riverwatch Report, 1997). NaturePreserve status would protect the park from horseback riding andother more intensive uses that would degrade its environmentalquality. Please contact the following Park Board members assoon as possible:

Jim Cassidy (Pres.) 3221 N. Bigelow, Peoria, IL 61604 685-1648Roger Alien 5926 N. Sherwood, Peoria, IL 61614 691-5464Stan Budzinski 3401 W. Brookside, Peoria, IL 61615 682-5382Jim Cummings 419 W. Maywood, Peoria, IL 61604 685-2935Bob Johnson 2514 W. Starr, Peoria, IL 61605 637-0146Rocky Vonachen 813 W. Fairlawn, Peoria, IL 61614 693-3070

Trustee David Pittman is a leading advocate for seekingNature Preserve status for Singing Woods and you can conveyyour thanks to him for all his efforts by phoning 688-7708 orwriting to him at 2803 N. Peoria, Peoria, IL 61603.

Sierra EXCOM Votes to Oppose Sale of Golf Course Land

At its January Board meeting, the HOI Sierra ExecutiveCommittee voted to state it is opposed to the Peoria Park Districtconsideration of selling a corner of Madison Golf Course forcommercial development. Group members will be attending theJanuary 13lhPark Board Meeting to convey this to the Board.

Yes you can/Do you want a quick, easy way tomake yourself heard on environmental

issues? Join the Illinois Telephone Activist Network (I-TAN).Approximately every two weeks you will receive late-breaking actionalerts and the officials to contact to make your opinion count. To joincall Mary Bodell, 745-5479, the HOI HOTLINE, 745-1920, orsend an e-mail to jwosik@mtco.com. We need your name, phonenumber, and if you prefer e-mail notification, your e-mail address.You DO NOT have to be a Sierra Club member to join.

New HOI officers elected at the January 7th ExCom meetingare Cindy Ewing, Chair; Ralph Ginn, Vice-Chair; NormanEwing, Secretary; Joyce Blumenshine and Rudy Habben,Conservation Co-Chairs; and Mary Bodell, Outings Chair.Grayce Hayworth remains Treasurer and Cindy MatthiasMembership Chair. New ExCom members this year are NormanEwing, Ralph Ginn, Grace Haworth, and Richard Klatt. The newExCom appointed Chris Meydam to fill the vacancy created byMike Ingram's resignation. Great thanks goes to alt those whospent considerable time and energy serving as HOI officersover the past year, and to the new officers for the coming year!

D Yes, I want to help safeguard our children's preciousnatural heritage. My check is enclosed.

Name

Address

CityState Zip

Phone (Optional) ( )Contributions, gifts or dues to the Sierra Club are not tax deductible; they support oureffective, citizen-based advocacy and lobbying efforts. Your dues include $7,50 for asubscription to Sierra magazine and $1.00 for your Chapter newsletter.

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIESINDIVIDUAL JOINT

INTRODUCTORY

REGULAR

SUPPORTING

CONTRIBUTING

LIFE

SENIOR

STUDENT

DS25

DS35

DS60

n $120a $1000D$19a $19

D $43

D $68

D $128

D$1250

a $27a $27

Enclose check and mail to

Sierra ClubP.O. Box 52968

Boulder, CO, 80322-2968

SIERRACLUB

PROTECT AMERICA'S ENVIRONMENT.For Our Families, For Our Future

BY RUDY HABBEN

This year's Clean Water Celebration will be held on Monday,March 22 at the Peoria Civic Center. This environmental sciencefair for junior high students has become an annual event and hasimproved each of the past five years, attracting more students.This year over 50 schools and 3,000 students are expected toattend.

A major goal of the organizing committee is to have each ofthe exhibits interactive so students will learn by doing. TheSierra Club booth will display several water tanks,demonstrating the impact of suspended silt on plant growth. Theaim is to have students learn some basic concepts on turbidity,light, and aquatic plants.

The program is open to the public. This year TV actor HughO'Brien will be the main speaker. He now has a career as amotivational speaker to get people active in environmentalprojects.

HOI Group Calendar

20WED

30SAT

Group Meeting, 7 p.m.Forest Park Nature Center. DavidPittman, The Peoria Park District:Current Issues and Future Directions.Everyone is welcome!

Once in an Almost Blue MoonMoonlight Hike, 7 p.m.

Join us the nightbefore January'ssecond full moonfor a hike at theMarshall State Fishand Wildlife Area,

adjacent to the backwaters of the IllinoisRiver. DNR wildlife area manager LarryRice will lead the hike. We will carpoolfrom Forest Park Nature Center at 7p.m. Dress for cold, windy, wet weather- boots, hats, gloves, and flashlights aremust-have gear! Only appropriatelydressed people should consider goingon this hike. Hot drinks and otherrefreshments will be availableafterwards.NOTE: R.S.V.P. by 3 p.m. on Jan 30 amust! Call Mary at 745-5479 for moredetails and to R.S.V.P.

SIERRACLUBF O U N D E D 1892

2 Executive Meeting, 7 p.m. 17TUE Davis Bros Pizza, 2402 E. Washington, WED

East Peoria.

7SUN

17WED

Starved Rock Winter Hike,9 a.m.This traditional hikestarts by car pooling atthe Forest Park NatureCenter... or meeting at the Starved RockLodge Great Hall at 10:30 a.m. Bringsomething to eat and drink on the trailduring the 3-4 hour outing, and dress forthe weather. Following the hike a stop isplanned at Mona's in Toluca on the wayhome. Call Al or Mary Harkrader at(309) 682-8462 for more information.

Group Meeting, 7 p.m.Forest Park Nature Center. MauryBrucker and Emiko Yang, Alaska:Nome, Denali, and the Pribilof Islands.Everyone is welcome!

Newsletter DeadlineSend articles for March and April to:John Wosik, 3403 W. RichwoodsBlvd., Peoria, IL61604, orjwosik@mtco.com

Newsletter Mailing, 7 p.m.Peoria Pizza Works; Everyonewelcome!

March2TUE

22MON

Executive Meeting, 7 p.m.Davis Bros Pizza, 2402 E.Washington, East Peoria.

Clean Water CelebrationPeoria Civic Center, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Open to the public. The HOI Groupwill again have a booth. (See thenewsletter article.) Call Rudy Habben,685-5605, for more information.

(Not sponsored by the Sierra Club but provided as a public service.)

Friends of the Rock Island Trail WorkdaysWorkdays are Saturday February 6 and Saturday March 6. Meet at 9 a.m. at the

Alta end maintenance building. Directions: Go about 1 mile west of Alta on Rt. 91, turn righton Radnor Rd., follow road around curves, maintenance building is on your right just beforerailroad tracks. Call Chris at 682-0549 for more information. Everyone is welcome!

March 3, 1999Holiday Inn City Centre, Peoria, IL

featuring keynote speaker

Ian McHargauthor of "Design With Nature"

For information contact:Steve Childers

Tri-County Regional Planning Commission(309) 694-9330

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS:• Conservation Design• Streambank Protection• Exhibits• Integrating open/green

space into developments• Stormwater control• Workshops March 2 & 4

Heart of Illinois Sierra Club•rlQTIJNE* toral Meetings & Outings* Action Alerts (309)*w *•" c* » Public Contacts* Leave Messages 745*1920

Executive CommitteeChair Cindy Ewing . . . . 693-1881Vice-Chair Ralph Ginn 274-3289Secretary Norman Ewing . . 347-8921Treasurer Grayce Haworth . . 246-8397Calendar Sales Chris Meydam . . . 682-0549

Richard Klatt . . . 274-3792Laurel Williams . . 244-7238

Conservation Co-Chair Joyce Blumenshine 688-0950Conservation Co-Chair Rudy Habben . . . 685-5605Membership Chair Cindy Matthias . . 686-4134Outings Chair / I-TAN Mary Bodell . . . . 745-5479Newsletter Editor John Wosik 682-8950

HEART OF ILLINOIS

Sierra ClubP.O. Box 3593Peoria, IL 61614

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE PAID

PEORIA, ILLINOISPERMIT NO. 104

To explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth

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