(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Illinois is one of the leading states in making cuts to its Environmental Protection Agency, according to a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project.
Many years ago, there were about 1,300 people at the Illinois EPA. Eight years ago, the headcount was around 500, and it’s about 850. Illinois Environmental Council CEO Jen Walling says this affects businesses and individuals alike.
“It takes a longer time for permits to be reviewed,” she said, “and we are not sure they are being completely and thoroughly reviewed in the time that’s available, because there’s so many.”
And many things fall under the heading of “we don’t do that anymore”
“Twenty years ago, there was an Institute of Environmental Quality that proactively did research on toxic chemicals, for example, and determined what chemicals will be dangerous to people, to wildlife, etc.
“There’s nobody doing that proactively in Illinois.”