Evanston got its first environmental report card this week, earning passing marks in some areas while failing tests for clean air and water.
”Residents of Evanston enjoy a very benign environment, but we did uncover some real problems that need to be addressed,” said David Ramsay, a consultant who helped to write a report released this week by the Evanston Environmental Control Board.
Ramsay said smog levels in Evanston, and in other North Shore communities, often exceed the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency`s maximum standard of 0.12 parts per million, directly impacting the city`s air quality.
Much of the smog, formed when auto exhaust and factory fumes mix with moisture in the air and sunlight, is blown onto the North Shore from Chicago and other communities by prevailing north west winds, Ramsay said. ”There`s not much Evanston can do alone to stop the smog from blowing into this area. Instead we suggest Northwestern students and residents use rapid transit whenever possible to eliminate exhaust fumes,” he said.
The environmental plan, as outlined in the 34-page report, includes a set of recommended actions to deal with environmental issues and a framework for addressing future concerns.
As part of the plan, Ramsay said, the board will continue to monitor the city`s drinking water for lead. Evanston recently acted to remove lead from its drinking water after several tests showed lead levels in the water exceeded IEPA limits.
Lead particles, the report said, also are present in paint once used on the interiors and exteriors of many of the older homes and buildings in the city.
The report suggests the city develop a policy requiring contractors to take precautions to prevent lead filled dust from filling the air when removing old paint.
The city, the report said, also should establish a program for collecting household hazardous wastes such as pesticides, drain cleaners, paint thinners, used motor oil, battery acids and other corrosive and toxic materials.
In April, the report said, two Evanston sanitation workers suffered burns when they emptied a trash receptacle containing hydrochloric acid. In another case, a woman brought two five-pound bags of arsenic to the fire department for what she thought was a simple disposal job.
The department, at considerable expense, sent the deadly poison to the IEPA for disposal.
”People just don`t realize how dangerous some of the stuff they have in their homes can be. We need public education and a system for disposing of these products,” Ramsay said.
The Evanston City Council is expected to endorse the plan when it votes on an updated environmental ordinance next month.
