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Air pollution
Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
3:54pm
Mon Apr 29

Environmental, Public Health Activists Voice Support For New Emissions Standards At EPA Hearing

EPA HearingEnvironmentalists and public health advocates urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to finalize its draft rule that would reduce the amount of sulfur in gasoline at a public hearing in Chicago today.

The EPA's proposed Tier 3 program unveiled last month aims to set new vehicle emissions standards and reduce the sulfur content of gasoline from 30 parts per million to 10 parts per million by 2017.

The American Lung Association estimates the change could be the equivalent of taking 33 million cars off the road.

"What an impact that is, and yet the oil companies are still fighting that," said double lung-transplant recipient Dan Dolan-Laughlin before today's hearing. "I don’t understand. Well, yes I do. It’s money."

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Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
4:25pm
Fri Apr 26

Massive Bike-Sharing Program Ready To Roll Out In Chicago

Users of Chicago’s public transportation system will have an additional option for their commute come June, as the city prepares to debut a massive bicycle-rental sharing program.

Three-speed bikes painted “Chicago blue” will soon be available at docking stations across the city for a $7 daily pass or yearly membership of $75.

“This is really a big deal,” said Ron Burke, executive director of Active Transportation Alliance. “It’s going to give tens of thousands of Chicagoans every day more transportation options.”

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PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
3:30pm
Fri Mar 22

Environmentalists Urge State Lawmakers To Support Fracking Moratorium (VIDEO)

Environmentalists and public health advocates at today’s demonstration against fracking at the Thompson Center say the Illinois Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act, which has earned the support of Gov. Pat Quinn, doesn’t go far enough to protect the environment or ground and drinking water. Progress Illinois was there to learn more about why they are calling for a two-year fracking moratorium.

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
12:16pm
Wed Mar 20

EPA Makes Commitment To Clean Up Pollution In Pilsen, Little Village (VIDEO)

There are considerable problems with air and land pollution in Chicago’s Southwest neighborhoods of Pilsen and Little Village and, at a meeting with community residents last night, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) committed to ongoing cleanup efforts.

Approximately 50 residents at Walsh Elementary School listened Tuesday night as the EPA presented the community with four plans for pollution reduction in their neighborhood.

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PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
6:19pm
Fri Mar 15

Illinois Congressmen Push Bills On DOD Audit, Future Of U.S. Physicians & Fracking

Three bills in Congress received co-sponsorship from Illinois legislators this week ranging from a call to audit the Pentagon to an investigation of the environmental and health consequences of fracking. We take a closer look at the bills.

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
5:49pm
Wed Mar 13

Anti-Fracking Protesters March On Statehouse, Madigan Supports Moratorium

More than 100 protesters descended on the Illinois Statehouse in Springfield yesterday to rally against a regulatory bill and call for a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in Illinois.

Opponents to hydraulic fracturing say it has a negative environmental impact, including extreme water and air pollution. Demonstrators yesterday spoke with legislators and passed petitions that urged lawmakers to support a two-year moratorium on fracking in Illinois.

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