Overregulation of waterways perilous

We do not allow our children to play on highways or railroad tracks, and we should not allow children and others to play in commercial and navigational waterways. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s bold threat to impose increased regulations on the Chicago Area Waterways System totally disregards the dangers of recreating in places that were designed to manage commerce and stormwater.

Our waterway system is cleaner than ever and already attracts an unsafe number of swimmers and boaters. The Illinois Chamber of Commerce supports clean and safe recreational water activities, but only in areas that are designated for recreational use.

Overregulation of our waterways could also lead to increased commodity prices, job loss and flooding in much of the Chicago area. The cost to taxpayers of such overregulation could be devastating in these hard economic times.

Furthermore, the Illinois EPA has not demonstrated any health benefits related to increased disinfection of discharge. I encourage people to contact the U.S. EPA and tell them to focus on protecting the health of United States citizens, instead of imposing their misguided worldview on Illinois taxpayers.

Gideon Blustein

Executive director

Infrastructure Council

Illinois Chamber of Commerce

Chicago