Letters

Coal policy

EDITOR: I have been reading the series of articles on coal and particularly the two chapters entitled "Who Makes Coal Policy in Illinois?" with great interest. James Krone deserves praise for taking on such a complex and important issue.

The fifth in the series, which discusses the role of environmental groups in coal policy, gives the Illinois Environmental Council credit for defeating S.B. 281. This bill, introduced in 1977, would have relaxed the state SO₂ limits to the maximum allowed by the federal law. As Executive Director of the IEC, I feel that several other public interest groups also deserve credit for their efforts on this issue. The Chicago Lung Association, and most notably its former Director of Legal Affairs, Daniel Swartzman, as well as the League of Women Voters of Illionis played instrumental roles in defending the state standards. These organizations along with Citizens for a Better Environment, a Chicago-based group specializing in research and litigation, and the American Association of University Women have an ongoing involvement in policy making at the state level. Recognition for their efforts to improve air quality is well deserved.

Sandra McAvoy
Executive Director
Illinois Environmental Council

30/February 1980/Illinois Issues