June 12, 2018
Lake County Board and Stormwater Management Commission Unanimously Oppose Weakening Pollution Standards for Foxconn Deal near WI/IL Border
WAUKEGAN – The Lake County Board voted unanimously Tuesday
to oppose federal and State of Wisconsin decisions to reduce air pollution
standards in five southeastern Wisconsin counties where Taiwan-based Foxconn
plans to manufacture flat screen displays, citing special regulatory
treatment and diversion of Lake Michigan water, as well as impacts to air
quality, increased flooding, and other ecological impacts from this development.
The Taiwan-owned company, which is a major supplier to Apple
Inc. for its iPhones, is planning on constructing a large manufacturing facility
in Mount Pleasant in Racine County. The State of Wisconsin passed legislation
waiving environmental regulations for Foxconn and approved various incentives.
The resolution passed by the Lake County Board is not just
limited to waivers or exemptions of environmental regulations for the Foxconn
development. The Board’s action includes
any upstream development located in southeast Wisconsin that flows into Lake
County Watersheds.
The County Board and Stormwater Management Commission
resolutions cite the potential for legal action by Illinois Attorney General
Lisa Madigan, who has already threatened to sue over the inequitable,
irreparable harm the U.S. EPA’s recent decision may have on Lake County residents.
“The Lake County
Board is unanimous in our strong opposition to U.S. EPA and State of Wisconsin actions
creating a separate set of pollution standards for Foxconn’s five county area,
which will compromise the environmental integrity and resiliency of natural
resources to the detriment of Lake County families, businesses and taxpayers,”
Chairman Aaron Lawlor said. “The
proposal calls for filling of 26 acres of wetlands with dredged materials. I don’t need a big, expensive study to know
that is a very bad idea and we need the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers involved
immediately.”
The Lake County
Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) adopted a resolution on June 7 calling
for proper environmental mitigation for the Foxconn development. SMC Chairman
and Lake County Board Member Craig Taylor said, “The planned development for
Foxconn and the adjacent development corridor is in the headwaters of the Des
Plaines River Watershed, which is immediately upstream of us and encompasses a
major source of surface water. As recently as July 2017, this watershed
contributed to catastrophic and record-breaking flood heights within Lake
County. We are calling to those upstream to provide essential mitigation
for development impacts that would increase flooding potential for Lake County
and it is imperative that mitigation be planned, designed and enforced within
this watershed.”
Lake County and SMC will work together to take aggressive
steps to meet with its counterparts in local, state and federal agencies that
maintain jurisdiction over the Foxconn development to discuss the actions and
corresponding impacts on Lake County.
Meanwhile, environmental and voter organizations have also
challenged the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource’s approval for Foxconn
to use Lake Michigan water for its Mount Pleasant manufacturing plant.
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Contact Jennie Vana Chief Communications Officer Email Address: Jvana@lakecountyil.gov Phone Number: 847-377-2154
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