Illinois Officials Consider Pollution Plan

Illinois environmental authorities are preparing a strategic action plan to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous in the state's rivers and lakes.

The State Journal-Register reports the state Environmental Protection Agency plans to release the proposal to the public in November after months of talks between environmentalists, agriculture professionals and wastewater agencies. The agency's water bureau chief, Marcia Willhite, says officials will gather input from the public during a comment period on the plan.

The pollutants come from agricultural fertilizers as well as sources including wastewater treatment facilities and stormwater from cities.

Willhite says the plan includes increasing outreach and education among farmers about funding and other available resources.

She says the agency plans to have the proposal finalized by the end of the year following the comment period.