2018-15RESOLUTION 2018 —15
A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
REGULATIONS RELATED TO THE FOXCONN/UPSTREAM DEVELOPMENT TO
BE LOCATED WITHIN THE HEADWATERS OF THE DES PLAINES RIVER
WHEREAS, the State of Wisconsin recently passed legislation waiving environmental
regulations for and providing various incentives to Foxconn/Upstream Development
(Foxconn/Upstream) for the construction of manufacturing facilities within Racine County along
the Wisconsin -Illinois border in the headwaters of the Des Plaines River;
WHEREAS, the action allows Foxconn/Upstream to fill 26 acres of wetlands with dredged
materials without an Environmental Impact Study, or input from the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers at a site that is in the headwaters of the Des Plaines River, resulting in detrimental
impacts upon the people of and properties within downstream areas including areas within a
downstream Lake County area that has already suffered billions of dollars in damage from
flooding;
WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified 51 areas in 22 states
that do not meet air quality requirements for ozone and exempted Racine County which is known
to have heavily polluted air. If Racine County had been designated a non -attainment area by the
EPA, it would have required Foxconn/ Upstream to install stringent pollution control equipment;
WHEREAS, the commercial Foxconn/Upstream development will divert approximately seven
million gallons of water per day from Lake Michigan — a primary source of drinking water for
residents of Lake County;
WHEREAS, the Foxconn/Upstream development is expected to treat and return over four million
gallons of water to Lake Michigan through the Racine Wastewater Treatment Plant;
WHEREAS, additional development and infrastructure improvements required to support
Foxconn are likely to result in additional impervious pavement and filling of more wetlands; and
WHEREAS, the actions to fast track the Foxconn/Upstream development will unilaterally impose
negative impacts outside the political and geographical boundaries of Wisconsin.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF
TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE, COOK AND LAKE COUNTIES,
ILLINOIS, we urge and support the following:
1. We urge our neighbors and counterparts in the State of Wisconsin to immediately
reconsider any actions relative to the Foxconn/Upstream Development that waive
enforcement of, or compliance with all applicable regulations and laws which
could compromise the environmental integrity and resiliency of natural resources
to the detriment of the people and property in Lake County;
2. With regard to the Foxconn/Upstream project and any and all future development
projects upstream of Lake County, we urge our local and state counterparts in
Wisconsin and federal agency counterparts to uniformly apply and enforce all
applicable regulations and laws as written without any exemptions, waivers or
variances to ensure negative impacts are not imposed on the residents of
downstream Lake County;
3. We support the Illinois Attorney General, Illinois General Assembly and Illinois
agencies in taking whatever actions possible to protect Lake County and the
State of Illinois against the loss of water resources, potential flooding, and other
ecological impacts from this development;
4. We fully support business development and recognize that many Lake County
residents will be positively impacted by the employment potential presented by
Foxconn. Our objection is not to the evolvement of Foxconn, but rather to the
negative effect it may have on our communities; and
5. We support coordination and cooperation between the appropriate political and
professional leaders in both Illinois and Wisconsin with the jurisdiction over
and/or interest in the Foxconn development in Racine and Kenosha Counties,
Wisconsin.
AYES: 6 — Berman Stein Ottenheimer, Weidenfeld Johnson Smith
NAYES: 0 — None
ABSENT: 0 - None
PASSED: August 20, 2018
APPROVED: August 20, 2018
APPROVED:
everly Sus n, Village r si en
ATTEST:
Janet . Sirabian, Village Clerk