Illinois Comments on the Draft Hypoxia Integrated Assessment Report

Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Working Group
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
Room 9127
1305, East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Dear Members of the Hypoxia Working Group:

I am transmitting the attached as the State of Illinois' response to the Notice of Availability of an Integrated Assessment of the Causes and Consequences of Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico (FRL-6461-3).

I am concerned that the Draft Integrated Assessment produced by the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) of the Executive Office of the President for the President and the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force appears to have been prepared with little or no consideration of the extensive comments I submitted on July 27, 1999 in response to the six technical assessments of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. While the relationship between fertilizer use in the Midwest and Gulf hypoxia remains scientifically unproven, some of the recommended responses could have serious economic consequences for Midwestern farmers. I therefore encourage you to respond to the scientific concerns we have previously, and continue to express.

Sincerely,

George H. Ryan
Governor

Attachments (2)