OrFict OF THE GOVERNOR
207 Stare Camron, Speevontuo, hunos 62706

December 20, 1999
Georce H. Ryan
Governor

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:

1 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).

1 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,

Keo t Ig

GEORGE H. RYAN
Governor

Attachments (2)
GHR/IDNR/JDG/bda



Ortice OF THE GOVERNOR
207 Stare Camtce, Srewortuo, kunots 62706

December 20, 1999
Georce H. Ryan
GOvERNOR

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:

Please allow this letter and attachments to serve 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).

Scientists in a number of state agencies have reviewed the
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. | submit their comments (Attachment 1) and request that this letter and the attached comments
and diagrams be used in preparing the final Integrated Assessment and be made available on the
Internet,

In general, state scientists find that the reports do not present a clear cause-effect relationship
between fertilizer use and other nitrogen sources and hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico, and the report
does not adequately express scientific uncertainty. We are left with a great deal of confusion rather
than clarity.

1am particularly disappointed that Governor Ryan and the State of Illinois have not received
a response to the letter and 27 pages of comments on the six technical assessment reports that were
submitted on July 27, 1999. It is very difficult to engage in a process that has multiple, sequential
steps when the next step (i.¢., Draft Integrated Assessment) is started before the previous step has
been completed. The difficulty was even more so experienced by the Illinois scientists who had a
hard time preparing a response to the Draft Integrated Assessment in the absence of a response to
their many comments, suggestions, and concerns regarding the six technical assessment reports, Due

1



to the absence of a response to our July 27, 1999, letter and comments, I resubmit our July 27
comments (Attachment 2) as part of this response to the Draft Integrated Assessment and I look
forward to receiving responses to both sets of comments.

Once the CENR Hypoxia Working Group has finalized and approved the Integrated
Assessment early next year, our scientists will review the report. In advance of finalizing the
Integrated Assessment, | implore you to respond to the many issues and concerns we have raised
regarding the science upon which the Integrated Assessment is based.

Sincerely, VA
Renee Cipriano
Senior Advisor to the Governor
Environmental and Natural Resources
Attachments (2)
GHR/IDNR/JDG/kac
cc: Brent Manning
Joe Hampton
Bruce Yurdin
Jim Garner
Brian Anderson

Derek Winstanley