1.

Accept and involve the public partner.

The IAG’s Asbestos Task Force was closed; this is opposed to the Open Meetings Act that the IAG is supposed to enforce for all government bodies in the state. Dunesland’s president Paul Kakuris; its health and safety and asbestos consultant Jeffery Camplin; and Park Superintendent Grosso were denied access and participation with the group discussions and strategies.

2.

Plan carefully and evaluate your efforts.

The IAG’s Asbestos Task Force beach survey did not include a human health risk assessment. The study only evaluated whether asbestos-contaminated dredged sand could continue to be dumped on our beaches!

3.

Listen to the public's specific concerns.

After Dunesland was denied participation on the Asbestos Task Force, the UIC School of Public Health and the IAG offered to meet with us. We accepted their offer; they never did set up an appointment. Our concerns have been ignored, despite our requests as a stakeholder for the park.

4.

Be honest, frank, and open.

The Attorney General’s office and other state agencies have been caught in several misstatements to the media and the public. The worst act was the Illinois Department of Public Health stating in 1999 that the beaches were safe when no valid, scientific human health risk assessment existed for the public beaches. The public continues to have access to these asbestos-polluted beaches.

5.

Work with other credible sources.

The IAG’s Asbestos Task Force was riddled with members who had conflicts of interest. Most, if not all, of the task force members from state and federal agencies, have been involved with the past, failed attempts to downplay the hazards of asbestos found on our beaches, attempting to cover up their past willful lack of enforcement through memos and apparently rigged reports. Some of the agencies themselves were responsible for doing the actual dumping of sand contaminated with asbestos and chemicals on the 6 ½ miles of Illinois Beach State Park’s beaches.

6.

Meet the needs of the media.

The Asbestos Task Force has not released any statements since the release of the task force report in June, 2006 on any asbestos activities continually found on our beaches. Several state agencies have been caught lying to the media. IDNR told the News Sun that no friable asbestos existed on the beaches. A week later, IDNR admitted friable (hazardous) asbestos was found by their consultant on the Park beaches.

7.

Speak clearly and with compassion.

The silence is the only compassion illustrated by the IAG’s Asbestos Task Force.