A Snapshot of Chris Cahnovsky, Enforcement Manager, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

CHRIS CAHNOVSKY is an enforcement managerHe once managed a toxic chemical spill from a
for the Illinois Environmental Proection Agency.derailed freight train in Tamaroa.
The protection of the land - nine counties of it inAnd there’s a hideous problem on
the state of Illinois – has kept ChrisCahnovsky’s patch: petroleum vapour from
Cahnovsky busy for 15 years.the big refineries seeps right into occupied homes
In that time he’s been shot at with a nail gun.in Hartford, especially after heavy rain. The Illinois
He’s been driven at. He’s dealt with theAttorney General’s office has filed lawsuits -
‘garbage’ left behind after illegal drugsfor groundwater contamination and vapour
labs have been shut down –intrusion.
‘bazooka’, a form of methamphetamine,But ask Cahnovsky to pick a single worst
is the latest craze in poverty-stricken rural areasoffender in his entire career, and the answer
of Illinois. He’s even known people who’dcomes back immediately: 'Chemetco.'
rather litigate than pay a $100 fine.He calls the corporation ‘recalcitrant violators.