Tim Brecheen, environmental coordinator for the Air Force Base Conversion Agency, told the Chanute Restoration Advisory Board that fishing will be restricted to "catch and release only," effective immediately.      

Brecheen cited preliminary data from environmental studies at the man-made lake showing that bass and catfish there contained elevated levels of mercury.      

"It´s a serious issue," said Rantoul Village Administrator Gary Adams. "If there´s mercury in that fish, we´ve got to stop people from eating it."      

Christopher Hill, environmental protection engineer for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, said the ingestion of mercury can cause medical problems for pregnant women and the children they bear. The EPA´s Web site lists neurological disorders, cerebral palsy and learning disorders among the most common problems caused by ingesting mercury.      

While the high levels of mercury were found only in bass and catfish at Heritage Lake, Brecheen said the Air Force was prohibiting fishermen from keeping any fish caught there as a precautionary move.      

Brecheen said the Air Force will erect five signs around the lake over the next two weeks. The signs will read, in part, "The United States Air Force is recommending that members of the public do not eat fish from Heritage Lake."      

Tuesday´s announcement comes on the heels of a report by scientists from the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry critical of Chanute´s lack of a "catch and release" policy at the lake.      

In a report released last week, the Agency for Toxic Substances expressed concern about the impact of Air Force activities and construction work at four nearby landfills on fish in Heritage Lake.      

While Brecheen said there is no indication of contamination to either surface water or sediment beneath the lake, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Gary Schafer said his agency had not received any environmental data from the Air Force concerning the lake.      

Brecheen said he expects the Air Force will turn over its findings to the U.S. and Illinois Environmental Protection Agencies by the end of October.      

"This review process takes time. Therefore, the Air Force feels that it is in the best interest of the public to refrain from eating fish caught in Heritage Lake," said Brecheen.      

Both Hill and Schafer said their agencies support the Air Force´s decision to restrict fishing at the lake, which was built by the Air Force in 1984.