On Aug. 13, the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission approved a $74,000 engineering study to review possible flooding impacts to Lake County, Ill., from the Foxconn Technology Group development in neighboring Racine County, Wis. According to the Chicago Tribune, the study will be conducted by Christopher B. Burke Eng., and will seek to identify potential flood-related or water quality impacts along the Des Plaines River in Lake County due to the construction.

Foxconn, a consumer electronic provider, broke ground on a new manufacturing facility in Mount Pleasant, Wis., June 28 amid water management controversy. The technology provider is expected to provide up to 13,000 jobs; however, environmentalists have raised concerns regarding the facility’s construction. The concerns stem from the Wisconsin Legislature’s decision to pass legislation waiving certain environmental regulations for Foxconn in a flood-prone watershed.

“The economic development and potential job opportunities would have a positive impact on this region, but we want to make sure our residents are not adversely affect,” said Stormwater Commission Chairman Craig Taylor. “Lake County has made a large investment in flood mitigation activities, and we want to ensure those efforts are supported watershed-wide.”

The impact analysis commissioned by the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission will seek to identify potential storm water, floodplain and wetland impacts based off of mitigation efforts, such as best management practices, proposed for the project. Lake County, along with several neighboring municipalities including Gurnee and Lincolnshire, have passed resolutions opposing any Wisconsin decisions to reduce environmental standards for Foxconn. Additionally, the Illinois Senate has passed a similar resolution.