August 24, 2021

To the Honorable Members of
The Illinois House,
102^nd General Assembly:

As a strong advocate of protecting Illinois communities from harmful emissions, it is essential that companies in Illinois maintain the ability to eliminate or control dangerous particles from their emission units so that all our residents benefit from cleaner air. Due to an overly broad definition of “incineration,” HB3190 would prohibit companies from using certain pollution control devices, including thermal oxidation, resulting in substantially increased emissions of greenhouse gases, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”), fluorides, hazardous air pollutants, volatile organic materials, and carbon monoxide.

Specifically, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency predicts that for one Illinois company alone, greenhouse gas emissions would increase from approximately 767,000 metric tons to a projected 40 million metric tons per year—nearly triple the levels of the current largest greenhouse gas emitter in the state.

Due to the nature of the language, this issue would require changes to the language that are substantial enough to exceed the amendatory veto power given to me by the Illinois Constitution.

While I return this bill to legislature with a total veto, it is my hope that the General Assembly will quickly pass language that rectifies these issues and bans the incineration of PFAS at commercial waste incinerators, which is necessary to address the legitimate concerns of environmental justice communities too often exposed to the consequences of industrial pollution.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 3190, entitled “An Act concerning State government,” with the foregoing objections vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

JB Pritzker