103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3450

 

Introduced 2/8/2024, by Sen. Mike Simmons

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Safe Public Drinking Water Act. Provides that, as soon as practicable after the effective date of the Act, the Department of Public Health shall propose, and the Illinois Pollution Control Board shall adopt, amendments to the Board rules that establish primary drinking water standards (35 Ill. Adm. Part 611) in order to implement a State-only MCL for carcinogens and toxic chemicals that are likely to pose a substantial health hazard to residents of the State. Requires the rules adopted by the Board to establish: (1) a State-Only MCL for perfluoroalkyl substances and polyfluoroalkyl substances in public drinking water systems; (2) a State-Only MCL for hexavalent chromium in public drinking water systems; (3) a State-Only MCL for 1,4 dioxane in public drinking water systems; and (4) a directive for the Department to propose implementing a State-Only MCL for any other pollutants in public drinking water systems when 2 or more other states have set limits or issued guidance on a given pollutant. Directs the Department to review: (i) maximum contaminant levels adopted by other states; (ii) studies and scientific evidence reviewed by those states; (iii) material in the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; and (iv) the latest peer-reviewed science and independent or government agency studies. Provides that the Department shall annually review the latest peer-reviewed science and independent or government studies.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning health.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Safe
5Public Drinking Water Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
7    "Board" means the Pollution Control Board established by
8the Environmental Protection Act.
9    "Department" means the Department of Public Health.
10    "MCL" as used in this Act means maximum contaminant level,
11or the legal threshold limit on the amount of a substance that
12is allowed in public water systems.
 
13    Section 10. Purpose. It is the goal of the State of
14Illinois to protect residents from harmful toxins in drinking
15water. Accordingly, this Act directs the Department to
16propose, and the Board to adopt, rules establishing
17State-level MCLs for likely or known carcinogens found in
18public drinking water systems.
 
19    Section 15. Maximum contaminant levels; rulemaking.
20    (a) As soon as practicable after the effective date of
21this Act, the Department shall propose, and the Board shall

 

 

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1adopt, amendments to the Board rules that establish primary
2drinking water standards (35 Ill. Adm. Part 611) for the
3purpose of implementing a State-only MCL for carcinogens and
4toxic chemicals that are likely to pose a substantial health
5hazard to residents of the State.
6    (b) At a minimum, the rules adopted by the Board under this
7Section shall establish:
8        (1) a State-Only MCL for perfluoroalkyl substances and
9    polyfluoroalkyl substances in public drinking water
10    systems;
11        (2) a State-Only MCL for hexavalent chromium in public
12    drinking water systems;
13        (3) a State-Only MCL for 1,4 dioxane in public
14    drinking water systems; and
15        (4) a directive for the Department to propose
16    implementing a State-Only MCL for any other pollutants in
17    public drinking water systems when 2 or more other states
18    have set limits or issued guidance on a given pollutant.
19    (c) In proceedings under subsections (b) and (c), the
20Department and the Board shall review MCLs adopted by other
21states, the studies and scientific evidence reviewed by those
22states, material in the Agency for Toxic Substances and
23Disease Registry, and the latest peer-reviewed science and
24independent or government agency studies, and shall adopt an
25MCL that is protective of public health, including vulnerable
26subpopulations, such as pregnant and nursing mothers, infants,

 

 

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1and children, that provides at least as much protection to
2such populations as any MCL or health advisory promulgated by
3the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The
4Department and the Board shall annually review the latest peer
5reviewed science and independent or government agency studies
6and undertake additional rulemaking if needed to comply with
7this paragraph.