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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The group of pollutants known as persistent,
3 bioaccumulative, and toxic substances, or "PBTs", are highly
4 toxic, long-lasting, and build up in the food chain to levels
5 that can pose risks to human and ecosystem health; mercury,
6 dioxin, PCBs, and lead are examples of PBTs; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Exposure to PBTs has been associated with a range
8 of adverse health effects, including effects on the nervous
9 system, reproductive and development problems, cancer, and
10 hormonal disruption and may pose particular risks to young
11 children and developing fetuses because critical organs, such
12 as the brain, central nervous system, and eyes, are still under
13 development; and
 
14     WHEREAS, A wide range of conditions and activities may
15 produce and release PBTs into Illinois' environment, including
16 industrial processes, various consumer products, the presence
17 of pesticides and PCBs in sediments, and the use of vehicles
18 powered by internal combustion engines; and
 
19     WHEREAS, The American Public Health Association, the
20 United Nations' Environmental Program, and the International
21 Joint Commission of the United States and Canadian governments
22 have agreed upon the benefits of reducing certain PBTs in the
23 environment; and
 
24     WHEREAS, PBTs are particularly problematic for
25 environmental protection efforts because of their ability to
26 travel long distances in the atmosphere, move readily from land
27 to air and water, and linger for generations in people and the
28 environment; and
 
29     WHEREAS, Progress has been made to reduce individual uses,
30 releases, and environmental concentrations of several PBTs,

 

 

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1 but current programs do not fully address the comprehensive
2 challenge presented by PBTs and their potential for cross-media
3 impacts; therefore, be it
 
4     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
5 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
6 we urge the Environmental Protection Agency to develop for
7 review by the General Assembly a strategy to address the risks
8 of PBTs to human health and the environment for PBTs used,
9 released, and disposed of in Illinois. This strategy shall
10 include, but not be limited to, the following:
11         (1) Designation of an initial list of priority PBT's
12     for targeted action in Illinois, including an explanation
13     of why each PBT has been selected to the priority list.
14         (2) Using available information, a description of what
15     activities generate the priority PBTs that may be present
16     in the environment of Illinois.
17         (3) Identification of the policies and strategies that
18     present the best potential for cleaning up, controlling,
19     and where possible, preventing releases of priority PBTs,
20     taking into account both regulatory and non-regulatory
21     tools.
22         (4) Procedures to coordinate planning among agency
23     programs to address cross-media effects of priority PBTs
24     and encourage the development of innovative reduction
25     strategies.
26         (5) Identification of informational systems,
27     decision-making tools, and resource requirements needed to
28     make informed decisions on measures to reduce priority
29     PBTs.
30         (6) Development of measurable indicators to track
31     priority PBT reduction successes and failures; and be it
32     further
 
33     RESOLVED, That, in developing the PBT strategy, the
34 Environmental Protection Agency shall convene at least 2 public

 

 

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1 meetings to solicit comments from the businesses community,
2 local governments, citizens, environmental groups,
3 researchers, and others; and be it further
 
4     RESOLVED, That the Environmental Protection Agency shall
5 submit the PBT strategy to the House of Representatives
6 Environmental Health Committee for its consideration during
7 the 2006 legislative session; and be it further
 
8     RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be delivered to
9 the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency.