SR0593 LRB094 19071 LJB 54576 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Many people in Illinois are drinking water
3 contaminated by detectable, regulated levels of atrazine or
4 water contaminated by unregulated atrazine with an unknown
5 toxic potential; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Most people are routinely exposed to this chemical
7 without their knowledge or consent; and
 
8     WHEREAS, There is currently no domestic well monitoring
9 program in the State of Illinois, leaving citizens who drink
10 water from private wells at risk for exposure to atrazine
11 levels above the 3 parts per billion (ppb) Maximum
12 Contamination Level (MCL) set by the EPA; and
 
13     WHEREAS, The Minnesota State Legislature has already
14 introduced several pieces of legislation to restrict or ban
15 atrazine and to provide funding to test wells for atrazine; and
 
16     WHEREAS, While information on the need for well testing has
17 recently been produced by the Illinois EPA and the Illinois
18 Department of Public Health, a passive approach to promoting
19 this information has been taken, leaving many citizens unaware
20 of the need for regular well testing; and
 
21     WHEREAS, While human health problems caused by atrazine are
22 still being researched, there is substantial research on the
23 negative health effects atrazine causes in both wildlife and
24 laboratory animals; and
 
25     WHEREAS, Because the State is one of the largest users of
26 atrazine, Illinois residents are most at risk for any health
27 problems caused by atrazine; and
 
28     WHEREAS, It is in the best interest to the State of

 

 

SR0593 - 2 - LRB094 19071 LJB 54576 r

1 Illinois to be at the forefront of a monitoring and regulatory
2 effort to protect its citizens for the potential adverse
3 effects of chronic atrazine exposure; therefore, be it
 
4     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
5 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Atrazine Task Force
6 is hereby created to study the effects of atrazine on human
7 health; the task force shall be made up of 6 members as
8 follows: (i) the President of the Senate or his or her
9 designee; (ii) the Minority Leader of the Senate or his or her
10 designee; (iii) 2 members appointed by the President of the
11 Senate; and (iv) 2 members to be appointed by the Minority
12 Leader of the Senate; and the Director of Agriculture or his or
13 her designee shall serve as a non-voting member of the Atrazine
14 Task Force; and be it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall hold one meeting in
16 Chicago and one meeting in Springfield and shall report its
17 findings to the General Assembly on or before December 31,
18 2006; and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That the Task Force is abolished upon completing
20 its report.