HR1174 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1174 LRB096 22077 JDS 40565 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Perchloroethylene (hereinafter referred to as "perc") has been the solvent of choice for commercial clothes cleaning operations since the 1960s; and

WHEREAS, The use of perc by dry cleaners can expose humans and the environment to perc through releases to soil, water, and air; and

WHEREAS, Perc has been shown to have a variety of health and safety issues associated with its use, has been classified as a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a potential human carcinogen by the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health, and has been shown by the U.S. EPA to cause other non-cancer health effects; and

WHEREAS, Studies performed by environmental authorities and others in California, New York, and New Jersey indicate that exposure to perc emissions from dry cleaning operations may result in unacceptable health risks to people living near dry cleaning facilities; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. EPA has adopted regulations to eliminate the use of perc in dry cleaning facilities located in residential buildings by 2020, and the California Air Resources Board has passed rules to eliminate the use of perc at all dry cleaning facilities by 2023; and

WHEREAS, There is an increasing trend in the detection of perc in community water system wells in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, 81% of the public health notices issued for volatile organic compounds that exceed Illinois Pollution Control Board groundwater quality standards or Safe Drinking Water Act maximum contaminant levels have been triggered by the detection of perc or its degradation products in community water system wells; and

WHEREAS, The dry cleaning industry is a highly decentralized sector, with the vast majority of dry cleaners in Illinois being small neighborhood businesses at which cleaning and finishing are performed on the premises; and

WHEREAS, Many of these drycleaners are increasingly faced with financial liability associated with cleaning up perc contaminated soil and groundwater; and

WHEREAS, There are a number of alternatives to perc-based dry cleaning that are either emerging or commercially viable that can minimize the impact of commercial clothes cleaning facilities on human health and the environment; and

WHEREAS, Many dry cleaners recognize the inherent liabilities in the use of perc and would like to shift to environmentally friendly and economically competitive cleaning technologies, but these cleaners may be limited in their choice of cleaner technologies due to the time and resources needed to evaluate these technologies and the level of capital investment necessary to update their facilities; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds it necessary to form a Task Force to study appropriate methods for phasing out the use of perc in dry cleaning operations in Illinois and encouraging the use of environmentally friendly alternatives; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that there is created a Clean Technology Task Force for Commercial Clothes Cleaning to identify barriers to using environmentally friendly alternatives to perc in dry cleaning operations in Illinois, and to study appropriate methods for phasing out the use of perc in dry cleaning operations in Illinois and encouraging the use of cleaner clothes cleaning technologies; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the following members:

(1) The Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency ("Director"), or his or her representative, who shall serve as chairman of the Task Force;

(2) 4 members appointed by the Director to represent the dry cleaning industry, including at least one member who represents a state-wide dry cleaners' organization and 2 members who represent regional or major metropolitan dry cleaning associations;

(3) One member appointed by the Director to represent the Dry Cleaner Environmental Response Trust Fund;

(4) 2 members appointed by the Director who own or operate dry cleaning facilities in Illinois that utilize environmentally friendly cleaning alternatives;

(5) One member appointed by the Director to represent community water supply well owners and operators;

(6) One member appointed by the Director to represent the Groundwater Advisory Council;

(7) One member appointed by the Director to represent local government environmental and public health agencies;

(8) One member appointed by the Director to represent the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center; and

(9) 2 members appointed by the Director to represent environmental public interest organizations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the methods studied by the Task Force for encouraging the use of cleaner clothes cleaning technologies in Illinois shall include, but not be limited to, technical training and assistance, demonstration projects and education, solvent usage fees, and financial incentives; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency shall provide staff and support for the Task Force; and be if further

RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall receive no compensation for serving as members of the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall submit a report on its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2010, which may be in the form of proposed legislation.