Section 228.102  Policy

a)         It is the purpose of the General Assembly in adopting the Act to maintain and enhance the purity of the air and water of Illinois in order to protect health, welfare and the quality of life.  Accordingly, it is hereby determined that the uncontrolled discharge of asbestos fiber into the environment tends to severely endanger the public health and welfare and that the uncontrolled spraying of fiber-containing materials unreasonably interferes with the enjoyment of life and property.

b)         It is the purpose of these regulations to control the amount of asbestos fiber released into the environment from the major sources of emission.  Such control is necessary not only to protect those members of the public who are in proximity to heavy concentrations of asbestos fiber but also to safeguard the health of future generations endangered by the continuous discharge of asbestos fiber which can be toxic and which tends to be cumulative both in the atmosphere and in the human body.

c)         Where health can be protected by the adoption of an emission standard or of procedural safeguards, such a course has been pursued.  In those instances where restriction is unfeasible because of the unusual nature of the emission source (spray asbestos at construction sites) a product ban has been resorted to.  This prohibition has been made with full consideration given to the available alternative materials.

d)         It is also the purpose of these regulations to reduce the emission of non-asbestos particulate from spray-fireproofing and insulation.  To protect against these emissions, the biological effects of which are unknown, procedural safeguards have been enacted.