SR0593 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0593 LRB094 19071 LJB 54576 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Many people in Illinois are drinking water contaminated by detectable, regulated levels of atrazine or water contaminated by unregulated atrazine with an unknown toxic potential; and

WHEREAS, Most people are routinely exposed to this chemical without their knowledge or consent; and

WHEREAS, There is currently no domestic well monitoring program in the State of Illinois, leaving citizens who drink water from private wells at risk for exposure to atrazine levels above the 3 parts per billion (ppb) Maximum Contamination Level (MCL) set by the EPA; and

WHEREAS, The Minnesota State Legislature has already introduced several pieces of legislation to restrict or ban atrazine and to provide funding to test wells for atrazine; and

WHEREAS, While information on the need for well testing has recently been produced by the Illinois EPA and the Illinois Department of Public Health, a passive approach to promoting this information has been taken, leaving many citizens unaware of the need for regular well testing; and

WHEREAS, While human health problems caused by atrazine are still being researched, there is substantial research on the negative health effects atrazine causes in both wildlife and laboratory animals; and

WHEREAS, Because the State is one of the largest users of atrazine, Illinois residents are most at risk for any health problems caused by atrazine; and

WHEREAS, It is in the best interest to the State of Illinois to be at the forefront of a monitoring and regulatory effort to protect its citizens for the potential adverse effects of chronic atrazine exposure; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Atrazine Task Force is hereby created to study the effects of atrazine on human health; the task force shall be made up of 6 members as follows: (i) the President of the Senate or his or her designee; (ii) the Minority Leader of the Senate or his or her designee; (iii) 2 members appointed by the President of the Senate; and (iv) 2 members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and the Director of Agriculture or his or her designee shall serve as a non-voting member of the Atrazine Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall hold one meeting in Chicago and one meeting in Springfield and shall report its findings to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2006; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force is abolished upon completing its report.