HB0658 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 07990 JDS 18094 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB0658

Introduced 2/6/2009, by Rep. Paul D. Froehlich

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

415 ILCS 5/17.9 new

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Creates the Task Force on Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products and Other Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water. Provides for the appointment of Task Force members by the Director. Provides that the Task Force must initially focus on evaluating pharmaceuticals and personal care products and other emerging contaminants. Specifies certain data that the Task Force must evaluate. Provides that the Task Force must submit its findings, along with recommendations for legislation, to the General Assembly by December 31, 2010. Repeals the Section creating the Task Force on July 1, 2011. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning safety.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Environmental Protection Act is amended by adding Section 17.9 as follows:

(415 ILCS 5/17.9 new)

Sec. 17.9. Task Force on Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products and Other Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water.

(a) The Task Force on Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products and Other Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water (Task Force) is established for the purpose of providing a larger understanding of the environmental consequences of the use of these products that are being found in drinking water.

(b) The Task Force shall consist of the Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency or his or her designee and 7 members appointed by the Director. Appointed members must possess knowledge and expertise in one or more of the fields relevant to testing community water supplies, both surface and groundwater systems, including but not limited to analytical chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, risk assessment, and hydrology. The members of the Task Force may organize themselves as they deem necessary and shall serve without compensation.

The Task Force shall initially focus on evaluating pharmaceuticals and personal care products and other emerging contaminants, as the Task Force deems appropriate. In evaluating environmental consequences, the Task Force shall consider, among other things, the following research and guidance, conducted or provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water Acts, and United States Geological Survey (USGS):

(1) Research data analyzing the effects of emerging contaminants on aquatic wildlife, including fish, and any evidence linking that research data to human health problems.

(2) Studies of the accuracy of current technology, including analytical procedures, for testing trace amounts of emerging contaminants (both individual chemicals and mixtures of chemicals), including the estimated costs of that testing and the availability of laboratories qualified to do that testing.

(3) Standards and guidance from federal or other international sources for the testing of both individual chemicals and mixtures of chemicals, and analytical procedures established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for testing trace amounts of emerging contaminants.

(4) USGS National Reconnaissance of Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Other Organic Wastewater Contaminants in U.S. Streams to determine environmental consequences.

(c) No later than December 31, 2010, the Task Force shall submit its findings, along with recommendations for legislation, to the General Assembly. The Agency shall also post the findings of the Task Force on its web site.

(d) This Section is repealed on July 1, 2011.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.