Ethylene Oxide: March 11th Update
Ethylene Oxide: March 11th Update
On February 15th, 2019 State Senator John Curran introduced three new bills in the 101st General Assembly related to ethylene oxide. These bills have been assigned to the Environment and Conservation Committee and are scheduled for hearing on March 14th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Mayor Kristina Kovarik has submitted Witness Slips in support of these three bills, as well as a Senate Joint Resolution related to the issue.
Residents interested in filing a Witness Slip indicating their position on each of these proposed pieces of legislation should do so prior to 11:00 a.m. on March 14th, 2019. The following is a summary of each bill, as well as a link to filing a Witness Slip. Please note: When completing the Witness Slip under Section “IV. Testimony” If you do not plan on attending the hearing in person to testify or plan on submitting a written statement, please select “record of appearance only.”
SB1852
Summary: Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that in the event of an ethylene oxide leak a facility shall issue a notice to all affected property owners and local government within 2,500 feet of the leak site. Effective immediately.
Link to submitting Witness Slip:
SB1853
Summary: Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency shall reevaluate the current air pollution operating permit of any facility emitting ethylene oxide and conduct a 90-day public hearing process on such permits. Provides that no air pollution operating permit shall be renewed if the facility is in violation of any federal or State standards or current studies pertaining to ethylene oxide. Provides that a facility emitting ethylene oxide at levels higher than federal or State standards shall immediately cease operations until the level of emissions are reduced below both federal and State standards. Effective immediately.
Link to submitting Witness Slip:
SB1854
Summary: Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act no facility shall have fugitive emissions of ethylene oxide above zero. Provides that each facility shall be subject to regular and frequent inspections and testing to ensure that no fugitive emissions of ethylene oxide exist. Provides that inspections shall be unannounced and conducted by a third party chosen by the municipality in which the facility operates. Provides that each facility shall be subject to fence line ambient air testing, at random, once within every 90 to 120 days for a duration of 24-hour samples of no less than 6 consecutive days. Provides that the testing shall be conducted by a third party chosen by the municipality in which the facility operates. Defines "fugitive emissions". Effective immediately.
Link to submitting Witness Slip:
SJR27
Summary: Urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to consider the serious concerns of the residents of Lake County over the recent ethylene oxide emissions due to the environmental and public health threats it poses to the people of Illinois. Urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct ambient air monitoring and testing in and around the two known facilities emitting or discharging ethylene oxide in Lake County. Urges the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to take whatever actions possible to assist in the ambient air monitoring and protection of the public in regards to the environmental and health risks posed by ethylene oxide emissions in Lake County.
Link to submitting Witness Slip: