Press Release - Wednesday, March 09, 2011
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Bill to Ban the Drying Cleaning Solvent Perchlorothylene Passes Senate Committee
SPRINGFIELD—The Illinois Senate Environment Committee today unanimously passed Senate Bill 1617, which phases out the use of perchloroethylene, or perc, by Illinois dry cleaners. The bill now moves to the entire Senate for their consideration.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Heather Steans, (D-Chicago), provides for the gradual phase out of perc, a volatile organic compound that has been detected in groundwater and in community drinking water systems, across the State.
"I want to commend IEPA and all of the representatives of the Clean Technology Task Force for Commercial Clothes Cleaning for developing a workable solution to phase out perc," said Sen. Steans. "Keeping perc out of our soil and groundwater is critical to maintaining safe water systems in Illinois communities."
The Illinois EPA has identified an increasing trend in the detection of perc and its equally harmful breakdown products in the wells of community water systems. This is the result of analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in community water system wells.
"Eliminating perc as a source of drinking water contamination will be a public health benefit, and help us with our mission of protecting Illinois' environment," said Illinois EPA Interim Director Lisa Bonnett.
According to the bill, drycleaners will have until January 1, 2030, to complete the transition to dry cleaning machines that use less harmful solutions. The bill also requires persons to be properly trained in drycleaning best management practices to be present at drycleaning facilities whenever any drycleaning machines are operated.
Illinois EPA will review and assess alternatives to perc drycleaning to determine whether they pose negative impacts to human health and the environment.
The bill is supported by various organizations, including the Illinois Professional Drycleaners and Launderers, Korean American Drycleaning Association of Chicago, Environmental Law and Policy Center and Environment Illinois.
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