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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Mercury is a highly toxic substance that can cause
3 serious human health and ecological effects; and
 
4     WHEREAS, The improper disposal of mercury-containing
5 products can cause serious health and ecological effects when
6 released into the environment; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Some automakers have historically used mercury in
8 switches for convenience lighting, antilock braking systems,
9 and active ride control systems; and
 
10     WHEREAS, It is estimated that over 210 million vehicles
11 currently in use in the United States contain an estimated 200
12 tons of mercury; and
 
13     WHEREAS, The use of mercury in automotive applications
14 presents significant challenges for the industries involved in
15 end-of-life vehicle recycling; and
 
16     WHEREAS, An effective, comprehensive approach is necessary
17 to properly manage mercury from the existing fleet of vehicles,
18 thereby protecting human health and the environment from the
19 potential impacts of automotive mercury; and therefore be it
 
20     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
21 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
22 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there should be created the
23 Joint Task Force on Mercury Vehicle Components to identify
24 programs and methods that recover and collect mercury switches
25 and, where practical, other mercury components from motor
26 vehicles; and be it further
 
27     RESOLVED, In evaluating mercury collection programs and
28 methods, the Task Force, at a minimum, shall consider (i) the

 

 

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1 existing infrastructure for recovering and collecting mercury
2 components; (ii) efforts to reduce the use of mercury
3 components in vehicles; (iii) in-use and end-of-life
4 strategies that facilitate the recovery and collection of
5 vehicle mercury components; (iv) appropriate target collection
6 rates for recovering mercury vehicle components; (v) funding
7 options and incentives to remove and safely manage vehicle
8 mercury components; (vi) regulations that encourage the proper
9 handling and management of mercury components once they have
10 been removed from vehicles; and (vii) public outreach to
11 promote awareness and facilitate involvement in programs to
12 collect and recover mercury vehicle components; and be it
13 further
 
14     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be composed of 8
15 members as follows: 2 members appointed by the President of the
16 Senate; 2 members appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; 2
17 members appointed by the Speaker of the House; and 2 members
18 appointed by the House Minority Leader; in addition, the
19 Director of the Environmental Protection Agency or his or her
20 designee, the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or
21 his or her designee, and the Director of Natural Resources or
22 his or her designee shall serve as non-voting members; and be
23 it further
 
24     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall prepare and submit a
25 report to the General Assembly that includes recommendations
26 for administrative, funding, and legislative changes that may
27 be necessary to effectively recover and collect mercury
28 components from motor vehicles in the State; and be it further
 
29     RESOLVED, That the report shall be submitted to the General
30 Assembly by January 1, 2005; and be it further
 
31     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
32 delivered to the Director of the Environmental Protection

 

 

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1 Agency, the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and
2 the Director of Natural Resources.