Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB2551

Creates the Mercury Reduction Act. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency may participate in the establishment and implementation of a multi-state clearinghouse to assist in carrying out the purpose of mercury reduction. Provides that beginning July 1, 2005, no mercury-added product may be offered for final sale or use or distributed for promotional purposes in the State without prior written notification to the Environmental Protection Agency by the manufacturer of the product. Sets forth the requirements for this notification. Sets forth restrictions on the purchase or sale of certain mercury-added products. Provides that beginning July 1, 2006, no person may crush, shred, flatten, or otherwise process a motor vehicle for scrap metal without first making a good faith effort to remove any mercury light switches and mercury headlights. Provides that, on or before January 1, 2006, the Pollution Control Board must modify its rules governing universal hazardous waste as appropriate to promote the recycling, recovery, and proper management of elemental mercury and mercury-added products on a statewide basis. Sets forth penalties for violations of the Act. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Adds "vehicle recycler" to the list of persons who may not knowingly shred, scrap, dismantle, recycle, incinerate, handle, store, or otherwise manage any white good that contains any white components. Provides that no owner, operator, agent, employee of a junkyard or scrap dealership, or vehicle recycler may knowingly shred, scrap, dismantle, recycle, incinerate, handle, store, or otherwise manage any end-of-life motor vehicle that contains any mercury-added component. Defines "vehicle recycler", "end-of-life motor vehicle", and "mercury-added component". Effective immediately.

Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Mercury-Containing Products Act. Provides that beginning July 1, 2005, a school may not purchase for use in a primary or secondary classroom, bulk elemental mercury, chemicals containing mercury compounds, or mercury-added instructional equipment and materials. Provides that beginning July 1, 2007, a person may not sell or offer to sell or distribute a mercury switch or mercury relay individually or as a product component. Sets forth circumstances under which an exemption to this prohibition may be granted by the Environmental Protection Agency. Provides that on or before July 1, 2006, the Pollution Control Board must modify its rules governing universal hazardous waste as appropriate to promote the recycling, recovery, and proper management of elemental mercury and mercury-added products on a statewide basis. Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that beginning January 1, 2006, no vehicle recycler may knowingly shred, scrap, dismantle, recycle, incinerate, handle, store, or otherwise manage any end-of-life motor vehicle that contains any mercury light switches or mercury headlamps. Defines "vehicle recycler", "end-of-life motor vehicle", "mercury light switch", and "mercury headlamp". Effective immediately.

Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Defines "mercury relay" and "mercury switch". Prohibits the following : (i) beginning July 1, 2005, the purchase or acceptance, for use in a primary or secondary school classroom, of bulk elemental mercury, chemicals containing mercury compounds, or instructional equipment or materials containing mercury added during their manufacture; and (ii) beginning July 1, 2007, the sale, offer to sell, distribution, or offer to distribute a mercury switch or mercury relay individually or as a product component. Excludes certain products from these prohibitions. Requires the manufacturer of a mercury switch or mercury relay or certain other products containing mercury to apply to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for a 5-year exemption from these prohibitions by July 1, 2006 and establishes a process for the application and renewal of the exemption. Requires the Agency to report to the Governor and the General Assembly by July 1, 2006 concerning programs to reduce and recycle mercury from mercury thermostats and mercury vehicle components. Designates mercury switches or mercury relays, and scientific instruments and instructional equipment containing mercury added during their manufacture as universal waste subject to the streamlined hazardous waste rules of the Illinois Administrative Code. Provides that, if the United States Environmental Protection Agency adopts streamlined hazardous waste rules pertaining to the management of mercury switches or mercury relays, and scientific instruments and instructional equipment containing mercury added during their manufacture or otherwise exempts those items from regulation as hazardous waste, then the Pollution Control Board shall adopt equivalent rules. Effective immediately.

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