2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 415 - ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY › 415 ILCS 75/ - Environmental Toxicology Act.

(415 ILCS 75/1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 981)
Sec. 1. 
		
		This Act shall be known and may be cited as the
"Environmental Toxicology Act".
(Source: P.A. 84-987.)
(415 ILCS 75/2) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 982)
Sec. 2. 
		
		The Illinois Department of Public Health shall establish a
program to investigate threats or potential threats to the public health
related to environmental exposure to hazardous substances, and to assess
and study the human health effects associated with such exposure.
(Source: P.A. 84-987.)
(415 ILCS 75/3) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 983)
Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a) "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public Health.
(b) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois Department of Public
Health.
(c) "Program" means the Environmental Toxicology Program as established by
this Act.
(d) "Exposure" means contact with a hazardous substance.
(e) "Hazardous substance" means chemical compounds, elements, or
combinations of chemicals which, because of quantity concentration, physical
characteristics or toxicological characteristics may pose a substantial
present or potential hazard to human health and includes, but is not
limited to, any substance defined as a hazardous substance in Section 3.215
of the Environmental Protection Act.
(f) "Initial assessment" means a review and evaluation of site history
and hazardous substances involved, potential for population exposure, the
nature of any health related complaints and any known patterns in disease
occurrence.
(g) "Comprehensive health study" means a detailed analysis which may
include: a review of available
environmental, morbidity and mortality data; environmental and biological
sampling; detailed review of scientific literature; exposure analysis;
population surveys; or any other scientific or epidemiologic methods
deemed necessary to adequately evaluate the health status of the population
at risk and any potential relationship to environmental factors.
(h) "Superfund Site" means any hazardous waste site designated for
cleanup on the National Priorities List as mandated by the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-510),
as amended.
(Source: P.A. 100-103, eff. 8-11-17; 100-621, eff. 7-20-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)
(415 ILCS 75/4) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 984)
Sec. 4. 
		
		The Department, under the Environmental Toxicology Program,
shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(a) to respond to citizen inquiries and investigate complaints regarding
public health concerns which may be related to environmental hazards;
(b) to provide an initial assessment of potential adverse health effects
in a community to determine whether a comprehensive health study is
warranted in cases where exposure to hazardous substances has occurred;
(c) to conduct a comprehensive health study, if warranted, in
cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
to assess the full relationship, if any, between observed health
problems and possible exposure to hazardous substances in a
given community;
(d) to make recommendations for long-term follow-up studies when appropriate;
(e) to provide prompt referrals to appropriate agencies for remedial actions;
(f) to recommend legislation or regulation, in cooperation with the
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to the General Assembly or the
Pollution Control Board.
(Source: P.A. 84-987.)
(415 ILCS 75/5) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 985)
Sec. 5. 
(a) Upon request by the Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency, the Department shall conduct an initial assessment for any location
designated as a Superfund Site.  Such assessment shall be initiated within 60 days of the request.
(b) (Blank).
(c) If, as a result of the initial assessment, the Department determines
that a public health problem related to exposure to hazardous substances
may exist in a community located near a designated site, the
Department shall conduct a comprehensive health study to assess the full
relationship, if any, between such threat or potential threat and possible
exposure to hazardous substances at the designated site.
(Source: P.A. 100-103, eff. 8-11-17; 100-621, eff. 7-20-18.)
(415 ILCS 75/6) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 986)
Sec. 6. 
		
		At the request of a unit of local government to which a
siting approval application for a new pollution control facility
for the storage, treatment or disposal of hazardous waste has been made,
pursuant to Section 39.2 of the Environmental Protection
Act, the Department shall evaluate the public health implications of such
proposed facility.
Such request shall be made to the Department within 14 days of the filing
of the application.  The Department shall transmit its evaluation to the
unit of local government within 75 days of the request.  Such evaluation
shall be made available for public inspection and shall be made part of the
hearing record.  If the Department fails to transmit the evaluation prior
to the last required public hearing the unit of local government may
consider that evaluation in making its determination only upon its finding
that the delay has not resulted in material prejudice to the applicant or the
public.
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
(415 ILCS 75/7) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 987)
Sec. 7. 
		
		The Department may enter into contracts or agreements with
individuals, corporations, hospitals, universities, not-for-profit
corporations, governmental entities or other organizations whereby such
individuals, organizations or agencies agree to provide assistance to the
Department in carrying out its duties and responsibilities under this Act.
(Source: P.A. 84-987.)
(415 ILCS 75/8) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 988)
Sec. 8. 
		
		This Act shall not apply to employee complaints lodged against
their employer, which fall under the provisions of the federal Occupational
Safety and Health Act.
(Source: P.A. 84-987.)