Emergency Rules Implemented to Protect Illinoisans from Petcoke
On Tuesday, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced emergency administrative rules designed to protect Illinois residents from petroleum coke (petcoke). Under the Governor’s order, the rules will be filed later this week as part of his agenda to protect Illinois’ natural resources and ensure a clean and healthy environment for future generations.
Petcoke is created during the oil refining process and is often used as a fuel source at power plants. Oil Change International, a research, communication, and advocacy organization focused on exposing the true costs of fossil fuels and facilitating the coming transition towards clean energy, recently conducted a report on petcoke that states that although similar in appearance to coal, petcoke emits five to 10 percent more carbon dioxide (CO2) than coal as it has a carbon content of over 90 percent.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concluded in a June 2011 report that there are no known illnesses or health effects attributed to petcoke. Human beings themselves release CO2 naturally; however, a build-up of it can cause health issues.
Gov. Quinn however, is not chancing the health and security of Illinois residents.
“No one should have to eat, sleep or work with harmful dust blowing into their community,” Governor Quinn said. “No matter who you are or where you live, everyone has a right to a healthy environment. These rules will make sure that no one in Illinois has to worry about petroleum coke.”
Through its authority under the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) will submit administrative rules to the Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB) that would set statewide standards for any facility that manages or stores petcoke or related materials. Chief among these will be a requirement for total enclosure of petcoke during its transport, processing and storage.
The IEPA has been working with federal, state and local officials since being approached by community residents with concerns about petcoke dust blowing into their homes causing discomfort and potentially serious health issues. The IEPA has referred numerous allegations of state environmental regulation violations to Attorney General Lisa Madigan. The Attorney General, in cooperation with the city of Chicago, has filed lawsuits against two petcoke companies. The IEPA has halted permit activity for petcoke operations pending a review of their impacts on air, land and water.
“At Governor Quinn’s direction, we will continue to do everything necessary to ensure that Illinois does not become a dumping ground for petroleum coke,” IEPA Director Lisa Bonnett said. “After seeing the piles firsthand and how they are affecting this community, it’s clear that strong action is necessary. We are committed to continuing the cooperative efforts at the federal, state and local level to address this issue.”
The rules will take effect on an emergency basis upon filing with the Secretary of State later this week. This action triggers a series of actions to be taken by the IPCB, which include a required three-step notice process that incorporates public testimony and hearings as well as legal and economic impacts before official and permanent adoption.
For more information about petcoke visit http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdph/supp_info/environmental_permitsandregulation/what-is-petroleum-coke-.html.
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