05 LC 21
8030
House
Resolution 169
By:
Representatives Drenner of the
86th,
Benfield of the
85th,
Gardner of the
57th,
and Henson of the
87th
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Joint Study Committee on the Use of Dry Cleaning Solvents; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
the use of the chemical perchloroethylene, a proven carcinogen commonly used by
dry cleaners, is pervasive throughout Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
this deadly substance commonly contaminates the soil and groundwater through
leakage at dry cleaning establishments and improper disposal by dry cleaners and
quickly spreads far from the site of contamination, and it has been found to
have entered public water systems in the state, posing a very real and present
danger to the health and well-being of our citizens; and
WHEREAS,
the cleanup of soil and water contaminated by perchloroethylene is expensive,
and the presence of the chemical interferes with commercial property
transactions and lessens the value of commercial property; and
WHEREAS,
nontoxic substitutes to perchloroethylene which are equally effective as a
cleaning agent are currently readily available to dry cleaners; and
WHEREAS,
in order to protect the health of our citizens, it is extremely important that
dry cleaners be given incentives to replace perchloroethylene with nontoxic,
environmentally friendly solvents.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is
created the Joint Study Committee on the Use of Dry Cleaning Solvents to be
composed of seven members. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
appoint three members of the House of Representatives as members of the
committee and the Senate Committee on Assignments shall appoint three members of
the Senate as members of the committee. The director of the Environmental
Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources shall serve as
chairperson and a nonvoting member of the committee. The chairperson shall
call all meetings of the committee.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the usage of
perchloroethylene in Georgia, the incidence of groundwater and soil
contamination from perchloroethylene usage, and the health hazard created by the
use of such substance. The committee shall identify options available for
nontoxic, environmentally friendly solvents and suggest legislation creating
incentives for dry cleaners to switch from perchloroethylene to other solvents.
The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it
may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively
its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of
this resolution. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the
allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated. All funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution
shall come from funds appropriated to the Senate and the House of
Representatives. The expenses and allowances authorized by this resolution
shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than ten days
unless additional days are authorized. In the event the committee makes a
report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed
legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2005.
The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2005.