HB3505 amends the Illinois Environmental Protection Act to tighten regulation of ethylene oxide emissions from certain permitted sources in counties with populations of at least 700,000. The bill lowers the threshold for a “nonnegligible ethylene oxide emissions source” from more than 150 pounds of annual emissions to more than 30 pounds, and it removes the current exclusion for ethylene oxide sterilization facilities and hospitals licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act or operated under the University of Illinois Hospital Act.
The bill also adds a new Ambient Air Monitoring Plan requirement for these sources. Under the proposal, owners or operators would have to submit a plan for Agency review and approval that includes quarterly air sampling near property boundaries and at community locations with the highest modeled impact, using specified EPA methods, along with a schedule and an independent third-party sampler. The bill also preserves and reinforces existing dispersion modeling requirements for these sources, making continued emissions activity contingent on Agency-approved monitoring and modeling plans.
Impact
HB3505 would expand the number of facilities subject to Section 9.17 of the Environmental Protection Act by lowering the emissions trigger and eliminating exemptions for sterilization sources and hospitals. As a result, more ethylene oxide-emitting facilities would be required to prepare and implement Agency-approved monitoring and modeling plans, and more communities near such facilities would receive regular ambient air monitoring. The bill would primarily affect permitted industrial emitters, sterilization operations, and certain hospital-based facilities in large counties, while increasing the Illinois EPA’s oversight and approval responsibilities.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a public-safety and environmental-health bill focused on reducing exposure to ethylene oxide. The overall direction of the proposal suggests support for stronger monitoring and tighter controls rather than deregulation. No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no documented floor or committee sentiment to assess beyond the bill’s protective intent.
Contention
The main points of contention are likely to be the lower emissions threshold, the removal of exemptions for hospitals and sterilization facilities, and the added compliance burden of quarterly ambient monitoring and third-party sampling. Facilities subject to the rule may argue that the new requirements are costly or duplicative, while environmental and public-health advocates would likely support broader monitoring and oversight because ethylene oxide is a hazardous air pollutant. The bill’s focus on large counties and specific facility types suggests debate over whether the regulation is appropriately targeted or overly broad.
A resolution expressing support for the designation of May 5, 2026, as "National
Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls".
A resolution expressing support for the designation of May 5, 2025, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls".