Committee on Finance
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is a home rule unit of government pursuant to the 1970 Illinois Constitution, Article VII, Section 6 (a); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule power, the City of Chicago may exercise any power and perform any function relating to its government and affairs including the power to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, formaldehyde is a chemical that is commonly used as an ingredient in wood glue in furniture and flooring; and
WHEREAS, formaldehyde is classified as a volatile organic compound which are chemicals that become a gas at room temperature; and
WHEREAS, products made with formaldehyde release the gas into the air and, if high concentrations of formaldehyde are off-gassed and breathed in, health problems can occur; and
WHEREAS, formaldehyde is a known carcinogen that can also cause respiratory aliments like asthma; and
WHEREAS, there are currently no national standards in place for formaldehyde in composite wood products; and
WHEREAS, in 2010, Congress passed the "Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act," which established formaldehyde emissions standards to regulate formaldehyde inside most American homes and directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate rules to enforce the Act's provisions; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Act, the EPA was ordered to develop regulations to implement limits on formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products such as hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard, and particleboard that are sold, supplied, offered for sale, manufactured, or imported in the United States; and
WHEREAS, to date, the EPA has not finalized such regulations; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago intends to establish formaldehyde emissions standards on composite wood products in order to limit Chicago residents' exposure to formaldehyde in their homes; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNC...
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