SB2212 Summary

• Amends the Environmental Protection Act to add public interest enforcement provisions allowing citizens to sue in circuit court to enforce air, water, drinking water, and endangered species standards if federal protections are weakened or federal citizen suit provisions are repealed.

• Deletes provisions exempting greenhouse gas emissions from air pollution permit requirements and establishes that state agencies must maintain air, water, and species protections at least as stringent as baseline federal law standards in effect as of January 1, 2017.

• Creates Title XVIII establishing state protections for environment, natural resources, and public health that mirror federal Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Endangered Species Act standards, with provisions requiring state agencies to adopt and enforce rules at least as stringent as federal baselines.

• Requires all state agencies taking enforcement steps under the new provisions to submit compliance reports to the General Assembly at least every 6 months describing implementation of environmental protections.

• Includes severability clause ensuring that if any provision is found invalid, remaining provisions continue to have effect.