Section 4020.210  General

a)         A fee will be charged (see Section 4020.240) for compiling and providing natural heritage data for any persons requesting that information for research, educational, environmental, land management, land development and similar purposes.  All fees are non-refundable.

b)         The Commission shall, at a regular public meeting held pursuant to 2 Ill. Adm. Code 2150.210 through 2150.280, review natural heritage data fees at least every 5 years to assess whether those fees are meeting NHD Program costs.  The Commission shall promulgate any necessary fee changes by modifying this Part in consultation with the Department.

c)         The Commission and Department shall enter into a Data Licensing Agreement with licensees to provide natural heritage data and collect fees pursuant to this Part.

d)         Revenues generated specifically under the natural heritage data fee shall be deposited into the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund and appropriated to the Department for the purpose of collecting, storing, managing, compiling and providing access to support, maintain and update the NHD and its data.  Department costs with respect to the NHD include, but are not limited to, personnel, information technology and data collection costs.  All fees shall be tracked with a unique identifying code.

e)         Distribution of data to third parties is prohibited.