(415 ILCS 5/14.6) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1014.6)

Sec. 14.6. Agrichemical facilities.

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14.4, groundwater protection for storage and related handling of pesticides and fertilizers at a facility for the purpose of commercial application or at a central location for the purpose of distribution to retail sales outlets may be provided by adherence to the provisions of this Section. For any such activity to be subject to this Section, the following action must be taken by an owner or operator:

(1) with respect to agrichemical facilities, as defined by the Illinois Pesticide Act, the Illinois Fertilizer Act and regulations adopted thereunder, file a written notice of intent to be subject to the provisions of this Section with the Department of Agriculture by January 1, 1993, or within 6 months after the date on which a maximum setback zone is established or a regulated recharge area regulation is adopted that affects such a facility;

(2) with respect to lawn care facilities that are subject to the containment area provisions of the Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act and its regulations, file a written notice of intent to be subject to the provisions of this Section with the Department of Agriculture by January 1, 1993, or within 6 months after the date on which a maximum setback zone is established or a regulated recharge area regulation is adopted that affects such a facility;

(3) with respect to a central distribution location that is not an agrichemical facility, certify intent to be subject to the provisions of this Section on the appropriate license or renewal application form submitted to the Department of Agriculture; or

(4) with respect to any other affected facility, certify intent to be subject to the provisions of this Section on the appropriate renewal application forms submitted to the Department of Agriculture or other appropriate agency.

An owner or operator of a facility that takes the action described in this subsection shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and shall not be regulated under the provisions of Section 14.4, except as provided in subsection (d) of this Section. The Department of Agriculture or other appropriate agency shall provide copies of the written notices and certifications to the Agency. For the purposes of this subsection, the term "commercial application" shall not include the use of pesticides or fertilizers in a manner incidental to the primary business activity.

(b) The Agency and Department of Agriculture shall cooperatively develop a program for groundwater protection for designated facilities or sites consistent with the activities specified in subsection (a) of this Section. In developing such a program, the Agency and the Department of Agriculture shall consult with affected interests and take into account relevant information. Based on such agreed program, the Department of Agriculture shall adopt appropriate regulatory requirements for the designated facilities or sites and administer a program. At a minimum, the following considerations must be adequately addressed as part of such program:

(1) a facility review process, using available information when appropriate, to determine those sites where groundwater monitoring will be implemented;

(2) requirements for groundwater quality monitoring for sites identified under item (1);

(3) reporting, response, and operating practices for the types of designated facilities; and

(4) requirements for closure or discontinuance of operations.

(c) The Agency may enter into a written agreement with any State agency to operate a cooperative program for groundwater protection for designated facilities or sites consistent with the activities specified in subparagraph (4) of subsection (a) of this Section. Such State agency shall adopt appropriate regulatory requirements for the designated facilities or sites and necessary procedures and practices to administer the program.

(d) The Agency shall ensure that any facility that is subject to this Section is in compliance with applicable provisions as specified in subsection (b) or (c) of this Section. To fulfill this responsibility, the Agency may rely on information provided by another State agency or other information that is obtained on a direct basis. If a facility is not in compliance with the applicable provisions, or a deficiency in the execution of a program affects such a facility, the Agency may so notify the facility of this condition and shall provide 30 days for a written response to be filed. The response may describe any actions taken by the owner which relate to the condition of noncompliance. If the response is deficient or untimely, the Agency shall serve notice upon the owner that the facility is subject to the applicable provisions of Section 14.4 of this Act and regulations adopted thereunder.

(e) (Blank.)

(f) After January 1, 1994, and before one year after the date on which a maximum setback zone is established or a regulated recharge area regulation is adopted that affects a facility subject to the provisions of this Section, an owner or operator of such a facility may withdraw the notice given under subsection (a) of this Section by filing a written withdrawal statement with the Department of Agriculture. Within 45 days after such filing and after consultation with the Agency, the Department of Agriculture shall provide written confirmation to the owner or operator that the facility is no longer subject to the provisions of this Section and must comply with the applicable provisions of Section 14.4 within 90 days after receipt of the confirmation. The Department of Agriculture shall provide copies of the written confirmations to the Agency.

(g) On or after August 11, 1994, an owner or operator of an agrichemical facility that is subject to the provisions of Section 14.4 and regulations adopted thereunder solely because of the presence of an on-site potable water supply well that is not a non-community water supply may file a written notice with the Department of Agriculture by January 1, 1995 declaring the facility to be subject to the provisions of this Section. When that action is taken, the regulatory requirements of subsection (b) of this Section shall be applicable beginning January 1, 1995. Beginning on January 1, 1995, such facilities shall be subject to either Section 14.4 or this Section depending on the action taken under this subsection. An owner or operator of an agrichemical facility that is subject to this Section because a written notice was filed under this subsection shall do all of the following:

(1) File a facility review report with the Department of Agriculture on or before February 28, 1995 consistent with the regulatory requirements of subsection (b) of this Section.

(2) Implement an approved monitoring program within 120 days of receipt of the Department of Agriculture's determination or a notice to proceed from the Department of Agriculture. The monitoring program shall be consistent with the requirements of subsection (b) of this Section.

(3) Implement applicable operational and management practice requirements and submit a permit application or modification to meet applicable structural provisions consistent with those in subsection (b) of this Section on or before July 1, 1995 and complete construction of applicable structural requirements on or before January 1, 1996.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, an owner or operator of an agrichemical facility that is subject to the provisions of Section 14.4 and regulations adopted thereunder solely because of the presence of an on-site private potable water supply well may file a written notice with the Department of Agriculture before January 1, 1995 requesting a release from the provisions of Section 14.4 and this Section. Upon receipt of a request for release, the Department of Agriculture shall conduct a site visit to confirm the private potable use of the on-site well. If private potable use is confirmed, the Department shall provide written notice to the owner or operator of the agrichemical facility that the facility is released from compliance with the provisions of Section 14.4 and this Section. If private potable use is not confirmed, the Department of Agriculture shall provide written notice to the owner or operator that a release cannot be given. No action in this subsection shall be precluded by the on-site non-potable use of water from an on-site private potable water supply well.

(Source: P.A. 92-113, eff. 7-20-01; 92-574, eff. 6-26-02.)