Public Act 0272 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0431 Enrolled LRB094 09305 RSP 39545 b

Public Act 094-0272

AN ACT concerning safety.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 10. The Environmental Protection Act is amended by changing Sections 3.160, 21.3, 22.44, 34, 39, 42, and 58.8 and by adding Sections 22.15a, 22.50, 22.51, and 22.52 as follows:

(415 ILCS 5/3.160) (was 415 ILCS 5/3.78 and 3.78a)

Sec. 3.160. Construction or demolition debris.

(a) General construction or demolition debris" means non-hazardous, uncontaminated materials resulting from the construction, remodeling, repair, and demolition of utilities, structures, and roads, limited to the following: bricks, concrete, and other masonry materials; soil; rock; wood, including non-hazardous painted, treated, and coated wood and wood products; wall coverings; plaster; drywall; plumbing fixtures; non-asbestos insulation; roofing shingles and other roof coverings; reclaimed asphalt pavement; glass; plastics that are not sealed in a manner that conceals waste; electrical wiring and components containing no hazardous substances; and piping or metals incidental to any of those materials.

General construction or demolition debris does not include uncontaminated soil generated during construction, remodeling, repair, and demolition of utilities, structures, and roads provided the uncontaminated soil is not commingled with any general construction or demolition debris or other waste.

To the extent allowed by federal law, uncontaminated concrete with protruding rebar shall be considered clean construction or demolition debris and shall not be considered "waste" if it is separated or processed and returned to the economic mainstream in the form of raw materials or products within 4 years of its generation, if it is not speculatively accumulated and, if used as a fill material, it is used in accordance with item (i) in subsection (b) of this Section within 30 days of its generation.

(b) "Clean construction or demolition debris" means uncontaminated broken concrete without protruding metal bars, bricks, rock, stone, reclaimed asphalt pavement, or soil generated from construction or demolition activities.

Clean construction or demolition debris does not include uncontaminated soil generated during construction, remodeling, repair, and demolition of utilities, structures, and roads provided the uncontaminated soil is not commingled with any clean construction or demolition debris or other waste.

To the extent allowed by federal law, clean construction or demolition debris shall not be considered "waste" if it is (i) used as fill material outside of a setback zone if the fill is placed no higher than the highest point of elevation existing prior to the filling immediately adjacent to the fill area, and if covered by sufficient uncontaminated soil to support vegetation within 30 days of the completion of filling or if covered by a road or structure, or (ii) separated or processed and returned to the economic mainstream in the form of raw materials or products, if it is not speculatively accumulated and, if used as a fill material, it is used in accordance with item (i) within 30 days of its generation, or (iii) solely broken concrete without protruding metal bars used for erosion control, or (iv) generated from the construction or demolition of a building, road, or other structure and used to construct, on the site where the construction or demolition has taken place, a manmade functional structure not to exceed 20 feet above the highest point of elevation of the property immediately adjacent to the new manmade functional structure as that elevation existed prior to the creation of that new structure, provided that the structure shall be covered with sufficient soil materials to sustain vegetation or by a road or structure, and further provided that no such structure shall be constructed within a home rule municipality with a population over 500,000 without the consent of the municipality.

(Source: P.A. 92-574, eff. 6-26-02; 93-179, eff. 7-11-03.)

(415 ILCS 5/21.3) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1021.3)

Sec. 21.3. Environmental reclamation lien.

(a) All costs and damages for which a person is liable to the State of Illinois under Section 22.2, 22.15a, 55.3, or 57.12 and Section 22.18 shall constitute an environmental reclamation lien in favor of the State of Illinois upon all real property and rights to such property which:

(1) belong to such person; and

(2) are subject to or affected by a removal or remedial action under Section 22.2 or investigation, preventive action, corrective action, or enforcement action under Section 22.15a, 55.3, or 57.12 22.18.

(b) An environmental reclamation lien shall continue until the liability for the costs and damages, or a judgment against the person arising out of such liability, is satisfied.

(c) An environmental reclamation lien shall be effective upon the filing by the Agency of a Notice of Environmental Reclamation Lien with the recorder or the registrar of titles of the county in which the real property lies. The Agency shall not file an environmental reclamation lien, and no such lien shall be valid, unless the Agency has sent notice pursuant to subsection (q) of Section 4, subsection (c) of Section 22.15a, subsection (d) of Section 55.3, or subsection (c) of Section 57.12 of this Act to owners of the real property. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to give the Agency's lien a preference over the rights of any bona fide purchaser or mortgagee or other lienholder (not including the United States when holding an unfiled lien) arising prior to the filing of a notice of environmental reclamation lien in the office of the recorder or registrar of titles of the county in which the property subject to the lien is located. For purposes of this Section, the term "bona fide" shall not include any mortgage of real or personal property or any other credit transaction that results in the mortgagee or the holder of the security acting as trustee for unsecured creditors of the liable person mentioned in the notice of lien who executed such chattel or real property mortgage or the document evidencing such credit transaction. Such lien shall be inferior to the lien of general taxes, special assessments and special taxes heretofore or hereafter levied by any political subdivision of this State.

(d) The environmental reclamation lien shall not exceed the amount of expenditures as itemized on the Affidavit of Expenditures attached to and filed with the Notice of Environmental Reclamation Lien. The Affidavit of Expenditures may be amended if additional costs or damages are incurred.

(e) Upon filing of the Notice of Environmental Reclamation Lien a copy with attachments shall be served upon the owners of the real property. Notice of such service shall be served on all lienholders of record as of the date of filing.

(f) (Blank) Within 60 days after initiating response or remedial action at the site under Section 22.2 or 22.18, the Agency shall file a Notice of Response Action in Progress. The Notice shall be filed with the recorder or registrar of titles of the county in which the real property lies.

(g) In addition to any other remedy provided by the laws of this State, the Agency may foreclose in the circuit court an environmental reclamation lien on real property for any costs or damages imposed under Section 22.2, 22.15a, 55.3, or 57.12 or Section 22.18 to the same extent and in the same manner as in the enforcement of other liens. The process, practice and procedure for such foreclosure shall be the same as provided in Article XV of the Code of Civil Procedure. Nothing in this Section shall affect the right of the State of Illinois to bring an action against any person to recover all costs and damages for which such person is liable under Section 22.2, 22.15a, 55.3, or 57.12 or Section 22.18.

(h) Any liability to the State under Section 22.2, 22.15a, 55.3, or 57.12 or Section 22.18 shall constitute a debt to the State. Interest on such debt shall begin to accrue at a rate of 12% per annum from the date of the filing of the Notice of Environmental Reclamation Lien under paragraph (c). Accrued interest shall be included as a cost incurred by the State of Illinois under Section 22.2, 22.15a, 55.3, or 57.12 or Section 22.18.

(i) "Environmental reclamation lien" means a lien established under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 92-574, eff. 6-26-02.)

(415 ILCS 5/22.15a new)

Sec. 22.15a. Open dumping cleanup program.

(a) Upon making a finding that open dumping poses a threat to the public health or to the environment, the Agency may take whatever preventive or corrective action is necessary or appropriate to end that threat. This preventive or corrective action may consist of any or all of the following:

(1) Removing waste from the site.

(2) Removing soil and water contamination that is related to waste at the site.

(3) Installing devices to monitor and control groundwater and surface water contamination that is related to waste at the site.

(4) Taking any other actions that are authorized by Board regulations.

(b) Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Agency may undertake a consensual removal action for the removal of up to 20 cubic yards of waste at no cost to the owner of property where open dumping has occurred in accordance with the following requirements:

(1) Actions under this subsection must be taken pursuant to a written agreement between the Agency and the owner of the property.

(2) The written agreement must at a minimum specify:

(A) that the owner relinquishes any claim of an ownership interest in any waste that is removed and in any proceeds from its sale;

(B) that waste will no longer be allowed to accumulate at the site in a manner that constitutes open dumping;

(C) that the owner will hold harmless the Agency and any employee or contractor used by the Agency to effect the removal for any damage to property incurred during the course of action under this subsection, except for damage incurred by gross negligence or intentional misconduct; and

(D) any conditions imposed upon or assistance required from the owner to assure that the waste is so located or arranged as to facilitate its removal.

(3) The Agency may establish by rule the conditions and priorities for the removal of waste under this subsection (b).

(4) The Agency must prescribe the form of written agreements under this subsection (b).

(c) The Agency may provide notice to the owner of property where open dumping has occurred whenever the Agency finds that open dumping poses a threat to public health or the environment. The notice provided by the Agency must include the identified preventive or corrective action and must provide an opportunity for the owner to perform the action.

(d) In accordance with constitutional limitations, the Agency may enter, at all reasonable times, upon any private or public property for the purpose of taking any preventive or corrective action that is necessary and appropriate under this Section whenever the Agency finds that open dumping poses a threat to the public health or to the environment.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision or rule of law and subject only to the defenses set forth in subsection (g) of this Section, the following persons shall be liable for all costs of corrective or preventive action incurred by the State of Illinois as a result of open dumping, including the reasonable costs of collection:

(1) any person with an ownership interest in property where open dumping has occurred;

(2) any person with an ownership or leasehold interest in the property at the time the open dumping occurred;

(3) any person who transported waste that was open dumped at the property; and

(4) any person who open dumped at the property.

Any moneys received by the Agency under this subsection (e) must be deposited into the Subtitle D Management Fund.

(f) Any person liable to the Agency for costs incurred under subsection (e) of this Section may be liable to the State of Illinois for punitive damages in an amount at least equal to and not more than 3 times the costs incurred by the State if that person failed, without sufficient cause, to take preventive or corrective action under the notice issued under subsection (c) of this Section.

(g) There shall be no liability under subsection (e) of this Section for a person otherwise liable who can establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the hazard created by the open dumping was caused solely by:

(1) an act of God;

(2) an act of war; or

(3) an act or omission of a third party other than an employee or agent and other than a person whose act or omission occurs in connection with a contractual relationship with the person otherwise liable. For the purposes of this paragraph, "contractual relationship" includes, but is not limited to, land contracts, deeds, and other instruments transferring title or possession, unless the real property upon which the open dumping occurred was acquired by the defendant after the open dumping occurred and one or more of the following circumstances is also established by a preponderance of the evidence:

(A) at the time the defendant acquired the property, the defendant did not know and had no reason to know that any open dumping had occurred and the defendant undertook, at the time of acquisition, all appropriate inquiries into the previous ownership and uses of the property consistent with good commercial or customary practice in an effort to minimize liability;

(B) the defendant is a government entity that acquired the property by escheat or through any other involuntary transfer or acquisition, or through the exercise of eminent domain authority by purchase or condemnation; or

(C) the defendant acquired the property by inheritance or bequest.

(h) Nothing in this Section shall affect or modify the obligations or liability of any person under any other provision of this Act, federal law, or State law, including the common law, for injuries, damages, or losses resulting from the circumstances leading to Agency action under this Section.

(i) The costs and damages provided for in this Section may be imposed by the Board in an action brought before the Board in accordance with Title VIII of this Act, except that subsection (c) of Section 33 of this Act shall not apply to any such action.

(j) Except for willful and wanton misconduct, neither the State, the Director, nor any State employee shall be liable for any damages or injuries arising out of or resulting from any act or omission occurring under the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

(k) Before taking preventive or corrective action under this Section, the Agency shall consider whether the open dumping:

(1) occurred on public land;

(2) occurred on a public right-of-way;

(3) occurred in a park or natural area;

(4) occurred in an environmental justice area;

(5) was caused or allowed by persons other than the owner of the site;

(6) creates the potential for groundwater contamination;

(7) creates the potential for surface water contamination;

(8) creates the potential for disease vectors;

(9) creates a fire hazard; or

(10) preventive or corrective action by the Agency has been requested by a unit of local government. In taking preventive or corrective action under this Section, the Agency shall not expend more than $50,000 at any single site in response to open dumping unless: (i) the Director determines that the open dumping poses an imminent and substantial endangerment to the public health or welfare or the environment; or (ii) the General Assembly appropriates more than $50,000 for preventive or corrective action in response to the open dumping, in which case the Agency may spend the appropriated amount.

(415 ILCS 5/22.44)

Sec. 22.44. Subtitle D management fees.

(a) There is created within the State treasury a special fund to be known as the "Subtitle D Management Fund" constituted from the fees collected by the State under this Section.

(b) The Agency shall assess and collect a fee in the amount set forth in this subsection from the owner or operator of each sanitary landfill permitted or required to be permitted by the Agency to dispose of solid waste if the sanitary landfill is located off the site where the waste was produced and if the sanitary landfill is owned, controlled, and operated by a person other than the generator of the waste. The Agency shall deposit all fees collected under this subsection into the Subtitle D Management Fund. If a site is contiguous to one or more landfills owned or operated by the same person, the volumes permanently disposed of by each landfill shall be combined for purposes of determining the fee under this subsection.

(1) If more than 150,000 cubic yards of non-hazardous solid waste is permanently disposed of at a site in a calendar year, the owner or operator shall either pay a fee of 10.1 cents per cubic yard or, alternatively, the owner or operator may weigh the quantity of the solid waste permanently disposed of with a device for which certification has been obtained under the Weights and Measures Act and pay a fee of 22 cents per ton of waste permanently disposed of.

(2) If more than 100,000 cubic yards, but not more than 150,000 cubic yards, of non-hazardous waste is permanently disposed of at a site in a calendar year, the owner or operator shall pay a fee of $7,020.

(3) If more than 50,000 cubic yards, but not more than 100,000 cubic yards, of non-hazardous solid waste is permanently disposed of at a site in a calendar year, the owner or operator shall pay a fee of $3,120.

(4) If more than 10,000 cubic yards, but not more than 50,000 cubic yards, of non-hazardous solid waste is permanently disposed of at a site in a calendar year, the owner or operator shall pay a fee of $975.

(5) If not more than 10,000 cubic yards of non-hazardous solid waste is permanently disposed of at a site in a calendar year, the owner or operator shall pay a fee of $210.

(c) The fee under subsection (b) shall not apply to any of the following:

(1) Hazardous waste.

(2) Pollution control waste.

(3) Waste from recycling, reclamation, or reuse processes that have been approved by the Agency as being designed to remove any contaminant from wastes so as to render the wastes reusable, provided that the process renders at least 50% of the waste reusable.

(4) Non-hazardous solid waste that is received at a sanitary landfill and composted or recycled through a process permitted by the Agency.

(5) Any landfill that is permitted by the Agency to receive only demolition or construction debris or landscape waste.

(d) The Agency shall establish rules relating to the collection of the fees authorized by this Section. These rules shall include, but not be limited to the following:

(1) Necessary records identifying the quantities of solid waste received or disposed.

(2) The form and submission of reports to accompany the payment of fees to the Agency.

(3) The time and manner of payment of fees to the Agency, which payments shall not be more often than quarterly.

(4) Procedures setting forth criteria establishing when an owner or operator may measure by weight or volume during any given quarter or other fee payment period.

(e) Fees collected under this Section shall be in addition to any other fees collected under any other Section.

(f) The Agency shall not refund any fee paid to it under this Section.

(g) Pursuant to appropriation, all moneys in the Subtitle D Management Fund shall be used by the Agency to administer the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Subtitle D Program provided in Sections 4004 and 4010 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-580) as it relates to a municipal solid waste landfill program in Illinois and to fund a delegation of inspecting, investigating, and enforcement functions, within the municipality only, pursuant to subsection (r) of Section 4 of this Act to a municipality having a population of more than 1,000,000 inhabitants. The Agency shall execute a delegation agreement pursuant to subsection (r) of Section 4 of this Act with a municipality having a population of more than 1,000,000 inhabitants within 90 days of September 13, 1993 and shall on an annual basis distribute from the Subtitle D Management Fund to that municipality no less than $150,000. Pursuant to appropriation, moneys in the Subtitle D Management Fund may also be used by the Agency for activities conducted under Section 22.15a of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 92-574, eff. 6-26-02; 93-32, eff. 7-1-03.)

(415 ILCS 5/22.50 new)

Sec. 22.50. Compliance with land use limitations. No person shall use, or cause or allow the use of, any site for which a land use limitation has been imposed under this Act in a manner inconsistent with the land use limitation unless further investigation or remedial action has been conducted that documents the attainment of remedial objectives appropriate for the new land use and a new closure letter has been obtained from the Agency and recorded in the chain of title for the site. For the purpose of this Section, the term "land use limitation" shall include, but shall not be limited to, institutional controls and engineered barriers imposed under this Act and the regulations adopted under this Act. For the purposes of this Section, the term "closure letter" shall include, but shall not be limited to, No Further Remediation Letters issued under Titles XVI and XVII of this Act and the regulations adopted under those Titles.

(415 ILCS 5/22.51 new)

Sec. 22.51. Clean Construction or Demolition Debris Fill Operations.

(a) No person shall conduct any clean construction or demolition debris fill operation in violation of this Act or any regulations or standards adopted by the Board.

(b)(1)(A) Beginning 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly but prior to July 1, 2008, no person shall use clean construction or demolition debris as fill material in a current or former quarry, mine, or other excavation, unless they have applied for an interim authorization from the Agency for the clean construction or demolition debris fill operation.

(B) The Agency shall approve an interim authorization upon its receipt of a written application for the interim authorization that is signed by the site owner and the site operator, or their duly authorized agent, and that contains the following information: (i) the location of the site where the clean construction or demolition debris fill operation is taking place, (ii) the name and address of the site owner, (iii) the name and address of the site operator, and (iv) the types and amounts of clean construction or demolition debris being used as fill material at the site.

(C) The Agency may deny an interim authorization if the site owner or the site operator, or their duly authorized agent, fails to provide to the Agency the information listed in subsection (b)(1)(B) of this Section. Any denial of an interim authorization shall be subject to appeal to the Board in accordance with the procedures of Section 40 of this Act.

(D) No person shall use clean construction or demolition debris as fill material in a current or former quarry, mine, or other excavation for which the Agency has denied interim authorization under subsection (b)(1)(C) of this Section. The Board may stay the prohibition of this subsection (D) during the pendency of an appeal of the Agency's denial of the interim authorization brought under subsection (b)(1)(C) of this Section.

(2) Beginning September 1, 2006, owners and operators of clean construction or demolition debris fill operations shall, in accordance with a schedule prescribed by the Agency, submit to the Agency applications for the permits required under this Section. The Agency shall notify owners and operators in writing of the due date for their permit application. The due date shall be no less than 90 days after the date of the Agency's written notification. Owners and operators who do not receive a written notification from the Agency by October 1, 2007, shall submit a permit application to the Agency by January 1, 2008. The interim authorization of owners and operators who fail to submit a permit application to the Agency by the permit application's due date shall terminate on (i) the due date established by the Agency if the owner or operator received a written notification from the Agency prior to October 1, 2007, or (ii) or January 1, 2008, if the owner or operator did not receive a written notification from the Agency by October 1, 2007.

(3) On and after July 1, 2008, no person shall use clean construction or demolition debris as fill material in a current or former quarry, mine, or other excavation without a permit granted by the Agency for the clean construction or demolition debris fill operation or in violation of any conditions imposed by such permit, including periodic reports and full access to adequate records and the inspection of facilities, as may be necessary to assure compliance with this Act and with Board regulations and standards adopted under this Act.

(4) This subsection (b) does not apply to:

(A) the use of clean construction or demolition debris as fill material in a current or former quarry, mine, or other excavation located on the site where the clean construction or demolition debris was generated; or

(B) the use of clean construction or demolition debris as fill material in an excavation other than a current or former quarry or mine if this use complies with Illinois Department of Transportation specifications.

(c) In accordance with Title VII of this Act, the Board may adopt regulations to promote the purposes of this Section. The Agency shall consult with the mining and construction industries during the development of any regulations to promote the purposes of this Section.

(1) No later than December 15, 2005, the Agency shall propose to the Board, and no later than September 1, 2006, the Board shall adopt, regulations for the use of clean construction or demolition debris as fill material in current and former quarries, mines, and other excavations. Such regulations shall include, but shall not be limited to, standards for clean construction or demolition debris fill operations and the submission and review of permits required under this Section.

(2) Until the Board adopts rules under subsection (c)(1) of this Section, all persons using clean construction or demolition debris as fill material in a current or former quarry, mine, or other excavation shall:

(A) Assure that only clean construction or demolition debris is being used as fill material by screening each truckload of material received using a device approved by the Agency that detects volatile organic compounds. Such devices may include, but are not limited to, photo ionization detectors. All screening devices shall be operated and maintained in accordance with manufacturer's specifications. Unacceptable fill material shall be rejected from the site; and

(B) Retain for a minimum of 3 years the following information:

(i) The name of the hauler, the name of the generator, and place of origin of the debris or soil;

(ii) The approximate weight or volume of the debris or soil; and

(iii) The date the debris or soil was received.

(d) This Section applies only to clean construction or demolition debris that is not considered "waste" as provided in Section 3.160 of this Act.

(415 ILCS 5/22.52 new)

Sec. 22.52. Conflict of interest. Effective 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, none of the following persons shall have a direct financial interest in or receive a personal financial benefit from any waste-disposal operation or any clean construction or demolition debris fill operation that requires a permit or interim authorization under this Act, or any corporate entity related to any such waste-disposal operation or clean construction or demolition debris fill operation:

(i) the Governor of the State of Illinois;

(ii) the Attorney General of the State of Illinois;

(iii) the Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency;

(iv) the Chairman of the Illinois Pollution Control Board;

(v) the members of the Illinois Pollution Control Board;

(vi) the staff of any person listed in items (i) through (v) of this Section who makes a regulatory or licensing decision that directly applies to any waste-disposal operation or any clean construction or demolition debris fill operation; and

(vii) a relative of any person listed in items (i) through (vi) of this Section. The prohibitions of this Section shall apply during the person's term of State employment and shall continue for 5 years after the person's termination of State employment. The prohibition of this Section shall not apply to any person whose State employment terminates prior to 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

For the purposes of this Section:

(a) The terms "direct financial interest" and "personal financial benefit" do not include the ownership of publicly traded stock.

(b) The term "relative" means father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, husband, wife, father-in-law, or mother-in-law.

(415 ILCS 5/34) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1034)

Sec. 34. (a) Upon a finding that episode or emergency conditions specified in Board regulations exist, the Agency shall declare such alerts or emergencies as provided by those regulations. While such an alert or emergency is in effect, the Agency may seal any equipment, vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or other facility operated in violation of such regulations.

(b) In other cases other than those identified in subsection (a) of this Section:

(1) At any pollution control facility where in which the Agency finds that an emergency condition exists creating an immediate danger to public health or welfare or the environment, the Agency may seal any equipment, vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or other facility contributing to the emergency condition; and .

(2) At any other site or facility where the Agency finds that an imminent and substantial endangerment to the public health or welfare or the environment exists, the Agency may seal any equipment, vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or other facility contributing to the imminent and substantial endangerment.

(c) It shall be a Class A misdemeanor to break any seal affixed under this section, or to operate any sealed equipment, vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or other facility until the seal is removed according to law.

(d) The owner or operator of any equipment, vehicle, vessel, aircraft or other facility sealed pursuant to this section is entitled to a hearing in accord with Section 32 of this Act to determine whether the seal should be removed; except that in such hearing at least one Board member shall be present, and those Board members present may render a final decision without regard to the requirements of paragraph (a) of Section 5 of this Act. The petitioner may also seek immediate injunctive relief.

(Source: P.A. 77-2830.)

(415 ILCS 5/39) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1039)

Sec. 39. Issuance of permits; procedures.

(a) When the Board has by regulation required a permit for the construction, installation, or operation of any type of facility, equipment, vehicle, vessel, or aircraft, the applicant shall apply to the Agency for such permit and it shall be the duty of the Agency to issue such a permit upon proof by the applicant that the facility, equipment, vehicle, vessel, or aircraft will not cause a violation of this Act or of regulations hereunder. The Agency shall adopt such procedures as are necessary to carry out its duties under this Section. In making its determinations on permit applications under this Section the Agency may consider prior adjudications of noncompliance with this Act by the applicant that involved a release of a contaminant into the environment. In granting permits, the Agency may impose reasonable conditions specifically related to the applicant's past compliance history with this Act as necessary to correct, detect, or prevent noncompliance. The Agency may impose such other conditions as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Act, and as are not inconsistent with the regulations promulgated by the Board hereunder. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, a bond or other security shall not be required as a condition for the issuance of a permit. If the Agency denies any permit under this Section, the Agency shall transmit to the applicant within the time limitations of this Section specific, detailed statements as to the reasons the permit application was denied. Such statements shall include, but not be limited to the following:

(i) the Sections of this Act which may be violated if the permit were granted;

(ii) the provision of the regulations, promulgated under this Act, which may be violated if the permit were granted;

(iii) the specific type of information, if any, which the Agency deems the applicant did not provide the Agency; and

(iv) a statement of specific reasons why the Act and the regulations might not be met if the permit were granted.

If there is no final action by the Agency within 90 days after the filing of the application for permit, the applicant may deem the permit issued; except that this time period shall be extended to 180 days when (1) notice and opportunity for public hearing are required by State or federal law or regulation, (2) the application which was filed is for any permit to develop a landfill subject to issuance pursuant to this subsection, or (3) the application that was filed is for a MSWLF unit required to issue public notice under subsection (p) of Section 39. The 90-day and 180-day time periods for the Agency to take final action do not apply to NPDES permit applications under subsection (b) of this Section, to RCRA permit applications under subsection (d) of this Section, or to UIC permit applications under subsection (e) of this Section.

The Agency shall publish notice of all final permit determinations for development permits for MSWLF units and for significant permit modifications for lateral expansions for existing MSWLF units one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the unit is or is proposed to be located.

After January 1, 1994 and until July 1, 1998, operating permits issued under this Section by the Agency for sources of air pollution permitted to emit less than 25 tons per year of any combination of regulated air pollutants, as defined in Section 39.5 of this Act, shall be required to be renewed only upon written request by the Agency consistent with applicable provisions of this Act and regulations promulgated hereunder. Such operating permits shall expire 180 days after the date of such a request. The Board shall revise its regulations for the existing State air pollution operating permit program consistent with this provision by January 1, 1994.

After June 30, 1998, operating permits issued under this Section by the Agency for sources of air pollution that are not subject to Section 39.5 of this Act and are not required to have a federally enforceable State operating permit shall be required to be renewed only upon written request by the Agency consistent with applicable provisions of this Act and its rules. Such operating permits shall expire 180 days after the date of such a request. Before July 1, 1998, the Board shall revise its rules for the existing State air pollution operating permit program consistent with this paragraph and shall adopt rules that require a source to demonstrate that it qualifies for a permit under this paragraph.

(b) The Agency may issue NPDES permits exclusively under this subsection for the discharge of contaminants from point sources into navigable waters, all as defined in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended, within the jurisdiction of the State, or into any well.

All NPDES permits shall contain those terms and conditions, including but not limited to schedules of compliance, which may be required to accomplish the purposes and provisions of this Act.

The Agency may issue general NPDES permits for discharges from categories of point sources which are subject to the same permit limitations and conditions. Such general permits may be issued without individual applications and shall conform to regulations promulgated under Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended.

The Agency may include, among such conditions, effluent limitations and other requirements established under this Act, Board regulations, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended, and regulations pursuant thereto, and schedules for achieving compliance therewith at the earliest reasonable date.

The Agency shall adopt filing requirements and procedures which are necessary and appropriate for the issuance of NPDES permits, and which are consistent with the Act or regulations adopted by the Board, and with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended, and regulations pursuant thereto.

The Agency, subject to any conditions which may be prescribed by Board regulations, may issue NPDES permits to allow discharges beyond deadlines established by this Act or by regulations of the Board without the requirement of a variance, subject to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended, and regulations pursuant thereto.

(c) Except for those facilities owned or operated by sanitary districts organized under the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act, no permit for the development or construction of a new pollution control facility may be granted by the Agency unless the applicant submits proof to the Agency that the location of the facility has been approved by the County Board of the county if in an unincorporated area, or the governing body of the municipality when in an incorporated area, in which the facility is to be located in accordance with Section 39.2 of this Act.

In the event that siting approval granted pursuant to Section 39.2 has been transferred to a subsequent owner or operator, that subsequent owner or operator may apply to the Agency for, and the Agency may grant, a development or construction permit for the facility for which local siting approval was granted. Upon application to the Agency for a development or construction permit by that subsequent owner or operator, the permit applicant shall cause written notice of the permit application to be served upon the appropriate county board or governing body of the municipality that granted siting approval for that facility and upon any party to the siting proceeding pursuant to which siting approval was granted. In that event, the Agency shall conduct an evaluation of the subsequent owner or operator's prior experience in waste management operations in the manner conducted under subsection (i) of Section 39 of this Act.

Beginning August 20, 1993, if the pollution control facility consists of a hazardous or solid waste disposal facility for which the proposed site is located in an unincorporated area of a county with a population of less than 100,000 and includes all or a portion of a parcel of land that was, on April 1, 1993, adjacent to a municipality having a population of less than 5,000, then the local siting review required under this subsection (c) in conjunction with any permit applied for after that date shall be performed by the governing body of that adjacent municipality rather than the county board of the county in which the proposed site is located; and for the purposes of that local siting review, any references in this Act to the county board shall be deemed to mean the governing body of that adjacent municipality; provided, however, that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any proposed site which was, on April 1, 1993, owned in whole or in part by another municipality.

In the case of a pollution control facility for which a development permit was issued before November 12, 1981, if an operating permit has not been issued by the Agency prior to August 31, 1989 for any portion of the facility, then the Agency may not issue or renew any development permit nor issue an original operating permit for any portion of such facility unless the applicant has submitted proof to the Agency that the location of the facility has been approved by the appropriate county board or municipal governing body pursuant to Section 39.2 of this Act.

After January 1, 1994, if a solid waste disposal facility, any portion for which an operating permit has been issued by the Agency, has not accepted waste disposal for 5 or more consecutive calendars years, before that facility may accept any new or additional waste for disposal, the owner and operator must obtain a new operating permit under this Act for that facility unless the owner and operator have applied to the Agency for a permit authorizing the temporary suspension of waste acceptance. The Agency may not issue a new operation permit under this Act for the facility unless the applicant has submitted proof to the Agency that the location of the facility has been approved or re-approved by the appropriate county board or municipal governing body under Section 39.2 of this Act after the facility ceased accepting waste.

Except for those facilities owned or operated by sanitary districts organized under the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act, and except for new pollution control facilities governed by Section 39.2, and except for fossil fuel mining facilities, the granting of a permit under this Act shall not relieve the applicant from meeting and securing all necessary zoning approvals from the unit of government having zoning jurisdiction over the proposed facility.

Before beginning construction on any new sewage treatment plant or sludge drying site to be owned or operated by a sanitary district organized under the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act for which a new permit (rather than the renewal or amendment of an existing permit) is required, such sanitary district shall hold a public hearing within the municipality within which the proposed facility is to be located, or within the nearest community if the proposed facility is to be located within an unincorporated area, at which information concerning the proposed facility shall be made available to the public, and members of the public shall be given the opportunity to express their views concerning the proposed facility.

The Agency may issue a permit for a municipal waste transfer station without requiring approval pursuant to Section 39.2 provided that the following demonstration is made:

(1) the municipal waste transfer station was in existence on or before January 1, 1979 and was in continuous operation from January 1, 1979 to January 1, 1993;

(2) the operator submitted a permit application to the Agency to develop and operate the municipal waste transfer station during April of 1994;

(3) the operator can demonstrate that the county board of the county, if the municipal waste transfer station is in an unincorporated area, or the governing body of the municipality, if the station is in an incorporated area, does not object to resumption of the operation of the station; and

(4) the site has local zoning approval.

(d) The Agency may issue RCRA permits exclusively under this subsection to persons owning or operating a facility for the treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous waste as defined under this Act.

All RCRA permits shall contain those terms and conditions, including but not limited to schedules of compliance, which may be required to accomplish the purposes and provisions of this Act. The Agency may include among such conditions standards and other requirements established under this Act, Board regulations, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-580), as amended, and regulations pursuant thereto, and may include schedules for achieving compliance therewith as soon as possible. The Agency shall require that a performance bond or other security be provided as a condition for the issuance of a RCRA permit.

In the case of a permit to operate a hazardous waste or PCB incinerator as defined in subsection (k) of Section 44, the Agency shall require, as a condition of the permit, that the operator of the facility perform such analyses of the waste to be incinerated as may be necessary and appropriate to ensure the safe operation of the incinerator.

The Agency shall adopt filing requirements and procedures which are necessary and appropriate for the issuance of RCRA permits, and which are consistent with the Act or regulations adopted by the Board, and with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-580), as amended, and regulations pursuant thereto.

The applicant shall make available to the public for inspection all documents submitted by the applicant to the Agency in furtherance of an application, with the exception of trade secrets, at the office of the county board or governing body of the municipality. Such documents may be copied upon payment of the actual cost of reproduction during regular business hours of the local office. The Agency shall issue a written statement concurrent with its grant or denial of the permit explaining the basis for its decision.

(e) The Agency may issue UIC permits exclusively under this subsection to persons owning or operating a facility for the underground injection of contaminants as defined under this Act.

All UIC permits shall contain those terms and conditions, including but not limited to schedules of compliance, which may be required to accomplish the purposes and provisions of this Act. The Agency may include among such conditions standards and other requirements established under this Act, Board regulations, the Safe Drinking Water Act (P.L. 93-523), as amended, and regulations pursuant thereto, and may include schedules for achieving compliance therewith. The Agency shall require that a performance bond or other security be provided as a condition for the issuance of a UIC permit.

The Agency shall adopt filing requirements and procedures which are necessary and appropriate for the issuance of UIC permits, and which are consistent with the Act or regulations adopted by the Board, and with the Safe Drinking Water Act (P.L. 93-523), as amended, and regulations pursuant thereto.

The applicant shall make available to the public for inspection, all documents submitted by the applicant to the Agency in furtherance of an application, with the exception of trade secrets, at the office of the county board or governing body of the municipality. Such documents may be copied upon payment of the actual cost of reproduction during regular business hours of the local office. The Agency shall issue a written statement concurrent with its grant or denial of the permit explaining the basis for its decision.

(f) In making any determination pursuant to Section 9.1 of this Act:

(1) The Agency shall have authority to make the determination of any question required to be determined by the Clean Air Act, as now or hereafter amended, this Act, or the regulations of the Board, including the determination of the Lowest Achievable Emission Rate, Maximum Achievable Control Technology, or Best Available Control Technology, consistent with the Board's regulations, if any.

(2) The Agency shall, after conferring with the applicant, give written notice to the applicant of its proposed decision on the application including the terms and conditions of the permit to be issued and the facts, conduct or other basis upon which the Agency will rely to support its proposed action.

(3) Following such notice, the Agency shall give the applicant an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the provisions of Sections 10-25 through 10-60 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(g) The Agency shall include as conditions upon all permits issued for hazardous waste disposal sites such restrictions upon the future use of such sites as are reasonably necessary to protect public health and the environment, including permanent prohibition of the use of such sites for purposes which may create an unreasonable risk of injury to human health or to the environment. After administrative and judicial challenges to such restrictions have been exhausted, the Agency shall file such restrictions of record in the Office of the Recorder of the county in which the hazardous waste disposal site is located.

(h) A hazardous waste stream may not be deposited in a permitted hazardous waste site unless specific authorization is obtained from the Agency by the generator and disposal site owner and operator for the deposit of that specific hazardous waste stream. The Agency may grant specific authorization for disposal of hazardous waste streams only after the generator has reasonably demonstrated that, considering technological feasibility and economic reasonableness, the hazardous waste cannot be reasonably recycled for reuse, nor incinerated or chemically, physically or biologically treated so as to neutralize the hazardous waste and render it nonhazardous. In granting authorization under this Section, the Agency may impose such conditions as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Act and are consistent with this Act and regulations promulgated by the Board hereunder. If the Agency refuses to grant authorization under this Section, the applicant may appeal as if the Agency refused to grant a permit, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of Section 40 of this Act. For purposes of this subsection (h), the term "generator" has the meaning given in Section 3.205 of this Act, unless: (1) the hazardous waste is treated, incinerated, or partially recycled for reuse prior to disposal, in which case the last person who treats, incinerates, or partially recycles the hazardous waste prior to disposal is the generator; or (2) the hazardous waste is from a response action, in which case the person performing the response action is the generator. This subsection (h) does not apply to any hazardous waste that is restricted from land disposal under 35 Ill. Adm. Code 728.

(i) Before issuing any RCRA permit, or any permit for a waste storage site, sanitary landfill, waste disposal site, waste transfer station, waste treatment facility, waste incinerator, or any waste-transportation operation, or any permit for a clean construction or demolition debris fill operation, the Agency shall conduct an evaluation of the prospective owner's or operator's prior experience in waste management operations. The Agency may deny such a permit if the prospective owner or operator or any employee or officer of the prospective owner or operator has a history of:

(1) repeated violations of federal, State, or local laws, regulations, standards, or ordinances in the operation of waste management facilities or sites; or

(2) conviction in this or another State of any crime which is a felony under the laws of this State, or conviction of a felony in a federal court; or

(3) proof of gross carelessness or incompetence in handling, storing, processing, transporting or disposing of waste.

(i-5) Before issuing any permit or approving any interim authorization for a clean construction or demolition debris fill operation in which any ownership interest is transferred between January 1, 2005, and the effective date of the prohibition set forth in Section 22.52 of this Act, the Agency shall conduct an evaluation of the operation if any previous activities at the site or facility may have caused or allowed contamination of the site. It shall be the responsibility of the owner or operator seeking the permit or interim authorization to provide to the Agency all of the information necessary for the Agency to conduct its evaluation. The Agency may deny a permit or interim authorization if previous activities at the site may have caused or allowed contamination at the site, unless such contamination is authorized under any permit issued by the Agency.

(j) The issuance under this Act of a permit to engage in the surface mining of any resources other than fossil fuels shall not relieve the permittee from its duty to comply with any applicable local law regulating the commencement, location or operation of surface mining facilities.

(k) A development permit issued under subsection (a) of Section 39 for any facility or site which is required to have a permit under subsection (d) of Section 21 shall expire at the end of 2 calendar years from the date upon which it was issued, unless within that period the applicant has taken action to develop the facility or the site. In the event that review of the conditions of the development permit is sought pursuant to Section 40 or 41, or permittee is prevented from commencing development of the facility or site by any other litigation beyond the permittee's control, such two-year period shall be deemed to begin on the date upon which such review process or litigation is concluded.

(l) No permit shall be issued by the Agency under this Act for construction or operation of any facility or site located within the boundaries of any setback zone established pursuant to this Act, where such construction or operation is prohibited.

(m) The Agency may issue permits to persons owning or operating a facility for composting landscape waste. In granting such permits, the Agency may impose such conditions as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Act, and as are not inconsistent with applicable regulations promulgated by the Board. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, a bond or other security shall not be required as a condition for the issuance of a permit. If the Agency denies any permit pursuant to this subsection, the Agency shall transmit to the applicant within the time limitations of this subsection specific, detailed statements as to the reasons the permit application was denied. Such statements shall include but not be limited to the following:

(1) the Sections of this Act that may be violated if the permit were granted;

(2) the specific regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act that may be violated if the permit were granted;

(3) the specific information, if any, the Agency deems the applicant did not provide in its application to the Agency; and

(4) a statement of specific reasons why the Act and the regulations might be violated if the permit were granted.

If no final action is taken by the Agency within 90 days after the filing of the application for permit, the applicant may deem the permit issued. Any applicant for a permit may waive the 90 day limitation by filing a written statement with the Agency.

The Agency shall issue permits for such facilities upon receipt of an application that includes a legal description of the site, a topographic map of the site drawn to the scale of 200 feet to the inch or larger, a description of the operation, including the area served, an estimate of the volume of materials to be processed, and documentation that:

(1) the facility includes a setback of at least 200 feet from the nearest potable water supply well;

(2) the facility is located outside the boundary of the 10-year floodplain or the site will be floodproofed;

(3) the facility is located so as to minimize incompatibility with the character of the surrounding area, including at least a 200 foot setback from any residence, and in the case of a facility that is developed or the permitted composting area of which is expanded after November 17, 1991, the composting area is located at least 1/8 mile from the nearest residence (other than a residence located on the same property as the facility);

(4) the design of the facility will prevent any compost material from being placed within 5 feet of the water table, will adequately control runoff from the site, and will collect and manage any leachate that is generated on the site;

(5) the operation of the facility will include appropriate dust and odor control measures, limitations on operating hours, appropriate noise control measures for shredding, chipping and similar equipment, management procedures for composting, containment and disposal of non-compostable wastes, procedures to be used for terminating operations at the site, and recordkeeping sufficient to document the amount of materials received, composted and otherwise disposed of; and

(6) the operation will be conducted in accordance with any applicable rules adopted by the Board.

The Agency shall issue renewable permits of not longer than 10 years in duration for the composting of landscape wastes, as defined in Section 3.155 of this Act, based on the above requirements.

The operator of any facility permitted under this subsection (m) must submit a written annual statement to the Agency on or before April 1 of each year that includes an estimate of the amount of material, in tons, received for composting.

(n) The Agency shall issue permits jointly with the Department of Transportation for the dredging or deposit of material in Lake Michigan in accordance with Section 18 of the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act.

(o) (Blank.)

(p) (1) Any person submitting an application for a permit for a new MSWLF unit or for a lateral expansion under subsection (t) of Section 21 of this Act for an existing MSWLF unit that has not received and is not subject to local siting approval under Section 39.2 of this Act shall publish notice of the application in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the MSWLF unit is or is proposed to be located. The notice must be published at least 15 days before submission of the permit application to the Agency. The notice shall state the name and address of the applicant, the location of the MSWLF unit or proposed MSWLF unit, the nature and size of the MSWLF unit or proposed MSWLF unit, the nature of the activity proposed, the probable life of the proposed activity, the date the permit application will be submitted, and a statement that persons may file written comments with the Agency concerning the permit application within 30 days after the filing of the permit application unless the time period to submit comments is extended by the Agency.

When a permit applicant submits information to the Agency to supplement a permit application being reviewed by the Agency, the applicant shall not be required to reissue the notice under this subsection.

(2) The Agency shall accept written comments concerning the permit application that are postmarked no later than 30 days after the filing of the permit application, unless the time period to accept comments is extended by the Agency.

(3) Each applicant for a permit described in part (1) of this subsection shall file a copy of the permit application with the county board or governing body of the municipality in which the MSWLF unit is or is proposed to be located at the same time the application is submitted to the Agency. The permit application filed with the county board or governing body of the municipality shall include all documents submitted to or to be submitted to the Agency, except trade secrets as determined under Section 7.1 of this Act. The permit application and other documents on file with the county board or governing body of the municipality shall be made available for public inspection during regular business hours at the office of the county board or the governing body of the municipality and may be copied upon payment of the actual cost of reproduction.

(Source: P.A. 92-574, eff. 6-26-02; 93-575, eff. 1-1-04.)

(415 ILCS 5/42) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1042)

Sec. 42. Civil penalties.

(a) Except as provided in this Section, any person that violates any provision of this Act or any regulation adopted by the Board, or any permit or term or condition thereof, or that violates any order of the Board pursuant to this Act, shall be liable for a civil penalty of not to exceed $50,000 for the violation and an additional civil penalty of not to exceed $10,000 for each day during which the violation continues; such penalties may, upon order of the Board or a court of competent jurisdiction, be made payable to the Environmental Protection Trust Fund, to be used in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Protection Trust Fund Act.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section:

(1) Any person that violates Section 12(f) of this Act or any NPDES permit or term or condition thereof, or any filing requirement, regulation or order relating to the NPDES permit program, shall be liable to a civil penalty of not to exceed $10,000 per day of violation.

(2) Any person that violates Section 12(g) of this Act or any UIC permit or term or condition thereof, or any filing requirement, regulation or order relating to the State UIC program for all wells, except Class II wells as defined by the Board under this Act, shall be liable to a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 per day of violation; provided, however, that any person who commits such violations relating to the State UIC program for Class II wells, as defined by the Board under this Act, shall be liable to a civil penalty of not to exceed $10,000 for the violation and an additional civil penalty of not to exceed $1,000 for each day during which the violation continues.

(3) Any person that violates Sections 21(f), 21(g), 21(h) or 21(i) of this Act, or any RCRA permit or term or condition thereof, or any filing requirement, regulation or order relating to the State RCRA program, shall be liable to a civil penalty of not to exceed $25,000 per day of violation.

(4) In an administrative citation action under Section 31.1 of this Act, any person found to have violated any provision of subsection (o) of Section 21 of this Act shall pay a civil penalty of $500 for each violation of each such provision, plus any hearing costs incurred by the Board and the Agency. Such penalties shall be made payable to the Environmental Protection Trust Fund, to be used in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Protection Trust Fund Act; except that if a unit of local government issued the administrative citation, 50% of the civil penalty shall be payable to the unit of local government.

(4-5) In an administrative citation action under Section 31.1 of this Act, any person found to have violated any provision of subsection (p) of Section 21 of this Act shall pay a civil penalty of $1,500 for each violation of each such provision, plus any hearing costs incurred by the Board and the Agency, except that the civil penalty amount shall be $3,000 for each violation of any provision of subsection (p) of Section 21 that is the person's second or subsequent adjudication violation of that provision. The penalties shall be deposited into the Environmental Protection Trust Fund, to be used in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Protection Trust Fund Act; except that if a unit of local government issued the administrative citation, 50% of the civil penalty shall be payable to the unit of local government.

(5) Any person who violates subsection 6 of Section 39.5 of this Act or any CAAPP permit, or term or condition thereof, or any fee or filing requirement, or any duty to allow or carry out inspection, entry or monitoring activities, or any regulation or order relating to the CAAPP shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 per day of violation.

(b.5) In lieu of the penalties set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section, any person who fails to file, in a timely manner, toxic chemical release forms with the Agency pursuant to Section 25b-2 of this Act shall be liable for a civil penalty of $100 per day for each day the forms are late, not to exceed a maximum total penalty of $6,000. This daily penalty shall begin accruing on the thirty-first day after the date that the person receives the warning notice issued by the Agency pursuant to Section 25b-6 of this Act; and the penalty shall be paid to the Agency. The daily accrual of penalties shall cease as of January 1 of the following year. All penalties collected by the Agency pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited into the Environmental Protection Permit and Inspection Fund.

(c) Any person that violates this Act, any rule or regulation adopted under this Act, any permit or term or condition of a permit, or any Board order and causes the death of fish or aquatic life shall, in addition to the other penalties provided by this Act, be liable to pay to the State an additional sum for the reasonable value of the fish or aquatic life destroyed. Any money so recovered shall be placed in the Wildlife and Fish Fund in the State Treasury.

(d) The penalties provided for in this Section may be recovered in a civil action.

(e) The State's Attorney of the county in which the violation occurred, or the Attorney General, may, at the request of the Agency or on his own motion, institute a civil action for an injunction, prohibitory or mandatory, to restrain violations of this Act, any rule or regulation adopted under this Act, any permit or term or condition of a permit, or any Board order, or to require such other actions as may be necessary to address violations of this Act, any rule or regulation adopted under this Act, any permit or term or condition of a permit, or any Board order.

(f) The State's Attorney of the county in which the violation occurred, or the Attorney General, shall bring such actions in the name of the people of the State of Illinois. Without limiting any other authority which may exist for the awarding of attorney's fees and costs, the Board or a court of competent jurisdiction may award costs and reasonable attorney's fees, including the reasonable costs of expert witnesses and consultants, to the State's Attorney or the Attorney General in a case where he has prevailed against a person who has committed a wilful, knowing or repeated violation of this Act, any rule or regulation adopted under this Act, any permit or term or condition of a permit, or any Board order.

Any funds collected under this subsection (f) in which the Attorney General has prevailed shall be deposited in the Hazardous Waste Fund created in Section 22.2 of this Act. Any funds collected under this subsection (f) in which a State's Attorney has prevailed shall be retained by the county in which he serves.

(g) All final orders imposing civil penalties pursuant to this Section shall prescribe the time for payment of such penalties. If any such penalty is not paid within the time prescribed, interest on such penalty at the rate set forth in subsection (a) of Section 1003 of the Illinois Income Tax Act, shall be paid for the period from the date payment is due until the date payment is received. However, if the time for payment is stayed during the pendency of an appeal, interest shall not accrue during such stay.

(h) In determining the appropriate civil penalty to be imposed under subdivisions (a), (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(3), or (b)(5) of this Section, the Board is authorized to consider any matters of record in mitigation or aggravation of penalty, including but not limited to the following factors:

(1) the duration and gravity of the violation;

(2) the presence or absence of due diligence on the part of the respondent in attempting to comply with requirements of this Act and regulations thereunder or to secure relief therefrom as provided by this Act;

(3) any economic benefits accrued by the respondent because of delay in compliance with requirements, in which case the economic benefits shall be determined by the lowest cost alternative for achieving compliance;

(4) the amount of monetary penalty which will serve to deter further violations by the respondent and to otherwise aid in enhancing voluntary compliance with this Act by the respondent and other persons similarly subject to the Act;

(5) the number, proximity in time, and gravity of previously adjudicated violations of this Act by the respondent;

(6) whether the respondent voluntarily self-disclosed, in accordance with subsection (i) of this Section, the non-compliance to the Agency; and

(7) whether the respondent has agreed to undertake a "supplemental environmental project," which means an environmentally beneficial project that a respondent agrees to undertake in settlement of an enforcement action brought under this Act, but which the respondent is not otherwise legally required to perform.

In determining the appropriate civil penalty to be imposed under subsection (a) or paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (5) of subsection (b) of this Section, the Board shall ensure, in all cases, that the penalty is at least as great as the economic benefits, if any, accrued by the respondent as a result of the violation, unless the Board finds that imposition of such penalty would result in an arbitrary or unreasonable financial hardship. However, such civil penalty may be off-set in whole or in part pursuant to a supplemental environmental project agreed to by the complainant and the respondent.

(i) A person who voluntarily self-discloses non-compliance to the Agency, of which the Agency had been unaware, is entitled to a 100% reduction in the portion of the penalty that is not based on the economic benefit of non-compliance if the person can establish the following:

(1) that the non-compliance was discovered through an environmental audit, as defined in Section 52.2 of this Act, and the person waives the environmental audit privileges as provided in that Section with respect to that non-compliance;

(2) that the non-compliance was disclosed in writing within 30 days of the date on which the person discovered it;

(3) that the non-compliance was discovered and disclosed prior to:

(i) the commencement of an Agency inspection, investigation, or request for information;

(ii) notice of a citizen suit;

(iii) the filing of a complaint by a citizen, the Illinois Attorney General, or the State's Attorney of the county in which the violation occurred;

(iv) the reporting of the non-compliance by an employee of the person without that person's knowledge; or

(v) imminent discovery of the non-compliance by the Agency;

(4) that the non-compliance is being corrected and any environmental harm is being remediated in a timely fashion;

(5) that the person agrees to prevent a recurrence of the non-compliance;

(6) that no related non-compliance events have occurred in the past 3 years at the same facility or in the past 5 years as part of a pattern at multiple facilities owned or operated by the person;

(7) that the non-compliance did not result in serious actual harm or present an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health or the environment or violate the specific terms of any judicial or administrative order or consent agreement;

(8) that the person cooperates as reasonably requested by the Agency after the disclosure; and

(9) that the non-compliance was identified voluntarily and not through a monitoring, sampling, or auditing procedure that is required by statute, rule, permit, judicial or administrative order, or consent agreement.

If a person can establish all of the elements under this subsection except the element set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the person is entitled to a 75% reduction in the portion of the penalty that is not based upon the economic benefit of non-compliance.

(j) In addition to an other remedy or penalty that may apply, whether civil or criminal, any person who violates Section 22.52 of this Act shall be liable for an additional civil penalty of up to 3 times the gross amount of any pecuniary gain resulting from the violation.

(Source: P.A. 93-152, eff. 7-10-03; 93-575, eff. 1-1-04; 93-831, eff. 7-28-04.)

(415 ILCS 5/58.8)

Sec. 58.8. Duty to record; compliance.

(a) The RA receiving a No Further Remediation Letter from the Agency pursuant to Section 58.10, shall submit the letter to the Office of the Recorder or the Registrar of Titles of the county in which the site is located within 45 days of receipt of the letter. The Office of the Recorder or the Registrar of Titles shall accept and record that letter in accordance with Illinois law so that it forms a permanent part of the chain of title for the site.

(b) A No Further Remediation Letter shall not become effective until officially recorded in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section. The RA shall obtain and submit to the Agency a certified copy of the No Further Remediation Letter as recorded.

(c) (Blank). At no time shall any site for which a land use limitation has been imposed as a result of remediation activities under this Title be used in a manner inconsistent with the land use limitation unless further investigation or remedial action has been conducted that documents the attainment of objectives appropriate for the new land use and a new No Further Remediation Letter obtained and recorded in accordance with this Title.

(d) In the event that a No Further Remediation Letter issues by operation of law pursuant to Section 58.10, the RA may, for purposes of this Section, file an affidavit stating that the letter issued by operation of law. Upon receipt of the No Further Remediation Letter from the Agency, the RA shall comply with the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 92-574, eff. 6-26-02.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.