Section 200.190  Official Notice

a)         Official notice may be taken of:

1)         Matters of which the Circuit Courts of this State may take judicial notice; and

2)         Generally recognized technical or scientific facts within the Department's specialized knowledge.

b)         Parties shall be notified either before or during a hearing, or by reference in preliminary reports, or otherwise, of the material noticed, including any staff memoranda or data to be offered as evidentiary matter during the course of the hearing, and they shall be afforded an opportunity to contest the material so noticed.  The Department's experience, technical competence and specialized knowledge may be utilized in the evaluation of the evidence.  (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 127, par. 1012)

(Source:  Former Section 200.190 renumbered to new Section 200.220, new Section 200.190 renumbered from former Section 200.140 and amended at 10 Ill. Reg. 17200, effective September 25, 1986)