Public Act 90-0354 of the 90th General Assembly

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Public Act 90-0354

SB1001 Enrolled                                LRB9002315MWcd

    AN  ACT  to  amend  the  Metropolitan  Water  Reclamation
District Act by changing Sections  7a,  7f,  and  7g  and  by
repealing Section 7bb.

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

    Section 5.  The Metropolitan Water  Reclamation  District
Act  is  amended  by  changing  Sections  7a,  7f,  and 7g as
follows:

    (70 ILCS 2605/7a) (from Ch. 42, par. 326a)
    Sec. 7a.  Discharge into sewers of a sanitary district.
    (a) The  terms  used  in  this  Section  are  defined  as
follows:
    "Board of Commissioners" means the Board of Commissioners
of the sanitary district.
    "Sewage"   means   water-carried   human   wastes   or  a
combination  of   water-carried   wastes   from   residences,
buildings,     businesses,     industrial     establishments,
institutions,  or  other  places  together  with  any ground,
surface, storm, or other water that may be present.
    "Industrial Wastes" means all solids, liquids, or gaseous
wastes   resulting   from   any    commercial,    industrial,
manufacturing,  agricultural, trade, or business operation or
process, or from the development, recovery, or processing  of
natural resources.
    "Other  Wastes"  means  decayed  wood, sawdust, shavings,
bark,  lime,  refuse,  ashes,  garbage,  offal,   oil,   tar,
chemicals,   and  all  other  substances  except  sewage  and
industrial wastes.
    "Person" means any individual, firm,  association,  joint
venture,  sole  proprietorship,  company, partnership, estate
copartnership,  corporation,  joint  stock  company,   trust,
school   district,  unit  of  local  government,  or  private
corporation organized or existing under the laws of  this  or
any other state or country.
    "General Superintendent" means the general superintendent
of the sanitary district.
    (b)  It  shall  be  unlawful  for any person to discharge
sewage, industrial waste, or other wastes into  the  sewerage
system  of  a  sanitary  district or into any sewer connected
therewith, except upon the  terms  and  conditions  that  the
sanitary   district   might   reasonably  impose  by  way  of
ordinance, permit, or otherwise.
    Any sanitary district, in addition to  all  other  powers
vested in it and in the interest of public health and safety,
or  as authorized by subsections (b) and (c) of Section 46 of
the Environmental Protection Act, is hereby empowered to pass
all ordinances, rules, or regulations necessary to  implement
this Section, including but not limited to, the imposition of
charges   based   on  factors  that  influence  the  cost  of
treatment, including strength and volume, and  including  the
right  of access during reasonable hours to the premises of a
person for  enforcement  of  adopted  ordinances,  rules,  or
regulations.
    (c)  Whenever  the  sanitary  district acting through the
general superintendent  determines  that  sewage,  industrial
wastes,  or  other  wastes  are  being  discharged  into  the
sewerage  system  and  when,  in  the  opinion of the general
superintendent the discharge is in violation of an ordinance,
rules, or regulations adopted by the Board  of  Commissioners
under  this  Section  governing  industrial  wastes  or other
wastes, the general superintendent shall order the  offending
party  to  cease  and  desist.   The order shall be served by
certified  mail  or  personally  on   the   owner,   officer,
registered agent, or individual designated by permit.
    In  the  event  the  offending  party fails or refuses to
discontinue the discharge within 90 days  after  notification
of  the  cease  and  desist order, the general superintendent
may order the offending party to show cause before the  Board
of  Commissioners  of the sanitary district why the discharge
should not be discontinued.  A notice shall be served on  the
offending  party  directing  him,  her,  or  it to show cause
before the Board of Commissioners why an order should not  be
entered  directing  the discontinuance of the discharge.  The
notice shall specify the time and place where a hearing  will
be  held  and  shall be served personally or by registered or
certified mail at least 10 days before the  hearing;  and  in
the  case  of a unit of local government or a corporation the
service shall be upon an officer  or  agent  thereof.   After
reviewing  the evidence, the Board of Commissioners may issue
an  order  to  the  party  responsible  for  the   discharge,
directing   that  within  a  specified  period  of  time  the
discharge be discontinued.  The Board  of  Commissioners  may
also  order  the party responsible for the discharge to pay a
civil  penalty  in  an  amount  specified  by  the  Board  of
Commissioners that is not less than $100 nor more than $2,000
per day for each day of discharge of effluent in violation of
this Act  as  provided  in  subsection  (d).   The  Board  of
Commissioners  may  also  order the party responsible for the
violation to pay court reporter  costs  and  hearing  officer
fees in a total amount not exceeding $3,000.
    (d)  The   Board   of   Commissioners   shall   establish
procedures  for  assessing civil penalties and issuing orders
under subsection (c) as follows:
         (1)  In making its orders  and  determinations,  the
    Board  of Commissioners shall take into consideration all
    the facts and circumstances  bearing  on  the  activities
    involved  and  the assessment of civil penalties as shown
    by the record produced at the hearing.
         (2)  The Board of Commissioners  shall  establish  a
    panel  of  independent  hearing  officers  to conduct all
    hearings  on  the  assessment  of  civil  penalties   and
    issuance  of  orders  under  subsection (c).  The hearing
    officers shall be attorneys licensed to practice  law  in
    this State.
         (3)  The  Board  of  Commissioners  shall promulgate
    procedural   rules   governing   the   proceedings,   the
    assessment  of  civil  penalties,  and  the  issuance  of
    orders.
         (4)  All  hearings  shall  be  on  the  record,  and
    testimony  taken  must  be  under   oath   and   recorded
    stenographically.   Transcripts  so recorded must be made
    available to any member of the public or any party to the
    hearing  upon  payment   of   the   usual   charges   for
    transcripts.   At  the  hearing,  the hearing officer may
    issue, in the name of the Board of Commissioners, notices
    of hearing requesting the  attendance  and  testimony  of
    witnesses  and the production of evidence relevant to any
    matter involved in the hearing and may examine witnesses.
         (5)  The hearing officer shall conduct  a  full  and
    impartial  hearing on the record, with an opportunity for
    the presentation of evidence and cross-examination of the
    witnesses.  The hearing officer shall issue  findings  of
    fact,  conclusions  of  law, a recommended civil penalty,
    and an order based solely on  the  record.   The  hearing
    officer  may  also  recommend, as part of the order, that
    the discharge of industrial waste be discontinued  within
    a specified time.
         (6)  The  findings  of  fact,  conclusions  of  law,
    recommended civil penalty, and order shall be transmitted
    to  the  Board  of  Commissioners  along  with a complete
    record of the hearing.
         (7)  The Board of Commissioners shall either approve
    or disapprove the findings of fact, conclusions  of  law,
    recommended civil penalty, and order.  If the findings of
    fact,  conclusions  of law, recommended civil penalty, or
    order are rejected,  the  Board  of  Commissioners  shall
    remand  the  matter  to  the  hearing officer for further
    proceedings. If the order is accepted  by  the  Board  of
    Commissioners, it shall constitute the final order of the
    Board of Commissioners.
         (8)  The  Administrative  Review  Law, and the rules
    adopted under that Law, shall govern all proceedings  for
    the  judicial  review  of  final  orders  of the Board of
    Commissioners issued under this subsection.
         (9)  The civil penalty specified  by  the  Board  of
    Commissioners  shall  be  paid  within  35 days after the
    party on whom it is imposed receives a  written  copy  of
    the  order  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners, unless the
    person or persons to  whom  the  order  is  issued  seeks
    judicial review under paragraph (8).
         (10)  If the respondent seeks judicial review of the
    order  assessing  civil  penalties, the respondent shall,
    within 35 days after the date of the final order, pay the
    amount of the civil  penalties  into  an  escrow  account
    maintained  by  the  district  for that purpose or file a
    bond guaranteeing payment of the civil penalties  if  the
    civil penalties are upheld on review.
         (11)  Civil   penalties   not   paid  by  the  times
    specified above shall be delinquent and subject to a lien
    recorded against the property of the  person  ordered  to
    pay  the  penalty. The foregoing provisions for asserting
    liens against real estate by the sanitary district  shall
    be  in  addition  to  and  not in derogation of any other
    remedy or right of recovery, in law or equity,  that  the
    sanitary district may have with respect to the collection
    or  recovery  of  penalties  and  charges  imposed by the
    sanitary district.  Judgment in a civil action brought by
    the sanitary district to recover or collect  the  charges
    shall  not  operate  as  a release and waiver of the lien
    upon the real estate for  the  amount  of  the  judgment.
    Only  satisfaction  of  the  judgment  or the filing of a
    release or satisfaction of lien shall release the lien.
    (e)  The general superintendent may  order  a  person  to
cease the discharge of industrial waste upon a finding by the
general  superintendent  that the final order of the Board of
Commissioners entered after a hearing to show cause has  been
violated.   The general superintendent shall serve the person
with a copy of his or her order either by certified  mail  or
personally  by  serving the owner, officer, registered agent,
or individual designated by permit. The order of the  general
superintendent  shall  also  schedule  an  expedited  hearing
before   a   hearing  officer  designated  by  the  Board  of
Commissioners for the  purpose  of  determining  whether  the
company  has  violated  the  final  order  of  the  Board  of
Commissioners.   The Board of Commissioners shall adopt rules
of procedure governing expedited hearings.  In no event shall
the hearing be conducted less than 7 days  after  receipt  by
the person of the general superintendent's order.
    At  the  conclusion of the expedited hearing, the hearing
officer shall prepare a report with his or her  findings  and
recommendations   and   transmit   it   to   the   Board   of
Commissioners.    If   the   Board  of  Commissioners,  after
reviewing the findings and recommendations,  and  the  record
produced  at  the  hearings,  determines  that the person has
violated the Board of Commissioner's final order,  the  Board
of  Commissioners  may  authorize  the plugging of the sewer.
The general superintendent shall give not less than  10  days
written  notice  of  the Board of Commissioner's order to the
owner, officer, registered agent, or individual designated by
permit, as well as the owner of record of the real estate and
other parties known to be affected, that the  sewer  will  be
plugged. The Administrative Review Law, and the rules adopted
under that Law, shall govern all proceedings for the judicial
review  of  final orders of the Board of Commissioners issued
under this subsection.
    The foregoing provision for plugging a sewer shall be  in
addition to and not in derogation of any other remedy, in law
or in equity, that the district may have to prevent violation
of its ordinances and orders of its Board of Commissioners.
    (f)  A  violation  of  the  final  order  of the Board of
Commissioners shall be considered a nuisance.  If any  person
discharges  sewage,  industrial  wastes, or other wastes into
any waters contrary to  the  final  order  of  the  Board  of
Commissioners,  the  sanitary  district  acting  through  the
general superintendent has the power to commence an action or
proceeding  in  the  circuit  court  in and for the county in
which the sanitary district is located  for  the  purpose  of
having   the   discharge   stopped   either  by  mandamus  or
injunction, or to remedy the violation in any manner provided
for in this Section.
    The court shall specify a time,  not  exceeding  20  days
after  the service of the copy of the complaint, in which the
party complained of must plead to the complaint, and  in  the
meantime, the party may be restrained.  In case of default or
after  pleading, the court shall immediately inquire into the
facts and circumstances of the case and enter an  appropriate
judgment  in  respect  to the matters complained of.  Appeals
may be taken as in other civil cases.
    (g)  The sanitary district, acting  through  the  general
superintendent,  has  the  power  to  commence  an  action or
proceeding for mandamus or injunction in  the  circuit  court
ordering  a  person  to  cease  its  discharge,  when, in the
opinion of the general superintendent, the person's discharge
presents an imminent danger to the public health, welfare, or
safety, presents  or  may  present  an  endangerment  to  the
environment,  or threatens to interfere with the operation of
the sewerage system or a water reclamation  plant  under  the
jurisdiction  of  the sanitary district.  The initiation of a
show cause hearing is not a prerequisite to the  commencement
by  the  sanitary  district  of  an  action or proceeding for
mandamus or injunction in the circuit court.  The court shall
specify a time, not exceeding 20 days after the service of  a
copy  of  the petition, in which the party complained of must
answer the petition, and in the meantime, the  party  may  be
restrained.   In  case  of default in answer or after answer,
the court  shall  immediately  inquire  into  the  facts  and
circumstances  of  the case and enter an appropriate judgment
order in respect to the matters complained of.  An appeal may
be taken from the final judgment in the same manner and  with
the  same  effect  as  appeals are taken from judgment of the
circuit court in other actions for mandamus or injunction.
    (h)  Whenever the sanitary district commences  an  action
under  subsection (f) of this Section, the court shall assess
a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000
for each day the person violates a Board order.  Whenever the
sanitary district commences an action under subsection (g) of
this Section, the court shall assess a civil penalty  of  not
less  than  $1,000  nor  more  than  $10,000 for each day the
person violates the ordinance.  Each day's continuance of the
violation is a separate offense.  The penalties  provided  in
this  Section  plus  interest  at  the  rate set forth in the
Interest Act on unpaid penalties, costs, and fees, imposed by
the  Board  of  Commissioners  under  subsection   (d),   the
reasonable costs to the sanitary district of removal or other
remedial  action  caused  by  discharges in violation of this
Act, reasonable  attorney's  fees,  court  costs,  and  other
expenses  of  litigation  together with costs for inspection,
sampling,  analysis,  and  administration  related   to   the
enforcement   action   against   the   offending   party  are
recoverable by the sanitary district in a civil action.
    (i)  The Board of Commissioners may  establish  fees  for
late filing of reports with the sanitary district required by
an  ordinance  governing  discharges.   The sanitary district
shall provide by certified mail a written notice of  the  fee
assessment  that  states  the  person  has  30 days after the
receipt of the  notice  to  request  a  conference  with  the
general  superintendent's  designee to discuss or dispute the
appropriateness of the assessed fee.  Unless a person objects
to paying  the  fee  for  filing  a  report  late  by  timely
requesting  in  writing  a  conference with a designee of the
general superintendent, that person waives his or  her  right
to  a  conference and the sanitary district may impose a lien
recorded against the property of the person for the amount of
the unpaid fee.
    If a person requests a conference and the matter  is  not
resolved at the conference, the person subject to the fee may
request an administrative hearing before an impartial hearing
officer  appointed  under  subsection  (d)  to  determine the
person's liability for and the amount of the fee.
    If the hearing officer finds that the  late  filing  fees
are  owed  to  the  sanitary  district, the sanitary district
shall notify the responsible person or persons of the hearing
officer's decision.  If payment is not made  within  30  days
after  the notice, the sanitary district may impose a lien on
the property of the person or persons.
    Any liens filed under this subsection shall apply only to
the property to which the late filing fees  are  related.   A
claim  for  lien shall be filed in the office of the recorder
of the county in which the property is located.   The  filing
of  a  claim  for  lien  by the district does not prevent the
sanitary district from pursuing other  means  for  collecting
late filing fees.  If a claim for lien is filed, the sanitary
district shall notify the person whose property is subject to
the  lien, and the person may challenge the lien by filing an
action in the circuit  court.   The  action  shall  be  filed
within  90  days  after the person receives the notice of the
filing of the claim for lien.  The court shall hear  evidence
concerning  the  underlying  reasons  for the lien only if an
administrative  hearing  has  not  been   held   under   this
subsection.
    (j)  If  the  provisions of any paragraph of this Section
are  declared  unconstitutional  or  invalid  by  the   final
decision   of   any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction,  the
provisions of the remaining paragraphs continue in effect.
    (k)  Nothing in this Section eliminates any of the powers
now granted to municipalities having a population of  500,000
or more as to design, preparation of plans, and construction,
maintenance, and operation of sewers and sewerage systems, or
for   the  control  and  elimination  or  prevention  of  the
pollution of their  waters  or  waterways,  in  the  Illinois
Municipal Code or any other Act of the State of Illinois.  It
shall  be  unlawful,   for  any person, firm, association, or
corporation in possession of or controlling and operating any
industrial or  manufacturing  plant  to  discharge  into  the
sewers  or  works  of  a  sanitary district or into any sewer
connected therewith, any discharge  of  any  nature  whatever
from  any  industrial or manufacturing plant except upon such
terms  and  conditions  as  the   sanitary   district   might
reasonably impose.
    Any  sanitary  district,  in addition to all other powers
vested in it and in the interest of public health and safety,
is  hereby  empowered  to  pass  all  ordinances,  rules,  or
regulations necessary to implement  this  Section,  including
but  not  limited  to  the   imposition  of  charges based on
factors that  influence  the  cost  of  treatment,  including
strength and volume.
(Source: P.A. 87-1125.)
    (70 ILCS 2605/7f) (from Ch. 42, par. 326f)
    Sec. 7f.  Regulation of connecting sewerage systems.
    (a)  It  shall be unlawful for any person to construct or
install  any  sewerage   system   that   discharges   sewage,
industrial  wastes,  or other wastes, directly or indirectly,
into the sewerage system of the sanitary district,  unless  a
written  permit  for  the sewerage system has been granted by
the   sanitary   district   acting   through   the    general
superintendent.   The  sanitary  district  shall  specify  by
ordinance  the  changes,  additions,  or  extensions  to   an
existing  sewerage  system  that  will  require  a permit. No
changes, additions, or extensions to  any  existing  sewerage
systems  discharging  sewage,  industrial  wastes,  or  other
wastes  into  the  sewerage  system of the sanitary district,
that requires a permit, may  be  made  until  plans  for  the
changes,  additions, or extensions have been submitted to and
a written permit obtained from the sanitary  district  acting
through  the  general superintendent; provided, however, that
this Section is not applicable in any municipality  having  a
population of more than 500,000.
    (b)  Sewerage  systems  shall  be  operated in accordance
with the ordinances of the sanitary district.  The  Board  of
Commissioners  of  any  sanitary  district  is  authorized to
regulate, limit, extend, deny, or otherwise control  any  new
or  existing  connection, addition, or extension to any sewer
or sewerage system which directly  or  indirectly  discharges
into  the sanitary district sewerage system.  The Board shall
adopt  standards   and   specifications   for   construction,
operation,  and maintenance.  This Section shall not apply to
sewerage systems under the jurisdiction of any city, village,
or incorporated town having a population of 500,000 or more.
    (c)  The Board of Commissioners of any sanitary  district
is  hereby  authorized  to  pass  all necessary ordinances to
carry out the  aforementioned  powers.   The  ordinances  may
provide for a civil penalty for each offense of not less than
$100  nor  more  than  $1,000.  Each day's continuance of the
violation  shall  be  a  separate  offense.    Hearings   for
violations   of  the  ordinances  adopted  by  the  Board  of
Commissioners may be conducted by the Board of  Commissioners
or its designee.
    (d)  Plans  and  specifications  for  any sewerage system
covered by  this  Act  must  be  submitted  to  the  sanitary
district  before  a  written  permit  may  be  issued and the
construction of any sewerage system  must  be  in  accordance
with  the  plans and specifications.  In case it is necessary
or desirable  to  make  material  changes  in  the  plans  or
specifications, the revised plans or specifications, together
with  the reasons for the proposed changes, must be submitted
to the sanitary district for a supplemental written permit.
    (e)  The sanitary district, acting  through  the  general
superintendent,  may  require  any owner of a sewerage system
discharging  into  the  sewerage  system  of   the   sanitary
district,  to  file with it complete plans of the whole or of
any part of the system and any other information and  records
concerning the installation and operation of the system.
    (f)  The  sanitary  district,  acting through the general
superintendent, may establish procedures for  the  review  of
any  plans,  specifications,  or  other  data relative to any
sewerage system, written permits for which  are  required  by
this Act.
    (g)  The  sanitary  district,  acting through the general
superintendent, may adopt and enforce rules  and  regulations
governing  the  issuance of permits and the method and manner
under which plans, specifications,  or  other  data  relative
thereto  must  be  submitted  for the sewerage systems or for
additions or changes to or extensions of the systems.
    (h)  After a hearing on an alleged violation of any  such
ordinance,  the  Board  may, in addition to any civil penalty
imposed, order any person found to have committed a violation
to reimburse the sanitary  district  for  the  costs  of  the
hearing,  including  any  expenses  incurred  for inspection,
sampling,   analysis,   administrative   costs,   and   court
reporter's and attorney's fees.  The Board  of  Commissioners
may  also  require  a  person  to achieve compliance with the
ordinance  within   a   specified   period   of   time.   The
Administrative  Review  Law, and the rules adopted under that
Law, shall govern proceedings  for  the  judicial  review  of
final  orders of the Board of Commissioners issued under this
subsection.
    (i)  Civil penalties and costs imposed pursuant  to  this
Section  are  recoverable by the sanitary district in a civil
action.  The sanitary district is authorized to apply to  the
circuit  court for injunctive relief or mandamus when, in the
opinion of the general superintendent, the person has  failed
to  comply with an order of the Board of Commissioners or the
relief is necessary to protect the  sewerage  system  of  the
sanitary district.
    The  board  of  commissioners of any sanitary district is
authorized to regulate,  limit,  extend,  deny  or  otherwise
control any new or existing connection, addition or extension
to  any  sewer  or  sewerage  system  which  will directly or
indirectly discharge  into  the  sanitary  district  sewerage
system.   The  board shall adopt standards and specifications
for construction, operation, and maintenance.   This  Section
shall not apply to sewerage systems under the jurisdiction of
any  city,  village, or incorporated town having a population
of 500,000 or more.
    The board of commissioners of any  sanitary  district  is
hereby  authorized  to pass all necessary ordinances to carry
out the aforementioned powers.  Such ordinances  may  provide
for  a  fine  for each offense of not less than $100 nor more
than $1,000.  Each day's continuance of such violation  shall
be a separate offense.
    After  a  hearing  on  an  alleged  violation of any such
ordinance, the board may, in addition to  any  fine  imposed,
order  any  person  found  to  have  committed a violation to
reimburse  the  district  for  the  costs  of  the   hearing,
including  any  expenses  incurred  for inspection, sampling,
analysis, administrative  costs,  and  court  reporter's  and
attorney's fees.
    Fines  and  costs  imposed  pursuant  to this Section are
recoverable by the sanitary district in a civil action.   The
sanitary district is authorized to apply to the circuit court
for injunctive relief or mandamus when, in the opinion of the
General  Superintendent,  such relief is necessary to protect
the sewerage system of the sanitary district.
(Source: P.A. 87-283; 88-399.)

    (70 ILCS 2605/7g) (from Ch. 42, par. 326g)
    Sec. 7g.  Any person who takes or who  knowingly  permits
his  agent  or  employee  to  take industrial wastes or other
wastes from a point of origin  and  intentionally  discharges
such wastes by means of mobile or portable equipment into any
sewer,  sewer  manhole,  or  any  appurtenances  thereto,  or
directly  or indirectly to any waters without possession of a
valid and legally issued permit shall be guilty of a Class  A
misdemeanor.  A second or subsequent offense shall constitute
a Class 4 felony.
    Any  mobile  or portable equipment used in the commission
of any act which is a violation  of  this  Section  shall  be
subject  to seizure and forfeiture in the manner provided for
the seizure and forfeiture of vessels, vehicles and  aircraft
in  Article  36  of  the  Criminal  Code  of  1961, as now or
hereafter  amended.   The  person  causing  the   intentional
discharge  shall be liable for the costs of seizure, storage,
and disposal of the mobile or portable equipment.
    The terms "industrial  waste",  and  "other  wastes"  and
"waters"  shall  have  the  same  meaning  as these terms are
defined in Section 7a 7bb of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 84-1320.)

    (70 ILCS 2605/7bb rep.)
    Section  10.  The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Act is amended by repealing Section 7bb.

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

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