Section 897.10  Summary and Purpose

 

This Part is established to implement the management of aquatic plants within the Lake Michigan public waters.  The intent is to minimize the risks that citizens utilizing the public waters may be unwittingly exposed to aquatic herbicides and that threatened or endangered species of plants and animals may be harmed or destroyed,  a balanced aquatic plant community being recognized to be a vital and necessary component of a healthy aquatic ecosystem. The Department may allow the management of nuisance-causing aquatic plants with chemicals registered and labeled for aquatic use by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).  Other non-chemical methods, determined to be effective by the Department, may also be authorized.

 

Section 897.20  Applicability

 

Any person sponsoring or conducting chemical or non-chemical treatment to remove, destroy, or limit the growth of aquatic plants in the Illinois public waters of Lake Michigan shall obtain a Letter of Permission (LOP) from the Department.

 

Section 897.30  Definitions

 

"Applicant" – The person, company, or organization that proposes to apply aquatic herbicides or non-chemical treatments to the Lake Michigan public waters.

 

"Chemicals" – All USEPA approved and registered aquatic herbicides.

 

"Chemical treatment" – The single, one-time use of a USEPA approved and registered aquatic herbicide to destroy or limit the growth of aquatic plants.

 

"Client" – The person who contracts with the pest control operator for the described aquatic plant management treatment.

 

"Department" – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

 

"Illinois public waters of Lake Michigan" – All the open waters of Lake Michigan from the Wisconsin state line south to the Indiana state line and from the Michigan state line west to the Illinois shore, all harbors of the body of water that are or were navigable and are open or dedicated to public use, and the navigation channels connecting these harbors to Lake Michigan

 

"Letter of Permission" – Document drafted by the Department that specifies the location, date, and method of treatment.

 

"Non-chemical treatment" – Utilization of plant screens, sediment covers, bottom barriers, blanketing materials that are gas-permeable, or mechanical cutting or removal to destroy or limit the growth of aquatic plants.  A non-chemical treatment may consist of a series of actions in the case of mechanical cutting or removal of aquatic plants.

 

"Non-target organisms" – Any plant, other than nuisance-causing aquatic plants specified on the application, or animal species within the treatment area or adjacent areas that may be adversely affected by the chemical or non-chemical treatment.

 

"Sensitive area"– Areas of aquatic vegetation identified by the Department as offering critical or unique fish and wildlife habitat, including seasonal or life stage requirements, or offering water quality or erosion control benefits to the body of water.  This also includes areas included by the Department on the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, or registered or dedicated pursuant to the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act [525 ILCS 30].

 

Section 897.40  Application for Letter of Permission

 

An application for a LOP (form IL-LM01) may be obtained by contacting the Division of Fisheries' Lake Michigan Program (847)294-4134. The completed application shall be submitted to the Division of Fisheries' Lake Michigan Program, 9511 Harrison Street, Des Plaines IL 60016.  Any amendment or revision to a submitted application shall be treated by the Department as a new application.  The application shall contain:

 

a)         One copy of a detailed map or sketch of the body of water with the proposed treatment area dimensions clearly shown and with pertinent information necessary to locate those properties, by name of owner, riparian to the treatment area, which may include street address, fire number where available and local telephone number;

 

b)         A description of the uses being impaired by plants and reason for treatment;

 

c)         A description of the plant community within the area to be treated that includes approximate percentage of abundance by species;

 

d)         The product names of chemicals proposed for use, the method of application, and proposed date of treatment;

 

e)         The name of the person or commercial applicator and applicator certification number of the person conducting the treatment;

 

f)         A description of the non-chemical treatment, including type of material, product name if applicable, and proposed date of treatment;

 

g)         A certification to the Department that a copy of the application has been provided to any affected property owners' association and to any riparian property owners adjacent to and within the treatment area; and

 

h)         A statement of alternative control methods considered for use on the proposed treatment site and their feasibility.

 

Section 897.50  Issuance of Letter of Permission

 

a)         The Department shall issue or deny issuance of the requested LOP within 45 days after receipt of a complete application.

 

b)         The LOP shall be issued for a non-chemical method or the single, one-time, use of a USEPA approved and registered aquatic herbicide to remove, destroy or limit the growth of aquatic plants.  Exception: In instances where a chemical treatment is proposed to be at reduced application rates with a not-to-exceed dosage limit, over multiple applications, this will be viewed as a one-time application.

 

c)         New applications for a LOP will be reviewed with consideration given to the cumulative effect of applications already approved for the body of water.

 

d)         The Department may deny issuance of the requested LOP if:

 

1)         The proposed chemical is not labeled and registered for the intended use by the USEPA;

 

2)         The Department determines that the proposed treatment will result in a hazard to humans, animals, or other non-targeted organisms, or will not provide nuisance relief;

 

3)         The Department determines that the proposed treatment will result in a significant adverse effect on the body of water or will place unreasonable restrictions on existing water uses;

 

4)         The Department determines that the proposed treatment will significantly injure non-target organisms within the treatment area or adjacent areas, either directly or through habitat destruction;

 

5)         The proposed treatment is in a location known to have endangered or threatened species as determined by the Department; or

 

6)         The proposed treatment is in a location identified by the Department as a sensitive area, except when the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that the treatment can be conducted in a manner that will not alter the ecological character or reduce the ecological value of the area.

 

Section 897.60  Supervision

 

Supervision by a Department representative may be required for any chemical treatment.  Supervision may include inspection of the proposed treatment area, chemicals and application equipment before, during, and after treatment.  The inspection may result in the determination that treatment is unnecessary or unwarranted in all or part of the proposed area, or that another chemical or non-chemical method of treatment may be more appropriate.

 

Section 897.70  Conditions of Letter of Permission

 

a)         The Department may stop or limit the application of chemicals or non-chemical treatments to a body of water if at any time it determines that the treatment will be ineffective, will result in unreasonable restrictions on current water uses, or will produce unnecessary adverse side effects on non-targeted organisms for any of the reasons set forth in Section 897.50.

 

b)         Chemical treatment shall be performed in accordance with chemical label directions, existing pesticide use laws, and the LOP conditions.

 

c)         Chemical treatment shall be performed by a licensed pesticide applicator currently certified in the aquatic category by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

 

d)         The LOP applicant will be responsible for posting treatment areas in accordance with water/fishing use restrictions listed on the chemical label.  Signs shall be posted at the beginning of chemical treatment and remain posted for the period of time listed in the use restriction portion of the chemical label.  Posted signs shall be brilliant yellow with black lettering, conspicuous to persons intending to use the treated area from both water and shore, and shall state the name of the chemical, date of treatment, and water use restrictions listed on the chemical label.

 

e)         The LOP applicant will be responsible for obtaining a permit from Illinois EPA in adherence with 35 Ill. Adm. Code 652.601, where applicable.

 

f)         Failure to comply with the conditions of the LOP may result in loss of privileges for subsequent chemical and non-chemical treatments for aquatic plants in the Illinois public waters of Lake Michigan, in addition to any other remedies set out by law.