Section 240.1660  Authorization for a Permittee to Operate Their Wells Placed into the Plugging and Restoration Fund Program for Non-payment of Annual Well Fees

a)         A permittee shall not work on, operate or produce any of its wells or facilities that have been placed into the PRF Program because of delinquent payment of annual wells fees until the wells and facilities have been removed from the PRF Program by the Department.

b)         The permittee shall pay to the Department all delinquent annual well fees and all associated civil penalties assessed as a result of the delinquent annual well fees and payment of a non-refundable administrative fee of $250 per well for each of the permittee's wells in the PRF Program, made payable to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources/Plugging and Restoration Fund, before the Department may remove any of the wells and facilities from the PRF Program.

c)         Within 60 days after receipt by the Department of payment in full of all delinquent annual well fees, associated civil penalties and non-refundable fees, the Department's Hearing Officer, on his or her own motion, shall modify or vacate the final administrative decision that placed the wells and facilities into the PRF Program and notify the permittee in writing that the wells and facilities have been removed from the PRF Program.

(Source:  Added at 35 Ill. Reg. 13281, effective July 26, 2011)