Section 4000.570  Permits for Research or Educational Activities

a)         Application may be made to the Commission or Department for permission to conduct research or educational activities in nature preserves, using a Special Use Permit.  The permit forms are available upon request from the Commission or Department.  Whether the proposed activities would be carried out by an individual or by an organization, a permit is issued to an individual, who is then responsible for other persons or organization members referenced in the permit.  To conduct research activities on nature preserves owned by public land managing agencies, a separate permit from the landowner or custodian may be required; in such cases the applicant must first obtain an approved permit from the landowner or custodian before applying to the Commission.

b)         Examples of activities which require an approved permit include, but are not limited to, the following:

1)         Removal of any substance in the nature preserve, such as plant or animal material, soil, surface water, groundwater, and archaeological artifacts, in accordance with Section 4000.580;

2)         Installation of monitoring equipment or other items; and

3)         Nature observation and hiking by groups exceeding 25 persons.

c)         A permit issued by the Commission and the Department is not valid until approved by the custodian or owner, before the permittee commences the approved activities.  A permit holder shall report to the custodian or owner before initiating permitted activities and, if so requested, at the beginning and end of each visit.

d)         Each permittee shall, as a condition of the approved permit, submit to the Commission and Department an annual report in such form as may be prescribed by the Commission and Department in the permit.  A permit expires at the end of the calendar year in which it was issued.  A permit may be extended upon submission of an interim report.

e)         The Special Use Permit shall include:

1)         The applicant's name, address, position, professional qualifications, and general field of interest;

2)         A description of the proposed activities, including the objective, methods and procedures to be followed, records to be kept, duration of the project, areas to be visited, frequency and length of visits, and detailed description of disturbances to be made; the species or objects to be taken, number of specimens, method of taking, and disposition of specimens.

f)         Each permit may contain specific provisions and restrictions.  A permit may be modified, suspended, or revoked by the Commission and Department for violation of conditions of the permit, this Section, or based upon a determination of the Commission and Department that the activity jeopardizes the preserve.

(Source:  Amended at 18 Ill. Reg. 2290, effective January 31, 1994)