Section 103.204  Notice, Complaint, and Answer

a)         An enforcement proceeding will be commenced by the service of a notice and complaint by U.S. Mail with a recipient's signature recorded, a third-party commercial carrier with a recipient's signature recorded, or personal service upon all respondents and the filing of the notice and complaint with the Clerk. (See 35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.300(b) and (c), 101.302(h) and 101.304(c)(2).)

b)         The notice must be directed to the respondents notifying them of the filing of the accompanying complaint and that they may be required to attend a hearing at a date set by the Board.

c)         The complaint must be captioned in accordance with 35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.Appendix A, Illustration A and contain:

1)         A reference to the provision of the Act and regulations that the respondents are alleged to be violating;

2)         The dates, location, events, nature, extent, duration, and strength of discharges or emissions and consequences alleged to constitute violations of the Act and regulations. The complaint must advise respondents of the extent and nature of the alleged violations to reasonably allow preparation of a defense; and

3)         A concise statement of the relief that the complainant seeks.

d)         Except as provided in subsection (e), the respondent must file an answer within 60 days after receipt of the complaint if respondent wants to deny any allegations in the complaint.  All material allegations of the complaint will be taken as admitted if no answer is filed or if not specifically denied by the answer, unless respondent asserts a lack of knowledge sufficient to form a belief.  Any facts constituting an affirmative defense must be plainly set forth before hearing in the answer or in a supplemental answer, unless the affirmative defense could not have been known before hearing.

e)         If the respondent timely files a motion under Section 103.212(b) or 35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.506, the 60-day period to file an answer described in subsection (d) will be stayed.  The stay will begin when the motion is filed and end when the Board disposes of the motion.

f)         Any party serving a complaint upon another party must include the following language in the notice: "Failure to file an answer to this complaint within 60 days may have severe consequences. Failure to answer will mean that all allegations in the complaint will be taken as if admitted for purposes of this proceeding.  If you have any questions about this procedure, you should contact the hearing officer assigned to this proceeding, the Clerk's Office or an attorney."

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 10032, effective July 5, 2017)