Section 245.260  Public Comment Periods

a)         The initial public comment period shall begin 7 calendar days after the Department's receipt of the permit application and last for 30 calendar days (Section 1-45(a) of the Act). During the initial public comment period, any person may file written comments to the Department concerning any portion of the permit application and any issue relating to the applicant's compliance with the requirements of the Act (Section 1-45(c) of the Act), this Part, the Illinois Oil and Gas Act and the administrative rules promulgated under that Act.

b)         When a public hearing is conducted under Section 245.270, the Department shall provide for an additional public comment period to allow for comments in response only to evidence and testimony presented at the hearing.  The additional public comment period shall begin on the day after the close of the evidence at the public hearing and last for not more than 15 days, taking into consideration that the Department shall have no more than 60 days from the date it receives the permit application to approve or reject the permit application. (Sections 1-45(b) and 1-35(i) of the Act)

c)         Written public comments may be filed via mail or electronically.

1)         Written public comments may be mailed to the Department at Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Attention: Oil and Gas Regulatory Staff, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield IL 62702.

2)         Written public comments may be sent electronically to the Department based on the information provided in the Department's notice posted on its website.

d)         All public comments must include the review number assigned by the Department to the permit application and be received by the Office of Oil and Gas Resource Management by 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the applicable public comment period to be eligible for Department consideration during the permit review process set forth in this Part.

e)         The Department may request that the applicant respond to any substantive public comments, objections and recommendations obtained during the public comment periods (Section 1-45(d) of the Act).

f)         If, during the review period, the Department allows the applicant to correct deficiencies pursuant to Section 245.230(f), the Department may require an additional public comment period or hearing related specifically to those changes made in the application.  If there is not sufficient time to hold an additional comment period or hearing within the 60 calendar days to make a permit decision, the applicant must waive the 60-day deadline or the Department may reject the application.