SB2906 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 18652 CPF 27036 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB2906

Introduced 5/26/2021, by Sen. Celina Villanueva

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to annually review and update the underlying data for, and use of, indicators used to determine whether a community is designated as an environmental justice community and to establish a process by which communities not designated as environmental justice communities may petition for such a designation. Provides that an applicant for a permit for the construction of a new source that will become a major source subject to the Clean Air Act Permit Program to be located in an environmental justice community or a new source that has or will require a federally enforceable State operating permit and that will be located in an environmental justice community must conduct a public meeting prior to submission of the permit application and must submit with the permit application an environmental justice assessment identifying the potential environmental and health impacts to the area associated with the proposed project. Provides requirements for the environmental justice assessment. Provides that a supplemental fee of $200,000 for each construction permit application shall be assessed if the construction permit application is subject to the requirements regarding the construction of a new source located in an environmental justice community. Contains provisions regarding public participation requirements for permitting transactions in an environmental justice community. Provides that a third party may petition the Pollution Control Board if the Agency grants a permit to construct, modify, or operate a facility that emits air pollutants and is classified as a minor source. Contains provisions regarding environmental justice grievances. Defines "environmental justice community". Contains other provisions.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning safety.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Environmental Protection Act is amended by changing Sections 9.12, 39, 39.2, and 40 and by adding Sections 3.187, 3.281, 22.62, 34.5, 39.15, and 40.4 as follows:

(415 ILCS 5/3.187 new)

Sec. 3.187. Environmental justice community. "Environmental justice community" has the same meaning, based on existing methodologies and findings, used in the Illinois Solar for All Program, as may be updated by the Illinois Power Agency and the Program Administrator of that Program.

(415 ILCS 5/3.281 new)

Sec. 3.281. Linguistic isolation. "Linguistic isolation" means a household in which all members age 14 years and older speak a non-English language and speak English less than very well, according to the United States Census Bureau's latest one-year or 5-year American Community Survey. A community surrounding a facility is in linguistic isolation if 20% of the households in the community's surrounding one-mile radius meet the United States Census Bureau's definition for linguistic isolation.

(415 ILCS 5/9.12)

Sec. 9.12. Construction permit fees for air pollution sources.

(a) An applicant for a new or revised air pollution construction permit shall pay a fee, as established in this Section, to the Agency at the time that he or she submits the application for a construction permit. Except as set forth below, the fee for each activity or category listed in this Section is separate and is cumulative with any other applicable fee listed in this Section.

(b) The fee amounts in this subsection (b) apply to construction permit applications relating to (i) a source subject to Section 39.5 of this Act (the Clean Air Act Permit Program); (ii) a source that, upon issuance of the requested construction permit, will become a major source subject to Section 39.5; or (iii) a source that has or will require a federally enforceable State operating permit limiting its potential to emit.

(1) Base fees for each construction permit application shall be assessed as follows:

(A) If the construction permit application relates to one or more new emission units or to a combination of new and modified emission units, a fee of $4,000 for the first new emission unit and a fee of $1,000 for each additional new or modified emission unit; provided that the total base fee under this subdivision (A) shall not exceed $10,000.

(B) If the construction permit application relates to one or more modified emission units but not to any new emission unit, a fee of $2,000 for the first modified emission unit and a fee of $1,000 for each additional modified emission unit; provided that the total base fee under this subdivision (B) shall not exceed $5,000.

(2) Supplemental fees for each construction permit application shall be assessed as follows:

(A) If, based on the construction permit application, the source will be, but is not currently, subject to Section 39.5 of this Act, a CAAPP entry fee of $5,000.

(B) If the construction permit application involves (i) a new source or emission unit subject to Section 39.2 of this Act, (ii) a commercial incinerator or other municipal waste, hazardous waste, or waste tire incinerator, (iii) a commercial power generator, or (iv) one or more other emission units designated as a complex source by Agency rulemaking, a fee of $25,000.

(C) If the construction permit application involves an emissions netting exercise or reliance on a contemporaneous emissions decrease for a pollutant to avoid application of the PSD permit program or nonattainment new source review, a fee of $3,000 for each such pollutant.

(D) If the construction permit application is for a new major source subject to the PSD permit program, a fee of $12,000.

(E) If the construction permit application is for a new major source subject to nonattainment new source review, a fee of $20,000.

(F) If the construction permit application is for a major modification subject to the PSD permit program, a fee of $6,000.

(G) If the construction permit application is for a major modification subject to nonattainment new source review, a fee of $12,000.

(H) (Blank).

(I) If the construction permit application review involves a determination of the Maximum Achievable Control Technology standard for a pollutant and the project is not otherwise subject to BACT or LAER for a related pollutant under the PSD permit program or nonattainment new source review, a fee of $5,000 per unit for which a determination is requested or otherwise required.

(J) (Blank).

(K) If the construction permit application is subject to the requirements under subsection (z) or subsection (aa) of Section 39, a fee of $200,000.

(3) If a public hearing is held regarding the construction permit application, an administrative fee of $10,000. This fee shall be submitted at the time the applicant requests a public hearing or, if a public hearing is not requested by the applicant, then within 30 days after the applicant is informed by the Agency that a public hearing will be held.

(c) The fee amounts in this subsection (c) apply to construction permit applications relating to a source that, upon issuance of the construction permit, will not (i) be or become subject to Section 39.5 of this Act (the Clean Air Act Permit Program) or (ii) have or require a federally enforceable state operating permit limiting its potential to emit.

(1) Base fees for each construction permit application shall be assessed as follows:

(A) For a construction permit application involving a single new emission unit, a fee of $500.

(B) For a construction permit application involving more than one new emission unit, a fee of $1,000.

(C) For a construction permit application involving no more than 2 modified emission units, a fee of $500.

(D) For a construction permit application involving more than 2 modified emission units, a fee of $1,000.

(2) Supplemental fees for each construction permit application shall be assessed as follows:

(A) If the source is a new source, i.e., does not currently have an operating permit, an entry fee of $500;

(B) If the construction permit application involves (i) a new source or emission unit subject to Section 39.2 of this Act, (ii) a commercial incinerator or a municipal waste, hazardous waste, or waste tire incinerator, (iii) a commercial power generator, or (iv) an emission unit designated as a complex source by Agency rulemaking, a fee of $15,000.

(3) If a public hearing is held regarding the construction permit application, an administrative fee of $10,000. This fee shall be submitted at the time the applicant requests a public hearing or, if a public hearing is not requested by the applicant, then within 30 days after the applicant is informed by the Agency that a public hearing will be held.

(d) If no other fee is applicable under this Section, a construction permit application addressing one or more of the following shall be subject to a filing fee of $500:

(1) A construction permit application to add or replace a control device on a permitted emission unit.

(2) A construction permit application to conduct a pilot project or trial burn for a permitted emission unit.

(3) A construction permit application for a land remediation project.

(4) (Blank).

(5) A construction permit application to revise an emissions testing methodology or the timing of required emissions testing.

(6) A construction permit application that provides for a change in the name, address, or phone number of any person identified in the permit, or for a change in the stated ownership or control, or for a similar minor administrative permit change at the source.

(e) No fee shall be assessed for a request to correct an issued permit that involves only an Agency error, if the request is received within the deadline for a permit appeal to the Pollution Control Board.

(f) The applicant for a new or revised air pollution construction permit shall submit to the Agency, with the construction permit application, both a certification of the fee that he or she estimates to be due under this Section and the fee itself.

(g) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a) of Section 39 of this Act, the application for an air pollution construction permit shall not be deemed to be filed with the Agency until the Agency receives the initial air pollution construction permit application fee and the certified estimate of the fee required by this Section. Unless the Agency has received the initial air pollution construction permit application fee and the certified estimate of the fee required by this Section, the Agency is not required to review or process the application.

(h) If the Agency determines at any time that a construction permit application is subject to an additional fee under this Section that the applicant has not submitted, the Agency shall notify the applicant in writing of the amount due under this Section. The applicant shall have 60 days to remit the assessed fee to the Agency.

If the proper fee established under this Section is not submitted within 60 days after the request for further remittance:

(1) If the construction permit has not yet been issued, the Agency is not required to further review or process, and the provisions of subsection (a) of Section 39 of this Act do not apply to, the application for a construction permit until such time as the proper fee is remitted.

(2) If the construction permit has been issued, the Agency may, upon written notice, immediately revoke the construction permit.

The denial or revocation of a construction permit does not excuse the applicant from the duty of paying the fees required under this Section.

(i) The Agency may deny the issuance of a pending air pollution construction permit or the subsequent operating permit if the applicant has not paid the required fees by the date required for issuance of the permit. The denial or revocation of a permit for failure to pay a construction permit fee is subject to review by the Board pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of Section 40 of this Act.

(j) If the owner or operator undertakes construction without obtaining an air pollution construction permit, the fee under this Section is still required. Payment of the required fee does not preclude the Agency or the Attorney General or other authorized persons from pursuing enforcement against the applicant for failure to have an air pollution construction permit prior to commencing construction.

(k) If an air pollution construction permittee makes a fee payment under this Section from an account with insufficient funds to cover the amount of the fee payment, the Agency shall notify the permittee of the failure to pay the fee. If the permittee fails to pay the fee within 60 days after such notification, the Agency may, by written notice, immediately revoke the air pollution construction permit. Failure of the Agency to notify the permittee of the permittee's failure to make payment does not excuse or alter the duty of the permittee to comply with the provisions of this Section.

(l) The Agency may establish procedures for the collection of air pollution construction permit fees.

(m) Fees collected pursuant to this Section shall be deposited into the Environmental Protection Permit and Inspection Fund.

(Source: P.A. 99-463, eff. 1-1-16.)

(415 ILCS 5/22.62 new)

Sec. 22.62. Environmental justice community designation.

(a) The Agency shall annually review and update the underlying data for, and use of, indicators used to determine whether a community is designated as an environmental justice community under Section 3.187 for the sake of accuracy and to comport with best practices as developed by relevant entities, including, but not limited to: the United States Environmental Protection Agency; State agencies, including the Department of Public Health, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the State Board of Education, the Illinois Power Agency, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Natural Resources; municipalities and units of local government; and the executive branches, agencies, municipalities, and units of local government in other states.

(b) The Agency shall establish a process by which communities not designated as environmental justice communities may petition for such a designation.

(c) The Agency shall include representatives of State environmental justice organizations, other State environmental justice stakeholders, and the Commission on Environmental Justice in the development of the processes required to be established under this Section.

(415 ILCS 5/34.5 new)

Sec. 34.5. Environmentally beneficial project bank.

(a) The Agency shall establish and maintain on its website a bank of potential environmentally beneficial projects. The website must permit members of the public to submit suggestions for environmentally beneficial projects. The Agency shall assess the submissions for feasibility and clarity before inclusion in the bank.

(b) A respondent or defendant may propose to undertake an environmentally beneficial project that is not contained in the environmentally beneficial project bank established under subsection (a).

(c) If funds for an environmentally beneficial project are derived from penalties resulting from an administrative, civil, or criminal enforcement action arising from an alleged violation by a facility, site, or activity in an environmental justice community, the Agency must require that the funds be utilized for an environmentally beneficial project in the environmental justice community where the alleged violation occurred.

(415 ILCS 5/39) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1039)

Sec. 39. Issuance of permits; procedures.

(a) When the Board has by regulation required a permit for the construction, installation, or operation of any type of facility, equipment, vehicle, vessel, or aircraft, the applicant shall apply to the Agency for such permit and it shall be the duty of the Agency to issue such a permit upon proof by the applicant that the facility, equipment, vehicle, vessel, or aircraft will not cause a violation of this Act or of regulations hereunder. The Agency shall adopt such procedures as are necessary to carry out its duties under this Section. In making its determinations on permit applications under this Section the Agency shall may consider prior administrative, civil, and criminal enforcement actions alleging adjudications of noncompliance with this Act or a local environmental ordinance, court order, consent order, or compliance commitment agreement by the applicant that involved a release of a contaminant into the environment by the applicant. In granting permits, the Agency shall may impose reasonable conditions specifically related to the applicant's past compliance history with this Act and the local environmental ordinance, court order, consent order, or compliance commitment agreement as necessary to correct, detect, or prevent noncompliance with this Act and to prevent a similar release of contaminants into the environment. The Agency shall may impose such other conditions as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Act, and as are not inconsistent with the regulations promulgated by the Board hereunder. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, a bond or other security shall not be required as a condition for the issuance of a permit. If the Agency denies any permit under this Section, the Agency shall transmit to the applicant within the time limitations of this Section specific, detailed statements as to the reasons the permit application was denied. Such statements shall include, but not be limited to the following:

(i) the Sections of this Act which may be violated if the permit were granted;

(ii) the provision of the regulations, promulgated under this Act, which may be violated if the permit were granted;

(iii) the specific type of information, if any, which the Agency deems the applicant did not provide the Agency; and

(iv) a statement of specific reasons why the Act and the regulations might not be met if the permit were granted.

If there is no final action by the Agency within 90 days after the filing of the application for permit, the applicant may deem the permit issued; except that this time period shall be extended to 180 days when (1) notice and opportunity for public hearing are required by State or federal law or regulation, (2) the application which was filed is for any permit to develop a landfill subject to issuance pursuant to this subsection, or (3) the application that was filed is for a MSWLF unit required to issue public notice under subsection (p) of Section 39. The 90-day and 180-day time periods for the Agency to take final action do not apply to NPDES permit applications under subsection (b) of this Section, to RCRA permit applications under subsection (d) of this Section, to UIC permit applications under subsection (e) of this Section, or to CCR surface impoundment applications under subsection (y) of this Section.

The Agency shall publish notice of all final permit determinations for development permits for MSWLF units and for significant permit modifications for lateral expansions for existing MSWLF units one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the unit is or is proposed to be located.

After January 1, 1994 and until July 1, 1998, operating permits issued under this Section by the Agency for sources of air pollution permitted to emit less than 25 tons per year of any combination of regulated air pollutants, as defined in Section 39.5 of this Act, shall be required to be renewed only upon written request by the Agency consistent with applicable provisions of this Act and regulations promulgated hereunder. Such operating permits shall expire 180 days after the date of such a request. The Board shall revise its regulations for the existing State air pollution operating permit program consistent with this provision by January 1, 1994.

After June 30, 1998, operating permits issued under this Section by the Agency for sources of air pollution that are not subject to Section 39.5 of this Act and are not required to have a federally enforceable State operating permit shall be required to be renewed only upon written request by the Agency consistent with applicable provisions of this Act and its rules. Such operating permits shall expire 180 days after the date of such a request. Before July 1, 1998, the Board shall revise its rules for the existing State air pollution operating permit program consistent with this paragraph and shall adopt rules that require a source to demonstrate that it qualifies for a permit under this paragraph.

(b) The Agency may issue NPDES permits exclusively under this subsection for the discharge of contaminants from point sources into navigable waters, all as defined in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended, within the jurisdiction of the State, or into any well.

All NPDES permits shall contain those terms and conditions, including, but not limited to, schedules of compliance, which may be required to accomplish the purposes and provisions of this Act.

The Agency may issue general NPDES permits for discharges from categories of point sources which are subject to the same permit limitations and conditions. Such general permits may be issued without individual applications and shall conform to regulations promulgated under Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended.

The Agency may include, among such conditions, effluent limitations and other requirements established under this Act, Board regulations, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended, and regulations pursuant thereto, and schedules for achieving compliance therewith at the earliest reasonable date.

The Agency shall adopt filing requirements and procedures which are necessary and appropriate for the issuance of NPDES permits, and which are consistent with the Act or regulations adopted by the Board, and with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended, and regulations pursuant thereto.

The Agency, subject to any conditions which may be prescribed by Board regulations, may issue NPDES permits to allow discharges beyond deadlines established by this Act or by regulations of the Board without the requirement of a variance, subject to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended, and regulations pursuant thereto.

(c) Except for those facilities owned or operated by sanitary districts organized under the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act, no permit for the development or construction of a new pollution control facility may be granted by the Agency unless the applicant submits proof to the Agency that the location of the facility has been approved by the county board County Board of the county if in an unincorporated area, or the governing body of the municipality when in an incorporated area, in which the pollution control facility is to be located in accordance with Section 39.2 of this Act. For purposes of this subsection (c), and for purposes of Section 39.2 of this Act, the appropriate county board or governing body of the municipality shall be the county board of the county or the governing body of the municipality in which the pollution control facility is to be located as of the date when the application for siting approval is filed.

In the event that siting approval granted pursuant to Section 39.2 has been transferred to a subsequent owner or operator, that subsequent owner or operator may apply to the Agency for, and the Agency may grant, a development or construction permit for the pollution control facility for which local siting approval was granted. Upon application to the Agency for a development or construction permit by that subsequent owner or operator, the permit applicant shall cause written notice of the permit application to be served upon the appropriate county board or governing body of the municipality that granted siting approval for that pollution control facility and upon any party to the siting proceeding pursuant to which siting approval was granted. In that event, the Agency shall conduct an evaluation of the subsequent owner or operator's prior experience in waste management operations in the manner conducted under subsection (i) of Section 39 of this Act.

Beginning August 20, 1993, if the pollution control facility consists of a hazardous or solid waste disposal facility for which the proposed site is located in an unincorporated area of a county with a population of less than 100,000 and includes all or a portion of a parcel of land that was, on April 1, 1993, adjacent to a municipality having a population of less than 5,000, then the local siting review required under this subsection (c) in conjunction with any permit applied for after that date shall be performed by the governing body of that adjacent municipality rather than the county board of the county in which the proposed site is located; and for the purposes of that local siting review, any references in this Act to the county board shall be deemed to mean the governing body of that adjacent municipality; provided, however, that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any proposed site which was, on April 1, 1993, owned in whole or in part by another municipality.

In the case of a pollution control facility for which a development permit was issued before November 12, 1981, if an operating permit has not been issued by the Agency prior to August 31, 1989 for any portion of the pollution control facility, then the Agency may not issue or renew any development permit nor issue an original operating permit for any portion of such pollution control facility unless the applicant has submitted proof to the Agency that the location of the pollution control facility has been approved by the appropriate county board or municipal governing body pursuant to Section 39.2 of this Act.

After January 1, 1994, if a solid waste disposal facility, any portion for which an operating permit has been issued by the Agency, has not accepted waste disposal for 5 or more consecutive calendar calendars years, before that facility may accept any new or additional waste for disposal, the owner and operator must obtain a new operating permit under this Act for that facility unless the owner and operator have applied to the Agency for a permit authorizing the temporary suspension of waste acceptance. The Agency may not issue a new operation permit under this Act for the facility unless the applicant has submitted proof to the Agency that the location of the facility has been approved or re-approved by the appropriate county board or municipal governing body under Section 39.2 of this Act after the facility ceased accepting waste.

Except for those pollution control facilities owned or operated by sanitary districts organized under the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act, and except for new pollution control facilities governed by Section 39.2, and except for fossil fuel mining facilities, the granting of a permit under this Act shall not relieve the applicant from meeting and securing all necessary zoning approvals from the unit of government having zoning jurisdiction over the proposed facility.

Before beginning construction on any new sewage treatment plant or sludge drying site to be owned or operated by a sanitary district organized under the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act for which a new permit (rather than the renewal or amendment of an existing permit) is required, such sanitary district shall hold a public hearing within the municipality within which the proposed facility is to be located, or within the nearest community if the proposed facility is to be located within an unincorporated area, at which information concerning the proposed facility shall be made available to the public, and members of the public shall be given the opportunity to express their views concerning the proposed facility.

The Agency may issue a permit for a municipal waste transfer station without requiring approval pursuant to Section 39.2 provided that the following demonstration is made:

(1) the municipal waste transfer station was in existence on or before January 1, 1979 and was in continuous operation from January 1, 1979 to January 1, 1993;

(2) the operator submitted a permit application to the Agency to develop and operate the municipal waste transfer station during April of 1994;

(3) the operator can demonstrate that the county board of the county, if the municipal waste transfer station is in an unincorporated area, or the governing body of the municipality, if the station is in an incorporated area, does not object to resumption of the operation of the station; and

(4) the site has local zoning approval.

No permit for the development or construction of any of the following will be granted by the Agency unless the applicant submits proof to the Agency that the location of the source has been approved by the county board of the county, if in an unincorporated area, or the governing body of a municipality, when in an incorporated area, in which the source is to be located in accordance with Section 39.2: (i) a new or modified source that, upon issuance of the requested construction permit, will become a major source subject to Section 39.5 to be located in an environmental justice community; or (ii) a new source that has or will require a federally enforceable State operating permit and that will be located in an environmental justice community. For purposes of this subsection (c), and for purposes of Section 39.2, the appropriate county board or governing body of the municipality shall be the county board of the county or the governing body of the municipality in which the source is to be located as of the date when the application for siting approval is filed. This provision does not apply to permits for modifications or expansions at existing FESOP or CAAPP sources unless the modification will result in an increase in the hourly rate of emissions or the total annual emissions of any air pollutant.

(d) The Agency may issue RCRA permits exclusively under this subsection to persons owning or operating a facility for the treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous waste as defined under this Act. Subsection (y) of this Section, rather than this subsection (d), shall apply to permits issued for CCR surface impoundments.

All RCRA permits shall contain those terms and conditions, including, but not limited to, schedules of compliance, which may be required to accomplish the purposes and provisions of this Act. The Agency may include among such conditions standards and other requirements established under this Act, Board regulations, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-580), as amended, and regulations pursuant thereto, and may include schedules for achieving compliance therewith as soon as possible. The Agency shall require that a performance bond or other security be provided as a condition for the issuance of a RCRA permit.

In the case of a permit to operate a hazardous waste or PCB incinerator as defined in subsection (k) of Section 44, the Agency shall require, as a condition of the permit, that the operator of the facility perform such analyses of the waste to be incinerated as may be necessary and appropriate to ensure the safe operation of the incinerator.

The Agency shall adopt filing requirements and procedures which are necessary and appropriate for the issuance of RCRA permits, and which are consistent with the Act or regulations adopted by the Board, and with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-580), as amended, and regulations pursuant thereto.

The applicant shall make available to the public for inspection all documents submitted by the applicant to the Agency in furtherance of an application, with the exception of trade secrets, at the office of the county board or governing body of the municipality. Such documents may be copied upon payment of the actual cost of reproduction during regular business hours of the local office. The Agency shall issue a written statement concurrent with its grant or denial of the permit explaining the basis for its decision.

(e) The Agency may issue UIC permits exclusively under this subsection to persons owning or operating a facility for the underground injection of contaminants as defined under this Act.

All UIC permits shall contain those terms and conditions, including, but not limited to, schedules of compliance, which may be required to accomplish the purposes and provisions of this Act. The Agency may include among such conditions standards and other requirements established under this Act, Board regulations, the Safe Drinking Water Act (P.L. 93-523), as amended, and regulations pursuant thereto, and may include schedules for achieving compliance therewith. The Agency shall require that a performance bond or other security be provided as a condition for the issuance of a UIC permit.

The Agency shall adopt filing requirements and procedures which are necessary and appropriate for the issuance of UIC permits, and which are consistent with the Act or regulations adopted by the Board, and with the Safe Drinking Water Act (P.L. 93-523), as amended, and regulations pursuant thereto.

The applicant shall make available to the public for inspection, all documents submitted by the applicant to the Agency in furtherance of an application, with the exception of trade secrets, at the office of the county board or governing body of the municipality. Such documents may be copied upon payment of the actual cost of reproduction during regular business hours of the local office. The Agency shall issue a written statement concurrent with its grant or denial of the permit explaining the basis for its decision.

(f) In making any determination pursuant to Section 9.1 of this Act:

(1) The Agency shall have authority to make the determination of any question required to be determined by the Clean Air Act, as now or hereafter amended, this Act, or the regulations of the Board, including the determination of the Lowest Achievable Emission Rate, Maximum Achievable Control Technology, or Best Available Control Technology, consistent with the Board's regulations, if any.

(2) The Agency shall adopt requirements as necessary to implement public participation procedures, including, but not limited to, public notice, comment, and an opportunity for hearing, which must accompany the processing of applications for PSD permits. The Agency shall briefly describe and respond to all significant comments on the draft permit raised during the public comment period or during any hearing. The Agency may group related comments together and provide one unified response for each issue raised.

(3) Any complete permit application submitted to the Agency under this subsection for a PSD permit shall be granted or denied by the Agency not later than one year after the filing of such completed application.

(4) The Agency shall, after conferring with the applicant, give written notice to the applicant of its proposed decision on the application, including the terms and conditions of the permit to be issued and the facts, conduct, or other basis upon which the Agency will rely to support its proposed action.

(g) The Agency shall include as conditions upon all permits issued for hazardous waste disposal sites such restrictions upon the future use of such sites as are reasonably necessary to protect public health and the environment, including permanent prohibition of the use of such sites for purposes which may create an unreasonable risk of injury to human health or to the environment. After administrative and judicial challenges to such restrictions have been exhausted, the Agency shall file such restrictions of record in the Office of the Recorder of the county in which the hazardous waste disposal site is located.

(h) A hazardous waste stream may not be deposited in a permitted hazardous waste site unless specific authorization is obtained from the Agency by the generator and disposal site owner and operator for the deposit of that specific hazardous waste stream. The Agency may grant specific authorization for disposal of hazardous waste streams only after the generator has reasonably demonstrated that, considering technological feasibility and economic reasonableness, the hazardous waste cannot be reasonably recycled for reuse, nor incinerated or chemically, physically or biologically treated so as to neutralize the hazardous waste and render it nonhazardous. In granting authorization under this Section, the Agency may impose such conditions as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Act and are consistent with this Act and regulations promulgated by the Board hereunder. If the Agency refuses to grant authorization under this Section, the applicant may appeal as if the Agency refused to grant a permit, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of Section 40 of this Act. For purposes of this subsection (h), the term "generator" has the meaning given in Section 3.205 of this Act, unless: (1) the hazardous waste is treated, incinerated, or partially recycled for reuse prior to disposal, in which case the last person who treats, incinerates, or partially recycles the hazardous waste prior to disposal is the generator; or (2) the hazardous waste is from a response action, in which case the person performing the response action is the generator. This subsection (h) does not apply to any hazardous waste that is restricted from land disposal under 35 Ill. Adm. Code 728.

(i) Before issuing any RCRA permit, any permit for a waste storage site, sanitary landfill, waste disposal site, waste transfer station, waste treatment facility, waste incinerator, or any waste-transportation operation, any permit or interim authorization for a clean construction or demolition debris fill operation, or any permit required under subsection (d-5) of Section 55, the Agency shall conduct an evaluation of the prospective owner's or operator's prior experience in waste management operations, clean construction or demolition debris fill operations, and tire storage site management. The Agency may deny such a permit, or deny or revoke interim authorization, if the prospective owner or operator or any employee or officer of the prospective owner or operator has a history of:

(1) repeated violations of federal, State, or local laws, regulations, standards, or ordinances in the operation of waste management facilities or sites, clean construction or demolition debris fill operation facilities or sites, or tire storage sites; or

(2) conviction in this or another State of any crime which is a felony under the laws of this State, or conviction of a felony in a federal court; or conviction in this or another state or federal court of any of the following crimes: forgery, official misconduct, bribery, perjury, or knowingly submitting false information under any environmental law, regulation, or permit term or condition; or

(3) proof of gross carelessness or incompetence in handling, storing, processing, transporting or disposing of waste, clean construction or demolition debris, or used or waste tires, or proof of gross carelessness or incompetence in using clean construction or demolition debris as fill.

(i-5) Before issuing any permit or approving any interim authorization for a clean construction or demolition debris fill operation in which any ownership interest is transferred between January 1, 2005, and the effective date of the prohibition set forth in Section 22.52 of this Act, the Agency shall conduct an evaluation of the operation if any previous activities at the site or facility may have caused or allowed contamination of the site. It shall be the responsibility of the owner or operator seeking the permit or interim authorization to provide to the Agency all of the information necessary for the Agency to conduct its evaluation. The Agency may deny a permit or interim authorization if previous activities at the site may have caused or allowed contamination at the site, unless such contamination is authorized under any permit issued by the Agency.

(j) The issuance under this Act of a permit to engage in the surface mining of any resources other than fossil fuels shall not relieve the permittee from its duty to comply with any applicable local law regulating the commencement, location or operation of surface mining facilities.

(k) A development permit issued under subsection (a) of Section 39 for any facility or site which is required to have a permit under subsection (d) of Section 21 shall expire at the end of 2 calendar years from the date upon which it was issued, unless within that period the applicant has taken action to develop the facility or the site. In the event that review of the conditions of the development permit is sought pursuant to Section 40 or 41, or permittee is prevented from commencing development of the facility or site by any other litigation beyond the permittee's control, such two-year period shall be deemed to begin on the date upon which such review process or litigation is concluded.

(l) No permit shall be issued by the Agency under this Act for construction or operation of any facility or site located within the boundaries of any setback zone established pursuant to this Act, where such construction or operation is prohibited.

(m) The Agency may issue permits to persons owning or operating a facility for composting landscape waste. In granting such permits, the Agency may impose such conditions as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Act, and as are not inconsistent with applicable regulations promulgated by the Board. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, a bond or other security shall not be required as a condition for the issuance of a permit. If the Agency denies any permit pursuant to this subsection, the Agency shall transmit to the applicant within the time limitations of this subsection specific, detailed statements as to the reasons the permit application was denied. Such statements shall include but not be limited to the following:

(1) the Sections of this Act that may be violated if the permit were granted;

(2) the specific regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act that may be violated if the permit were granted;

(3) the specific information, if any, the Agency deems the applicant did not provide in its application to the Agency; and

(4) a statement of specific reasons why the Act and the regulations might be violated if the permit were granted.

If no final action is taken by the Agency within 90 days after the filing of the application for permit, the applicant may deem the permit issued. Any applicant for a permit may waive the 90-day limitation by filing a written statement with the Agency.

The Agency shall issue permits for such facilities upon receipt of an application that includes a legal description of the site, a topographic map of the site drawn to the scale of 200 feet to the inch or larger, a description of the operation, including the area served, an estimate of the volume of materials to be processed, and documentation that:

(1) the facility includes a setback of at least 200 feet from the nearest potable water supply well;

(2) the facility is located outside the boundary of the 10-year floodplain or the site will be floodproofed;

(3) the facility is located so as to minimize incompatibility with the character of the surrounding area, including at least a 200 foot setback from any residence, and in the case of a facility that is developed or the permitted composting area of which is expanded after November 17, 1991, the composting area is located at least 1/8 mile from the nearest residence (other than a residence located on the same property as the facility);

(4) the design of the facility will prevent any compost material from being placed within 5 feet of the water table, will adequately control runoff from the site, and will collect and manage any leachate that is generated on the site;

(5) the operation of the facility will include appropriate dust and odor control measures, limitations on operating hours, appropriate noise control measures for shredding, chipping and similar equipment, management procedures for composting, containment and disposal of non-compostable wastes, procedures to be used for terminating operations at the site, and recordkeeping sufficient to document the amount of materials received, composted and otherwise disposed of; and

(6) the operation will be conducted in accordance with any applicable rules adopted by the Board.

The Agency shall issue renewable permits of not longer than 10 years in duration for the composting of landscape wastes, as defined in Section 3.155 of this Act, based on the above requirements.

The operator of any facility permitted under this subsection (m) must submit a written annual statement to the Agency on or before April 1 of each year that includes an estimate of the amount of material, in tons, received for composting.

(n) The Agency shall issue permits jointly with the Department of Transportation for the dredging or deposit of material in Lake Michigan in accordance with Section 18 of the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act.

(o) (Blank.)

(p) (1) Any person submitting an application for a permit for a new MSWLF unit or for a lateral expansion under subsection (t) of Section 21 of this Act for an existing MSWLF unit that has not received and is not subject to local siting approval under Section 39.2 of this Act shall publish notice of the application in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the MSWLF unit is or is proposed to be located. The notice must be published at least 15 days before submission of the permit application to the Agency. The notice shall state the name and address of the applicant, the location of the MSWLF unit or proposed MSWLF unit, the nature and size of the MSWLF unit or proposed MSWLF unit, the nature of the activity proposed, the probable life of the proposed activity, the date the permit application will be submitted, and a statement that persons may file written comments with the Agency concerning the permit application within 30 days after the filing of the permit application unless the time period to submit comments is extended by the Agency.

When a permit applicant submits information to the Agency to supplement a permit application being reviewed by the Agency, the applicant shall not be required to reissue the notice under this subsection.

(2) The Agency shall accept written comments concerning the permit application that are postmarked no later than 30 days after the filing of the permit application, unless the time period to accept comments is extended by the Agency.

(3) Each applicant for a permit described in part (1) of this subsection shall file a copy of the permit application with the county board or governing body of the municipality in which the MSWLF unit is or is proposed to be located at the same time the application is submitted to the Agency. The permit application filed with the county board or governing body of the municipality shall include all documents submitted to or to be submitted to the Agency, except trade secrets as determined under Section 7.1 of this Act. The permit application and other documents on file with the county board or governing body of the municipality shall be made available for public inspection during regular business hours at the office of the county board or the governing body of the municipality and may be copied upon payment of the actual cost of reproduction.

(q) Within 6 months after July 12, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 97-95), the Agency, in consultation with the regulated community, shall develop a web portal to be posted on its website for the purpose of enhancing review and promoting timely issuance of permits required by this Act. At a minimum, the Agency shall make the following information available on the web portal:

(1) Checklists and guidance relating to the completion of permit applications, developed pursuant to subsection (s) of this Section, which may include, but are not limited to, existing instructions for completing the applications and examples of complete applications. As the Agency develops new checklists and develops guidance, it shall supplement the web portal with those materials.

(2) Within 2 years after July 12, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 97-95), permit application forms or portions of permit applications that can be completed and saved electronically, and submitted to the Agency electronically with digital signatures.

(3) Within 2 years after July 12, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 97-95), an online tracking system where an applicant may review the status of its pending application, including the name and contact information of the permit analyst assigned to the application. Until the online tracking system has been developed, the Agency shall post on its website semi-annual permitting efficiency tracking reports that include statistics on the timeframes for Agency action on the following types of permits received after July 12, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 97-95): air construction permits, new NPDES permits and associated water construction permits, and modifications of major NPDES permits and associated water construction permits. The reports must be posted by February 1 and August 1 each year and shall include:

(A) the number of applications received for each type of permit, the number of applications on which the Agency has taken action, and the number of applications still pending; and

(B) for those applications where the Agency has not taken action in accordance with the timeframes set forth in this Act, the date the application was received and the reasons for any delays, which may include, but shall not be limited to, (i) the application being inadequate or incomplete, (ii) scientific or technical disagreements with the applicant, USEPA, or other local, state, or federal agencies involved in the permitting approval process, (iii) public opposition to the permit, or (iv) Agency staffing shortages. To the extent practicable, the tracking report shall provide approximate dates when cause for delay was identified by the Agency, when the Agency informed the applicant of the problem leading to the delay, and when the applicant remedied the reason for the delay.

(r) Upon the request of the applicant, the Agency shall notify the applicant of the permit analyst assigned to the application upon its receipt.

(s) The Agency is authorized to prepare and distribute guidance documents relating to its administration of this Section and procedural rules implementing this Section. Guidance documents prepared under this subsection shall not be considered rules and shall not be subject to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Such guidance shall not be binding on any party.

(t) Except as otherwise prohibited by federal law or regulation, any person submitting an application for a permit may include with the application suggested permit language for Agency consideration. The Agency is not obligated to use the suggested language or any portion thereof in its permitting decision. If requested by the permit applicant, the Agency shall meet with the applicant to discuss the suggested language.

(u) If requested by the permit applicant, the Agency shall provide the permit applicant with a copy of the draft permit prior to any public review period.

(v) If requested by the permit applicant, the Agency shall provide the permit applicant with a copy of the final permit prior to its issuance.

(w) An air pollution permit shall not be required due to emissions of greenhouse gases, as specified by Section 9.15 of this Act.

(x) If, before the expiration of a State operating permit that is issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section and contains federally enforceable conditions limiting the potential to emit of the source to a level below the major source threshold for that source so as to exclude the source from the Clean Air Act Permit Program, the Agency receives a complete application for the renewal of that permit, then all of the terms and conditions of the permit shall remain in effect until final administrative action has been taken on the application for the renewal of the permit.

(y) The Agency may issue permits exclusively under this subsection to persons owning or operating a CCR surface impoundment subject to Section 22.59.

All CCR surface impoundment permits shall contain those terms and conditions, including, but not limited to, schedules of compliance, which may be required to accomplish the purposes and provisions of this Act, Board regulations, the Illinois Groundwater Protection Act and regulations pursuant thereto, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and regulations pursuant thereto, and may include schedules for achieving compliance therewith as soon as possible.

The Board shall adopt filing requirements and procedures that are necessary and appropriate for the issuance of CCR surface impoundment permits and that are consistent with this Act or regulations adopted by the Board, and with the RCRA, as amended, and regulations pursuant thereto.

The applicant shall make available to the public for inspection all documents submitted by the applicant to the Agency in furtherance of an application, with the exception of trade secrets, on its public internet website as well as at the office of the county board or governing body of the municipality where CCR from the CCR surface impoundment will be permanently disposed. Such documents may be copied upon payment of the actual cost of reproduction during regular business hours of the local office.

The Agency shall issue a written statement concurrent with its grant or denial of the permit explaining the basis for its decision.

(z) An applicant for a permit for the construction of a new source that will become a major source subject to the Clean Air Act Permit Program under Section 39.5 to be located in an environmental justice community or a new source that has or will require a federally enforceable State operating permit and that will be located in an environmental justice community must conduct a public meeting prior to submission of the permit application and must submit with the permit application an environmental justice assessment identifying the potential environmental and health impacts according to subsection (aa) to the area associated with the proposed project. This subsection (z) also applies to permit applications for modifications or expansions to existing sources that will result in an increase in the hourly rate of emissions or the total annual emissions of any air pollutant.

Prior to submitting the permit application to the Agency and subsequent to obtaining local siting approval under Section 39.2, the applicant is required to conduct a public meeting within the environmental justice community where the proposed source is to be located and to collect public comments. Notice of the public meeting must be provided 30 days in advance and according to the following:

(1) The notice shall be:

(A) provided to local elected officials in the area where the proposed source is to be located, including the mayor or village president, municipal clerk, county board chairman, county clerk, and State's Attorney;

(B) provided to members of the General Assembly from the legislative district in which the proposed source is to be located;

(C) provided to directors of child care centers licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services, school principals, and public park superintendents who oversee facilities located within one mile of the proposed source;

(D) published in a newspaper of general circulation; and

(E) posted on a website of the applicant with a link provided to the Agency for posting on the Agency's website.

(2) The notice of the public meeting shall include the following:

(A) The name and address of the applicant and the proposed source.

(B) The activity or activities at the proposed source to be permitted.

(C) The anticipated potential to emit and allowable emissions for regulated pollutants of the proposed source.

(D) The date, time, and location of the public meeting.

(E) The deadline for submission of written comments.

(F) The mailing address or email address where written comments can be submitted.

(G) The website where the summary of the environmental justice assessment required under subsection (aa) can be accessed.

(3) For a community determined to be in linguistic isolation, the applicant shall provide the public notice in a multi-lingual format appropriate to the needs of the linguistically isolated community and provide oral and written translation services at public meeting.

The applicant shall present a summary of the environmental justice assessment required under subsection (aa) at the public meeting.

The applicant must accept written public comments from the date public notice is provided through at least 30 days following the public meeting.

The applicant must provide with its permit application a copy of the notice and a certification, subject to penalty of law, signed by a responsible official for the permit applicant attesting to the fact that a public meeting was held, the information that was provided by the applicant and the permit applicant collected written and transcribed oral public comments collected by the applicant in accordance with the requirements of this subsection (z).

The failure of the applicant to comply with the express procedural requirements under this subsection (z) will result in a denial of the subsequent permit application by the Agency.

The Agency may propose and the Board may adopt rules regarding the implementation of this subsection (z).

(aa) The permit application under subsection (z) shall include an environmental justice assessment. The environmental justice assessment shall consist of the following:

(1) Air dispersion modeling examining the air quality-related impacts from the proposed project in combination with existing mobile and stationary air emitting sources to determine estimated emissions of the following pollutants:

(A) Emissions of PM10 or PM2.5 that will be equal to or greater than 25 tons per year.

(B) Emissions of ozone precursors that will be equal to or greater than 25 tons per year.

(C) Emissions of any individual Hazardous Air Pollutant listed in subsection (b) of Section 112 of the federal Clean Air Act that will be equal to or greater than 10 tons per year.

(D) Emissions of diesel exhaust constituents from nonroad and on road mobile sources as well as stationary sources.

The air dispersion modeling must address emissions associated with a new or modified CAAPP source as well as emissions from any existing source that will comprise part of a single stationary source with the new or modified CAAPP source under the requirements of Section 39.5.

If the air dispersion modeling reveals estimated off-site impacts from the proposed project of a significant nature, including any anticipated exceedance of a legally enforceable emissions standard, the applicant shall also identify efforts that will be undertaken by the applicant during the construction or operation of the new source to mitigate such impacts.

(2) A modeling protocol submitted to the Agency for review and consideration prior to performance of the air dispersion modeling. The modeling protocol shall include analyses sufficient to evaluate short-term impacts to air quality and impacts to air quality from nonstandard operating conditions, such as worst case emission estimates under a variety of weather and atmospheric conditions and emissions associated with startup, shutdown, maintenance, and outages. Any Agency recommendations for revisions to the modeling protocol shall be provided in writing to the applicant within 60 days after receipt of the modeling protocol. The modeling shall be performed using accepted USEPA methodologies.

(3) An environmental impact review evaluating the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts to the environmental justice community that are associated with the proposed project. The environmental impact review may be modeled after USEPA guidance documents for fulfilling responsibilities under the federal National Environmental Policy Act. The environmental impact review shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

(A) A qualitative and quantitative assessment of emissions-related impacts to the area from the project, including identifying the maximum allowable emissions of criteria pollutants and hazardous air pollutant emissions to be anticipated from the proposed new source.

(B) An assessment of the health-based indicators for inhalation exposure, including, but not limited to, impacts to the respiratory, hematological, neurological, cardiovascular, renal, and hepatic systems and cancer rates.

The environmental justice assessment must be completed by an independent third party.

If the environmental justice assessment shows that the proposed project will cause harm to the environment or public health, the Agency shall impose conditions in the permit that will mitigate such harm or deny the permit if such harm is unavoidable and causes or contributes to disproportionate harm.

The Agency may propose and the Board may adopt rules regarding the implementation of this subsection.

(Source: P.A. 101-171, eff. 7-30-19; revised 9-12-19.)

(415 ILCS 5/39.2) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1039.2)

Sec. 39.2. Local siting review.

(a) The county board of the county or the governing body of the municipality, as determined by paragraph (c) of Section 39 of this Act, shall, subject to review, approve or disapprove the request for local siting approval for the following: (i) each pollution control facility; (ii) an air pollution source that, upon issuance of the requested construction permit, will become a major source subject to Section 39.5 to be located in an environmental justice community; or (iii) an air pollution source that will require for the first time a federally enforceable State operating permit and that shall be located in an environmental justice community which is subject to such review. An applicant for local siting approval shall submit sufficient details describing the proposed facility and evidence to demonstrate compliance, and local siting approval shall be granted only if the proposed facility meets the following criteria:

(i) the pollution control facility is necessary to accommodate the waste needs of the area it is intended to serve;

(ii) the pollution control facility or air pollution source is so designed, located, and proposed to be operated that the public health, safety, and welfare will be protected;

(iii) the pollution control facility or air pollution source is located so as to minimize incompatibility with the character of the surrounding area and to minimize the effect on the value of the surrounding property;

(iv) (A) for a pollution control facility other than a sanitary landfill or waste disposal site, the pollution control facility is located outside the boundary of the 100-year 100 year flood plain or the site is flood-proofed; (B) for a pollution control facility that is a sanitary landfill or waste disposal site, the pollution control facility is located outside the boundary of the 100-year floodplain, or if the pollution control facility is a facility described in subsection (b)(3) of Section 22.19a, the site is flood-proofed;

(v) the plan of operations for the or air pollution source facility or air pollution source is designed to minimize the danger to the surrounding area from fire, spills, or other operational accidents;

(vi) the traffic patterns to or from the pollution control facility or air pollution source are so designed as to minimize the impact on existing traffic flows;

(vii) if the pollution control facility will be treating, storing, or disposing of hazardous waste, an emergency response plan exists for the facility which includes notification, containment, and evacuation procedures to be used in case of an accidental release;

(viii) if the pollution control facility is to be located in a county where the county board has adopted a solid waste management plan consistent with the planning requirements of the Local Solid Waste Disposal Act or the Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act, the pollution control facility is consistent with that plan; for purposes of this criterion (viii), the "solid waste management plan" means the plan that is in effect as of the date the application for siting approval is filed; and

(ix) if the pollution control facility will be located within a regulated recharge area, any applicable requirements specified by the Board for such areas have been met.

The county board or the governing body of the municipality may also consider as evidence the previous operating experience and past record of convictions or admissions of violations of the pollution control facility applicant (and any subsidiary or parent corporation) in the field of solid waste management when considering criteria (ii) and (v) under this Section.

If the pollution control facility is subject to the location restrictions in Section 22.14 of this Act, compliance with that Section shall be determined as of the date the application for siting approval is filed.

(b) No later than 14 days before the date on which the county board or governing body of the municipality receives a request for site approval, the applicant shall cause written notice of such request to be served either in person or by registered mail, return receipt requested, on the owners of all property within the subject area not solely owned by the applicant, and on the owners of all property within 250 feet in each direction of the lot line of the subject property, said owners being such persons or entities which appear from the authentic tax records of the county County in which such pollution control facility or air pollution source is to be located; provided, that the number of all feet occupied by all public roads, streets, alleys, and other public ways shall be excluded in computing the 250 feet requirement; provided further, that in no event shall this requirement exceed 400 feet, including public streets, alleys, and other public ways.

Such written notice shall also be served upon members of the General Assembly from the legislative district in which the proposed pollution control facility or air pollution source is located and shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which the site is located.

Such notice shall state the name and address of the applicant, the location of the proposed site, the nature and size of the development, the nature of the activity proposed, the probable life of the proposed activity, the date when the request for site approval will be submitted, and a description of the right of persons to comment on such request as hereafter provided.

(c) An applicant shall file a copy of its request with the county board of the county or the governing body of the municipality in which the proposed site is located. The request shall include (i) the substance of the applicant's proposal and (ii) all documents, if any, submitted as of that date to the Agency pertaining to the proposed pollution control facility or air pollution source, except trade secrets as determined under Section 7.1 of this Act. All such documents or other materials on file with the county board or governing body of the municipality shall be made available for public inspection at the office of the county board or the governing body of the municipality and may be copied upon payment of the actual cost of reproduction.

Any person may file written comment with the county board or governing body of the municipality concerning the appropriateness of the proposed site for its intended purpose. The county board or governing body of the municipality shall consider any comment received or postmarked not later than 30 days after the date of the last public hearing.

(d) At least one public hearing, at which an applicant shall present at least one witness to testify subject to cross-examination, is to be held by the county board or governing body of the municipality no sooner than 90 days but no later than 120 days after the date on which it received the request for site approval. No later than 14 days prior to such hearing, notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county of the proposed site, and delivered by certified mail to all members of the General Assembly from the district in which the proposed site is located, to the governing authority of every municipality contiguous to the proposed site or contiguous to the municipality in which the proposed site is to be located, to the county board of the county where the proposed site is to be located, if the proposed site is located within the boundaries of a municipality, and to the Agency. Members or representatives of the governing authority of a municipality contiguous to the proposed site or contiguous to the municipality in which the proposed site is to be located and, if the proposed site is located in a municipality, members or representatives of the county board of a county in which the proposed site is to be located may appear at and participate in public hearings held pursuant to this Section. The public hearing shall develop a record sufficient to form the basis of appeal of the decision in accordance with Section 40.1 of this Act. The fact that a member of the county board or governing body of the municipality has publicly expressed an opinion on an issue related to a site review proceeding shall not preclude the member from taking part in the proceeding and voting on the issue.

(e) Decisions of the county board or governing body of the municipality are to be in writing, confirming a public hearing was held with testimony from at least one witness presented by the applicant, specifying the reasons for the decision, such reasons to be in conformance with subsection (a) of this Section. In granting approval for a site the county board or governing body of the municipality may impose such conditions as may be reasonable and necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Section and as are not inconsistent with regulations promulgated by the Board. Such decision shall be available for public inspection at the office of the county board or governing body of the municipality and may be copied upon payment of the actual cost of reproduction. If there is no final action by the county board or governing body of the municipality within 180 days after the date on which it received the request for site approval, the applicant may deem the request approved.

At the public hearing, at any time prior to completion by the applicant of the presentation of the applicant's factual evidence, testimony, and an opportunity for cross-examination by the county board or governing body of the municipality and any participants, the applicant may file not more than one amended application upon payment of additional fees pursuant to subsection (k); in which case the time limitation for final action set forth in this subsection (e) shall be extended for an additional period of 90 days.

If, prior to making a final local siting decision, a county board or governing body of a municipality has negotiated and entered into a host agreement with the local siting applicant, the terms and conditions of the host agreement, whether written or oral, shall be disclosed and made a part of the hearing record for that local siting proceeding. In the case of an oral agreement, the disclosure shall be made in the form of a written summary jointly prepared and submitted by the county board or governing body of the municipality and the siting applicant and shall describe the terms and conditions of the oral agreement.

(e-5) Siting approval obtained pursuant to this Section is transferable and may be transferred to a subsequent owner or operator. In the event that siting approval has been transferred to a subsequent owner or operator, that subsequent owner or operator assumes and takes subject to any and all conditions imposed upon the prior owner or operator by the county board of the county or governing body of the municipality pursuant to subsection (e). However, any such conditions imposed pursuant to this Section may be modified by agreement between the subsequent owner or operator and the appropriate county board or governing body. Further, in the event that siting approval obtained pursuant to this Section has been transferred to a subsequent owner or operator, that subsequent owner or operator assumes all rights and obligations and takes the facility subject to any and all terms and conditions of any existing host agreement between the prior owner or operator and the appropriate county board or governing body.

(f) A local siting approval granted under this Section shall expire at the end of 2 calendar years from the date upon which it was granted, unless the local siting approval granted under this Section is for a sanitary landfill operation, in which case the approval shall expire at the end of 3 calendar years from the date upon which it was granted, and unless within that period the applicant has made application to the Agency for a permit to develop the site. In the event that the local siting decision has been appealed, such expiration period shall be deemed to begin on the date upon which the appeal process is concluded.

Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, upon the expiration of a development permit under subsection (k) of Section 39, any associated local siting approval granted for the facility under this Section shall also expire.

If a first development permit for a municipal waste incineration facility expires under subsection (k) of Section 39 after September 30, 1989 due to circumstances beyond the control of the applicant, any associated local siting approval granted for the facility under this Section may be used to fulfill the local siting approval requirement upon application for a second development permit for the same site, provided that the proposal in the new application is materially the same, with respect to the criteria in subsection (a) of this Section, as the proposal that received the original siting approval, and application for the second development permit is made before January 1, 1990.

(g) The siting approval procedures, criteria and appeal procedures provided for in this Act for new pollution control facilities shall be the exclusive siting procedures and rules and appeal procedures for facilities subject to such procedures. Local zoning or other local land use requirements shall not be applicable to such siting decisions.

(h) Nothing in this Section shall apply to any existing or new pollution control facility located within the corporate limits of a municipality with a population of over 1,000,000.

(i) (Blank.)

The Board shall adopt regulations establishing the geologic and hydrologic siting criteria necessary to protect usable groundwater resources which are to be followed by the Agency in its review of permit applications for new pollution control facilities. Such regulations, insofar as they apply to new pollution control facilities authorized to store, treat or dispose of any hazardous waste, shall be at least as stringent as the requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and any State or federal regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

(j) Any new pollution control facility which has never obtained local siting approval under the provisions of this Section shall be required to obtain such approval after a final decision on an appeal of a permit denial.

(k) A county board or governing body of a municipality may charge applicants for siting review under this Section a reasonable fee to cover the reasonable and necessary costs incurred by such county or municipality in the siting review process.

(l) The governing Authority as determined by subsection (c) of Section 39 of this Act may request the Department of Transportation to perform traffic impact studies of proposed or potential locations for required pollution control facilities.

(m) An applicant may not file a request for local siting approval which is substantially the same as a request which was disapproved pursuant to a finding against the applicant under any of criteria (i) through (ix) of subsection (a) of this Section within the preceding 2 years.

(n) In any review proceeding of a decision of the county board or governing body of a municipality made pursuant to the local siting review process, the petitioner in the review proceeding shall pay to the county or municipality the cost of preparing and certifying the record of proceedings. Should the petitioner in the review proceeding fail to make payment, the provisions of Section 3-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply.

In the event the petitioner is a citizens' group that participated in the siting proceeding and is so located as to be affected by the proposed facility, such petitioner shall be exempt from paying the costs of preparing and certifying the record.

(o) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a transfer station used exclusively for landscape waste, where landscape waste is held no longer than 24 hours from the time it was received, is not subject to the requirements of local siting approval under this Section, but is subject only to local zoning approval.

(p) The siting approval procedures, criteria, and appeal procedures provided for in this Act for new air pollution sources shall be in addition to the applicable local land use and zoning standards, procedures, rules, and appeal procedures. Local zoning or other local land use requirements shall continue to be applicable to such siting decisions for new air pollution sources in addition to the siting approval procedures, criteria, and appeal procedures provided in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-382, eff. 8-25-17.)

(415 ILCS 5/39.15 new)

Sec. 39.15. Environmental justice considerations in permitting.

(a) The following public participation requirements for permitting transactions in an environmental justice community must be complied with:

(1) If an application for a permit, permit renewal, or permit modification is subject to public notice and comment requirements under this Act, rules adopted by the Board, or rules adopted by the Agency, and the application is for a facility or source in an environmental justice community, the Agency must comply with existing applicable requirements.

(2) In addition to the public notice requirements referenced in paragraph (1), the Agency shall provide the public with notice of an application for a permit, permit renewal, or permit modification if the facility or proposed facility is located or is to be located in an environmental justice community for the following types of permitting transactions: (i) permits for pollution control facilities subject to local siting review under Section 39.2; and (ii) individual minor or major NPDES permits issued under subsection (b) of Section 39. The public notice shall:

(A) be provided: (i) by prominent placement at a dedicated page on the Agency's website; (ii) to local elected officials in the area where the facility or proposed facility is located or is to be located, including the mayor or president, clerk, county board chairman, county clerk, and State's Attorney; and (iii) to members of the General Assembly from the legislative district in which the facility or proposed facility is located or is to be located; and

(B) include: (i) the name and address of the permit applicant and the facility or proposed facility; and (ii) the activity or activities at the facility or proposed facility being permitted.

(b) The Agency must comply with the following requirements regarding linguistically isolated communities:

(1) For a community determined to be in linguistic isolation, the Agency shall provide all public notices required by this Section in a multi-lingual format appropriate to the needs of the linguistically isolated community.

(2) For a community determined to be in linguistic isolation, the Agency shall provide oral and written translation services at public hearings.

(c) For permit applications for facilities in an environmental justice community, the Director of the Agency may grant extensions of any permitting deadlines established in this Act by up to 180 days to allow for additional review of the permit application by the Agency or additional public participation. Any exercise of this authority shall be provided in writing to the permit applicant with the specific reason and new permitting deadline.

(415 ILCS 5/40) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1040)

Sec. 40. Appeal of permit denial.

(a)(1) If the Agency refuses to grant or grants with conditions a permit under Section 39 of this Act, the applicant may, within 35 days after the date on which the Agency served its decision on the applicant, petition for a hearing before the Board to contest the decision of the Agency. However, the 35-day period for petitioning for a hearing may be extended for an additional period of time not to exceed 90 days by written notice provided to the Board from the applicant and the Agency within the initial appeal period. The Board shall give 21 days' notice to any person in the county where is located the facility in issue who has requested notice of enforcement proceedings and to each member of the General Assembly in whose legislative district that installation or property is located; and shall publish that 21-day notice in a newspaper of general circulation in that county. The Agency shall appear as respondent in such hearing. At such hearing the rules prescribed in Section 32 and subsection (a) of Section 33 of this Act shall apply, and the burden of proof shall be on the petitioner. If, however, the Agency issues an NPDES permit that imposes limits which are based upon a criterion or denies a permit based upon application of a criterion, then the Agency shall have the burden of going forward with the basis for the derivation of those limits or criterion which were derived under the Board's rules.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(3), if there is no final action by the Board within 120 days after the date on which it received the petition, the petitioner may deem the permit issued under this Act, provided, however, that that period of 120 days shall not run for any period of time, not to exceed 30 days, during which the Board is without sufficient membership to constitute the quorum required by subsection (a) of Section 5 of this Act, and provided further that such 120 day period shall not be stayed for lack of quorum beyond 30 days regardless of whether the lack of quorum exists at the beginning of such 120-day period or occurs during the running of such 120-day period.

(3) Paragraph (a)(2) shall not apply to any permit which is subject to subsection (b), (d) or (e) of Section 39. If there is no final action by the Board within 120 days after the date on which it received the petition, the petitioner shall be entitled to an Appellate Court order pursuant to subsection (d) of Section 41 of this Act.

(b) If the Agency grants a RCRA permit for a hazardous waste disposal site, a third party, other than the permit applicant or Agency, may, within 35 days after the date on which the Agency issued its decision, petition the Board for a hearing to contest the issuance of the permit. Unless the Board determines that such petition is duplicative or frivolous, or that the petitioner is so located as to not be affected by the permitted facility, the Board shall hear the petition in accordance with the terms of subsection (a) of this Section and its procedural rules governing denial appeals, such hearing to be based exclusively on the record before the Agency. The burden of proof shall be on the petitioner. The Agency and the permit applicant shall be named co-respondents.

The provisions of this subsection do not apply to the granting of permits issued for the disposal or utilization of sludge from publicly owned publicly-owned sewage works.

(c) Any party to an Agency proceeding conducted pursuant to Section 39.3 of this Act may petition as of right to the Board for review of the Agency's decision within 35 days from the date of issuance of the Agency's decision, provided that such appeal is not duplicative or frivolous. However, the 35-day period for petitioning for a hearing may be extended by the applicant for a period of time not to exceed 90 days by written notice provided to the Board from the applicant and the Agency within the initial appeal period. If another person with standing to appeal wishes to obtain an extension, there must be a written notice provided to the Board by that person, the Agency, and the applicant, within the initial appeal period. The decision of the Board shall be based exclusively on the record compiled in the Agency proceeding. In other respects the Board's review shall be conducted in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section and the Board's procedural rules governing permit denial appeals.

(d) In reviewing the denial or any condition of a NA NSR permit issued by the Agency pursuant to rules and regulations adopted under subsection (c) of Section 9.1 of this Act, the decision of the Board shall be based exclusively on the record before the Agency including the record of the hearing, if any, unless the parties agree to supplement the record. The Board shall, if it finds the Agency is in error, make a final determination as to the substantive limitations of the permit including a final determination of Lowest Achievable Emission Rate.

(e)(1) If the Agency grants or denies a permit under subsection (b) of Section 39 of this Act, a third party, other than the permit applicant or Agency, may petition the Board within 35 days from the date of issuance of the Agency's decision, for a hearing to contest the decision of the Agency.

(2) A petitioner shall include the following within a petition submitted under subdivision (1) of this subsection:

(A) a demonstration that the petitioner raised the issues contained within the petition during the public notice period or during the public hearing on the NPDES permit application, if a public hearing was held; and

(B) a demonstration that the petitioner is so situated as to be affected by the permitted facility.

(3) If the Board determines that the petition is not duplicative or frivolous and contains a satisfactory demonstration under subdivision (2) of this subsection, the Board shall hear the petition (i) in accordance with the terms of subsection (a) of this Section and its procedural rules governing permit denial appeals and (ii) exclusively on the basis of the record before the Agency. The burden of proof shall be on the petitioner. The Agency and permit applicant shall be named co-respondents.

(f) Any person who files a petition to contest the issuance of a permit by the Agency shall pay a filing fee.

(g) If the Agency grants or denies a permit under subsection (y) of Section 39, a third party, other than the permit applicant or Agency, may appeal the Agency's decision as provided under federal law for CCR surface impoundment permits.

(h) If the Agency grants a permit to construct, modify, or operate a facility that emits air pollutants and is classified as a minor source, a third party, other than the permit applicant or Agency, may, within 35 days after the date on which the Agency issued its decision, petition the Board for a hearing to contest the issuance of the permit. Unless the Board determines that such petition is duplicative or frivolous or that the petitioner is so located as to not be affected by the permitted facility, the Board shall hear the petition in accordance with the terms of subsection (a) of this Section and its procedural rules governing denial appeals. The hearing shall be based exclusively on the record before the Agency. The burden of proof shall be on the petitioner. The Agency and the permit applicant shall be named co-respondents.

(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17; 101-171, eff. 7-30-19; revised 9-12-19.)

(415 ILCS 5/40.4 new)

Sec. 40.4. Environmental justice grievance.

(a) An environmental justice grievance process, subject to the provisions of this Section, is applicable to complaints alleging violations of Section 601 of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964.

(b) An environmental justice grievance must allege discrimination on the basis of an individual's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, order of protection status, conviction record, arrest record, disability, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, or unfavorable discharge from military service.

(c) To initiate an environmental justice grievance process a person must file a complaint with the Agency within 60 days after an alleged violation. The Agency, in its discretion, may waive the 60-day deadline for good cause. The complaint must:

(1) be in writing;

(2) describe with specificity the discrimination alleged; and

(3) identify the parties impacted by the alleged discrimination.

(d) The complaint under subsection (c) must be addressed as follows:

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

Environmental Justice Officer

1021 North Grand Avenue East

P.O. Box 19276

Springfield, IL 62794

(e) Within 10 days after receiving the complaint filed under subsection (c), the Agency shall provide written notice of receipt and acceptance of the complainant. If the Agency determines that it has jurisdiction to review the complaint, the complaint will be considered meritorious, unless:

(1) the complaint clearly appears on its face to be frivolous or trivial;

(2) the complaint is not timely and good cause does not exist to waive timeliness;

(3) the Agency, within the time allotted to investigate the complaint, voluntarily concedes noncompliance and agrees to take appropriate remedial action or agrees to an informal resolution of the complaint; or

(4) the complainant, within the time allotted for the complaint to be investigated, withdraws the complaint.

(f) Within 120 days after the date it provides written notice of receipt and acceptance of the complaint under subsection (e), the Agency shall make a determination of jurisdiction and the merits of the complaint, conduct an investigation, and provide a proposed resolution, if appropriate, to the extent practicable and allowable under existing laws and regulations.