093_HB0422ham002

 










                                     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a

 1                     AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 422

 2        AMENDMENT NO.     .  Amend House Bill  422  by  replacing
 3    the title with the following:
 4        "AN ACT concerning wetlands."; and

 5    by  replacing  everything  after the enacting clause with the
 6    following:

 7        "Section 1. Short title. This Act may  be  cited  as  the
 8    Wetlands Protection Act.

 9        Section 5.  This Act shall not apply to property within a
10    municipality   with  a  population  over  500,000  where  the
11    regulation  of  wetlands  on  that  property  is  within  the
12    statutory or home rule authority of the municipality.

13        Section 10.  Definitions. For the purposes of this Act:
14        "ADID" means those aquatic sites identified by the United
15    States Environmental Protection Agency and the United  States
16    Corps of Engineers as areas generally unsuitable for disposal
17    of  dredged  or  fill material in accordance with 40 CFR Part
18    230.80.
19        "Affected property"  means  any  property  upon  which  a
20    regulated activity is conducted.
 
                            -2-      LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1        "Agency"  means  the  Illinois  Environmental  Protection
 2    Agency.
 3        "Avoidance"  means any action taken in a manner such that
 4    a regulated activity will not occur.
 5        "Board" means the Illinois Pollution Control Board.
 6        "Bog" means  a  peat-accumulating  wetland  that  has  no
 7    significant  inflows  or  outflows  and  supports acidophilic
 8    mosses, particularly sphagnum,  resulting  in  highly  acidic
 9    conditions.
10        "Commencing  such  a  regulated activity" means any steps
11    taken in preparation of conducting a regulated activity  that
12    may  impact  the affected property, such as cutting, filling,
13    pumping of water, and earth movement.
14        "Committee"  means   the   Illinois   Wetlands   Advisory
15    Committee.
16        "Contiguous"  means  a  wetland that is delineated on the
17    affected property and extends beyond  the  boundary  of  that
18    property.
19        "Converted   wetland"  means  a  wetland  that  has  been
20    drained, dredged, filled, leveled, or  otherwise  manipulated
21    (including  the  removal  of woody vegetation or any activity
22    that  results  in  impairing  or  reducing   the   flow   and
23    circulation  of  water)  for  the  purpose  of or to have the
24    effect of making possible the production of  an  agricultural
25    commodity  without  further  application of the manipulations
26    described herein if: (i) such production would not have  been
27    possible but for such action, and (ii) before such action the
28    land was a wetland, farmed wetland, or farmed-wetland pasture
29    and  was  neither  highly  erodible  land nor highly erodible
30    cropland.
31        "Corps of Engineers" or "COE"  means  the  United  States
32    Army Corps of Engineers.
33        "Cypress    swamp"    means    forested,   permanent   or
34    semi-permanent bodies  of  water,  with  species  assemblages
 
                            -3-      LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    characteristic  of  the  Gulf and Southeastern Coastal Plains
 2    and including  bald  cypress,  and  that  are  restricted  to
 3    extreme southern Illinois.
 4        "Delegation  agreement" means a written document executed
 5    between the COE and the Agency that authorizes the Agency  to
 6    assume  all  of  the  COE's authority under the federal Clean
 7    Water Act regarding activities in wetlands.  Such  delegation
 8    agreement  shall  include federal funding sufficient to allow
 9    the Agency to  carry  out  its  responsibilities  under  such
10    agreement.
11        "Director"   means   the   Director   of   the   Illinois
12    Environmental Protection Agency.
13        "Fen"  means  a  wetland  fed by an alkaline water source
14    such as a calcareous spring or seep.
15        "Floristic quality index" means an index calculated using
16    the  Floristic  Quality  Assessment   Method   of   assessing
17    floristic integrity or quality.
18        "Incidental   fallback"  means  the  redeposit  of  small
19    volumes of dredged material that is incidental to  excavation
20    activity in waters of the State when such material falls back
21    to substantially the same place as the initial removal.
22        "Incidentally  created"  means created as a result of any
23    normal or routine activity coincidental with the  conduct  of
24    legitimate  business  enterprises,  except  that a wetland or
25    depression created as mitigation for any  activity  affecting
26    wetlands is not "incidentally created".
27        "Isolated  wetlands" means those areas that are inundated
28    or saturated by surface or ground water  at  a  frequency  or
29    duration   sufficient  to  support,  and  that  under  normal
30    circumstances  do  support,  a   prevalence   of   vegetation
31    typically  adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, and
32    that are not regulated under the federal Clean Water Act  (33
33    U.S.C. 1251-1387).
34        "Panne"  means  wet  interdunal  flats  located near Lake
 
                            -4-      LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    Michigan.
 2        "Person"    means     an     individual,     partnership,
 3    co-partnership,  firm,  company,  limited  liability company,
 4    corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, estate,
 5    political subdivision, state agency, or other  legal  entity,
 6    or their legal representative, agent, or assign.
 7        "Prior  converted  cropland"  means  a  converted wetland
 8    where the conversion occurred prior to December 23, 1985,  an
 9    agricultural commodity has been produced at least once before
10    December 23, 1985, and as of December 23, 1985, the converted
11    wetland   did  not  support  woody  vegetation  and  met  the
12    following hydrologic criteria: (i) inundation was  less  than
13    15  consecutive  days during the growing season or 10 percent
14    of the growing season, whichever is less, in most  years  (50
15    percent  chance  or  more);  and (ii) if a pothole, playa, or
16    pocosin, ponding was less than 7 consecutive days during  the
17    growing  season in most years (50 percent chance or more) and
18    saturation was less  than  14  consecutive  days  during  the
19    growing season most years (50 percent chance or more).
20        "Regulated  activity"  means  the discharge of dredged or
21    fill material into a wetland, the drainage of a  wetland,  or
22    excavation  of a wetland that results in more than incidental
23    fallback.
24        "Threatened or endangered species"  means  those  species
25    that  have been designated as threatened or endangered by the
26    Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board pursuant to  the
27    Illinois  Endangered Species Protection Act and those species
28    that have been designated as threatened or endangered by  the
29    U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service pursuant to the Endangered
30    Species Act (35 U.S.C. 1531-1544).
31        "Upland" means  non-wetland,  when  used  to  describe  a
32    particular  land  use, or non-hydric, when used to describe a
33    soil type.
34        "Wetlands"  means  those  areas  that  are  inundated  or
 
                            -5-      LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    saturated by surface  or  ground  water  at  a  frequency  or
 2    duration   sufficient  to  support,  and  that  under  normal
 3    circumstances  do  support,  a   prevalence   of   vegetation
 4    typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.

 5        Section 15.  Exemptions.
 6          (a)  As  long  as  they  do  not  have as their purpose
 7    bringing a wetland into a use to which it was not  previously
 8    subject,  the  following  are  not prohibited by or otherwise
 9    subject to regulation under this Act:
10             (1)  Normal  farming,  silviculture,  and   ranching
11        activities,  such as plowing, seeding, cultivating, minor
12        drainage, harvesting for the production of  food,  fiber,
13        and   forest   products,   or   upland   soil  and  water
14        conservation practices.
15             (2)  Maintenance, including emergency reconstruction
16        of  recently  damaged  parts,  of  currently  serviceable
17        structures, such as dikes, dams, levees, groins,  riprap,
18        breakwaters,   causeways,   and   bridge   abutments   or
19        approaches, and transportation structures.
20             (3)  Construction  or  maintenance  of farm or stock
21        ponds  or  irrigation  ditches  or  the  maintenance   of
22        drainage ditches.
23             (4)  Construction  of temporary sedimentation basins
24        on  a  construction  site  that  does  not  include   any
25        regulated activities within a wetland.
26             (5)  Construction  or  maintenance  of  farm  roads,
27        forest  roads,  or  temporary  roads  for  moving  mining
28        equipment,   where   such   roads   are  constructed  and
29        maintained, in accordance with best management practices,
30        to assure that flow and circulation patterns and chemical
31        and biological characteristics of  the  wetland  are  not
32        impaired,  that  the reach of the wetland is not reduced,
33        and that any adverse effect on  the  aquatic  environment
 
                            -6-      LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1        will be otherwise minimized.
 2             (6)  Unless  they are to be conducted in Class IA or
 3        Class  IB  wetlands,  activities  for  the  placement  of
 4        pilings for linear projects, such  as  bridges,  elevated
 5        walkways, and power line structures.
 6             (7)  Installation    and   maintenance   of   signs,
 7        lighting, and fences and the mowing of vegetation  within
 8        existing maintained rights-of-way.
 9             (8)  Repair  and  maintenance of existing buildings,
10        facilities, lawns, and ornamental plantings.
11             (9)  Construction projects that  have  obtained  any
12        necessary   building   permits   from   applicable  local
13        jurisdictions prior to the effective date of this Act.
14             (10)  Application of media, including deicing media,
15        on the surface of existing roads for purposes  of  public
16        safety.
17             (11)  Non-surface-disturbing       surveys       and
18        investigations  for  construction, planning, maintenance,
19        or location of environmental resources.
20             (12)  Wetland management practices on lands that are
21        used primarily for the management of waterfowl  or  other
22        migratory  water  birds  or  furbearers if such practices
23        took place on these lands prior to the effective date  of
24        this  Act.  This  includes vegetation management that may
25        include  the  use  of  fire,  chemical,   or   mechanical
26        (hydro-axe,  bulldozer,  rome disk, or similar equipment)
27        removal of invading woody  or  herbaceous  vegetation  to
28        maintain a preferred successional stage. Use of chemicals
29        must  be  by a certified applicator and chemicals must be
30        registered for appropriate use.  Clearing or  removal  of
31        woody  vegetation  shall  be  limited  to  4-inch  dbh or
32        smaller material  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  or
33        maintaining  the  successional  stage  of  a wetland as a
34        herbaceous wetland vegetated by native moist soil  plants
 
                            -7-      LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1        or selected wildlife food plants.
 2        (b)  Any   exemption  authorized  by  and  pertaining  to
 3    wetlands that are subject to  regulation  under  the  federal
 4    Clean  Water  Act  (33  U.S.C.  1251-1387)  or  rules adopted
 5    thereunder shall also be an exemption for the purpose of this
 6    Act.
 7        (c)  The following are not wetlands for purposes of  this
 8    Act:
 9             (1)  Waste  treatment  systems,  including treatment
10        ponds or lagoons, designed to comply with  water  quality
11        standards  of  the  State  or  to  remediate  a  site  in
12        accordance  with  an  approved Agency program, and former
13        waste treatment systems that have ceased operations  less
14        than  33  years before the date the permit application is
15        received by the Agency or that are undergoing remediation
16        in accordance with an approved Agency program.
17             (2)  A drainage or irrigation ditch.
18             (3)  An  artificially  irrigated  area  that   would
19        revert to upland if the irrigation ceased.
20             (4)  An   artificial   lake   or   pond  created  by
21        excavating or diking upland to collect and  retain  water
22        for  the  primary  purpose of stock watering, irrigation,
23        wildlife, fire control, or ornamentation  or  landscaping
24        or as a settling pond.
25             (5)  Except  for wetlands created pursuant to mining
26        activities described in item (7), an incidentally created
27        water-filled depression,  unless  (i)  ownership  of  the
28        property  containing  the depression has been transferred
29        away  from  the  party  who  incidentally   created   the
30        water-filled  depression,  (ii)  the  ownership  transfer
31        occurred more than 12 months prior to the commencement of
32        an  otherwise  regulated  activity,  (iii) the use of the
33        property has changed from the use that existed  when  the
34        property  was transferred from the party who incidentally
 
                            -8-      LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1        created the water-filled depression, (iv)  the  resulting
 2        body  of  water  meets  the  definition  in this Act of a
 3        wetland, (v)  the  ownership  of  the  property  has  not
 4        transferred  from  the party who created the incidentally
 5        created water-filled depression, and (vi) the  depression
 6        was  not  created  more than 33 years before the date the
 7        permit application is received by the Agency.
 8             (6)  Stormwater   or   spill   management   systems,
 9        including retention and  detention  basins,  ditches  and
10        channels,  and  former  stormwater  or  spill  management
11        systems  that  have  ceased operations less than 33 years
12        before the date the permit application is received by the
13        Agency or that are undergoing remediation  in  accordance
14        with an approved Agency program.
15             (7)  Waters that undergo mining activities conducted
16        pursuant  to  a federal, State, regional, or local permit
17        that requires the reclamation of the affected wetlands if
18        the reclamation will be  completed  within  a  reasonable
19        period of time after completion of activities at the site
20        and,  upon  completion  of such reclamation, the wetlands
21        will  support  functions  generally  equivalent  to   the
22        functions  supported  by  the  wetlands  at  the  time of
23        commencement of such activities.
24             (8)  Prior converted cropland.

25        Section 20.  Applicability. The requirements of this  Act
26    shall  apply to all isolated wetlands as that term is defined
27    in this Act. In the event that an isolated wetland ceases  to
28    meet that definition because it becomes subject to regulation
29    under  the  federal  Clean  Water  Act,  the wetland shall no
30    longer be subject to the provisions of this Act.
31        On and after July 1, 2007, the requirements of  this  Act
32    shall  apply to wetlands, if and only if by that date the COE
33    has entered into a  delegation  agreement  with  the  Agency;
 
                            -9-      LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    provided,  however,  that  the  provisions  of this Act shall
 2    continue in full force and  effect  as  applied  to  isolated
 3    wetlands.  The  delegation  agreement  shall  provide,  at  a
 4    minimum,  that all delineation, classification, notification,
 5    and permitting requirements shall be at least as stringent as
 6    those contained in this Act.

 7        Section   25.  Wetland    delineation;    classification;
 8    notification; permits.
 9        (a)  The  requirements of this Section apply beginning on
10    the effective date of the rules required under Section 40  or
11    one  year  from  the  effective  date  of this Act, whichever
12    occurs earlier. The procedures and  regulatory  criteria  for
13    the delineation, classification, notification, and permitting
14    for  wetlands  shall  be  conducted  in  accordance  with the
15    provisions of this Section.
16        (b)  Any  person  who  intends  to  conduct  a  regulated
17    activity within the State may request  a  determination  from
18    the Agency as to the existence, location, and surface area of
19    any  wetlands  on  or  contiguous  to  the affected property.
20    Nothing in this Section shall require the person to seek such
21    a determination,  however,  failure  to  seek  and  obtain  a
22    determination  shall  not be a defense against a violation of
23    this Act.
24        The person seeking  a  determination  shall  provide  the
25    Agency   with   sufficient   information  to  render  such  a
26    determination.  The  information  shall  include  a   wetland
27    delineation   made   in  accordance  with  the  COE  Wetlands
28    Delineation Manual, Technical Report Y-87-1.  Delineation  of
29    the  portion  of  a  contiguous  wetland  not on the affected
30    property shall be made to the extent reasonably possible, and
31    methods other than  physical  on-site  evaluations  shall  be
32    considered by the Agency.
33        The  Agency  shall  provide notice to the applicant as to
 
                            -10-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    whether a  submitted  application  is  complete.  Unless  the
 2    Agency   notifies  the  applicant  that  the  application  is
 3    incomplete within 15 days of receipt of the application,  the
 4    application  shall be deemed complete. The Agency may request
 5    additional information as needed  to  make  the  completeness
 6    determination. The Agency shall, within 30 days after receipt
 7    of  a complete determination request, provide the person with
 8    a determination as to the existence,  location,  and  surface
 9    area  of  wetlands  located  on or contiguous to the affected
10    property.
11        If the Agency determines that there are  no  wetlands  on
12    the  affected  property,  any  otherwise  regulated  activity
13    conducted  on  the  property  shall  not  be  subject  to the
14    provisions of this Act.
15        If the Agency  determines  that  there  is  one  or  more
16    wetlands  on  or  contiguous  to  the  affected property, the
17    person may apply to the Agency  for  classification  of  such
18    wetlands.
19        Any  determination  of a wetland by the Agency is a final
20    decision for purposes of appeal to the Board.
21        (c)  If a person intends to conduct a regulated activity,
22    the person may, prior to commencing the  regulated  activity,
23    request  that  the wetland be classified as a Class IA, Class
24    IB, Class II, or Class III wetland  in  accordance  with  the
25    provisions  of  this  Section.  Nothing in this Section shall
26    require the person to seek such a classification, however any
27    wetlands not so  classified  shall  be  considered  Class  IA
28    wetlands for purposes of this Act.
29        The  person  seeking  a  classification shall provide the
30    Agency  with  sufficient  information  to   render   such   a
31    classification.  The  information  shall  include  a  wetland
32    delineation   made   in  accordance  with  the  COE  Wetlands
33    Delineation Manual, Technical Report Y-87-1.
34        Unless the Agency notifies the applicant that the request
 
                            -11-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    for classification is incomplete within 15 days after receipt
 2    of the request, the application shall be deemed complete.
 3        The Agency may request additional information  as  needed
 4    to  make  the  completeness  determination. The Agency shall,
 5    within 30  days  after  receipt  of  classification  request,
 6    provide  the person with a classification of wetlands located
 7    on or contiguous to the  affected  property.  If  the  Agency
 8    fails  to  provide the person with a classification within 30
 9    days, the classification requested by  the  person  shall  be
10    deemed granted.
11        The Agency shall classify a wetland as:
12             (1)  A  Class  IA  wetland  if  and  only if (A) the
13        wetland is or encompasses a bog; (B) the  wetland  is  or
14        encompasses  a  fen;  (C) the wetland is or encompasses a
15        panne; (D) the wetland is or encompasses a cypress swamp;
16        or (E)  a  threatened  or  endangered  species  has  been
17        identified  in  the wetland, provided that a wetland will
18        not be  classified  as  Class  IA  based  solely  on  the
19        presence  of  an  endangered  plant  and the owner of the
20        wetland authorizes the taking of that plant  pursuant  to
21        the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act.
22             (2)  A  Class  IB wetland if and only if the wetland
23        (A) is  or  encompasses  an  ADID  site;  or  (B)  has  a
24        Floristic Quality Index (FQI) that is equal to or greater
25        than  20  or  a mean coefficient of conservatism (Mean C)
26        equal to or greater than 3.5,  determined  in  accordance
27        with rules adopted by the Agency.
28             (3)  A  Class  II wetland if and only if the wetland
29        is not a Class IA, Class IB, or Class III wetland.
30             (4)  A Class III wetland if  and  only  if  (A)  the
31        wetland  is  not  a Class IA or Class IB wetland, and (B)
32        the total  size  of  the  wetland,  including  contiguous
33        areas,  is  (i)  less  than one-quarter acre or (ii) less
34        than one-half acre if the wetland is  in  a  county  that
 
                            -12-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1        does   not   have   authority   to  establish  stormwater
 2        management  programs  under  Section  5-1062  or  Section
 3        5-1062.1 of the Counties Code.
 4        Any classification of a wetland by the Agency is a  final
 5    decision for purposes of appeal to the Board.
 6        (d)  Subject  to  the  provisions of Section 35 regarding
 7    general permits,  no  person  may  conduct  or  cause  to  be
 8    conducted  a regulated activity within or affecting a wetland
 9    in such a manner that the biologic or hydrologic integrity of
10    the wetland is impaired within the scope of this Act,  except
11    in  accordance  with the terms of an individual permit issued
12    by the Agency or authorization to proceed as applicable under
13    this Section.
14             (1)  Class IA.
15                  (A)  A permit to conduct a  regulated  activity
16             affecting  a  Class  IA  wetland within the scope of
17             this  Act  shall  be  granted  if  documentation  is
18             submitted  that  demonstrates  that   avoidance   of
19             impacts   to   a  Class  IA  wetland  precludes  the
20             reasonable economic use of  the  entire  parcel  and
21             that   no   practicable   alternative   to   wetland
22             modification exists.
23                  (B)  No  permit  under  this  item  (1)  may be
24             issued by the Agency without  a  public  notice  and
25             opportunity  for  public  hearing being afforded. In
26             the event that an affected party requests  a  public
27             hearing, a public hearing shall be held.
28                  (C)  Wetland  losses  under this item (1) shall
29             be mitigated at a ratio of no greater than 3.5:1 and
30             shall be mitigated  in  kind  and  within  the  same
31             watershed  as  the  impacted  area restoring, to the
32             maximum degree  practicable  as  determined  by  the
33             Agency,  both  the type and functions of the wetland
34             that will be affected by  the  regulatory  activity.
 
                            -13-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1             When the type and functions of the wetland that will
 2             be  affected  by  the  activity cannot be adequately
 3             restored to the maximum degree  practicable  by  the
 4             ratio  allowed in this paragraph, the Agency may, on
 5             a case-by-case basis, increase this ratio  based  on
 6             site-specific  criteria to be developed by rule. The
 7             mitigation shall be consistent with rules adopted by
 8             the Board and may consist of actual  replacement  or
 9             participation  in  a  mitigation  banking program or
10             other compensation program approved by the Agency.
11             (2)  Class IB.
12                  (A)  A permit to conduct a  regulated  activity
13             affecting  a  Class  IB  wetland within the scope of
14             this  Act  shall  be  granted  if  documentation  is
15             submitted  that  demonstrates  that  no  practicable
16             alternative to wetland modification exists.
17                  (B)  No permit  under  this  item  (2)  may  be
18             issued  by  the  Agency  without a public notice and
19             opportunity for public hearing  being  afforded.  In
20             the  event  that an affected party requests a public
21             hearing, a public hearing shall be held.
22                  (C)  Wetland losses under this item  (2)  shall
23             be  mitigated  at a ratio of no greater than 3:1 and
24             shall be mitigated  in  kind  and  within  the  same
25             watershed  as  the  impacted  area restoring, to the
26             maximum degree  practicable  as  determined  by  the
27             Agency,  both  the type and functions of the wetland
28             that will be affected by  the  regulatory  activity.
29             When the type and functions of the wetland that will
30             be  affected  by  the  activity cannot be adequately
31             restored to the maximum degree  practicable  by  the
32             ratio  allowed in this paragraph, the Agency may, on
33             a case-by-case basis, increase this ratio  based  on
34             site-specific  criteria to be developed by rule. The
 
                            -14-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1             mitigation shall be consistent with rules adopted by
 2             the Board and may consist of actual  replacement  or
 3             participation  in  a  mitigation  banking program or
 4             other compensation program approved by the Agency.
 5             (3)  Class II.
 6                  (A)  A permit to conduct a  regulated  activity
 7             affecting  a  Class  II  wetland within the scope of
 8             this  Act  shall  be  granted  if  documentation  is
 9             submitted demonstrating that a minimization plan  to
10             minimize  or alleviate the impact on the wetland has
11             been   developed   and   applied    as    reasonably
12             appropriate.
13                  (B)  No  permit  under  this  item  (3)  may be
14             issued by the Agency without  a  public  notice  and
15             opportunity  for  public  hearing being afforded. In
16             the event that an affected party requests  a  public
17             hearing,  the  Agency  may  at its discretion hold a
18             public hearing on the proposed regulated activity.
19                  (C)  Wetland losses under this item  (3)  shall
20             be  mitigated  at  a ratio of no greater than 1.5:1,
21             and shall be mitigated in kind and within  the  same
22             watershed  as  the  impacted  area restoring, to the
23             maximum degree  practicable  as  determined  by  the
24             Agency,  both  the type and functions of the wetland
25             that will be affected by  the  regulatory  activity.
26             When the type and functions of the wetland that will
27             be  affected  by  the  activity cannot be adequately
28             restored to the maximum degree  practicable  by  the
29             ratio  allowed in this paragraph, the Agency may, on
30             a case-by-case basis, increase this ratio  based  on
31             site-specific  criteria to be developed by rule. The
32             mitigation shall be consistent with rules adopted by
33             the Board and may  consist  of  actual  replacement,
34             participation  in  a  mitigation  banking program or
 
                            -15-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1             other compensation programs approved by the  Agency,
 2             education or research programs, or other appropriate
 3             programs.
 4             (4)  Class III.
 5                  (A)  No  regulated  activity covered under this
 6             Act  that  will  impact  an  area  that   has   been
 7             classified  as a Class III wetland may be undertaken
 8             without prior notification to the Agency.
 9                  (B)  The  notification  shall  include  (i)   a
10             sketch that reasonably depicts the area that will be
11             affected   by   the  regulated  activity,  including
12             wetland and water boundaries for the areas  affected
13             and  the  existing  land uses and structures; (ii) a
14             description of the proposed activity, including  its
15             purpose;  (iii)  a description of any public benefit
16             to be derived from the proposed  project;  and  (iv)
17             the  names  and  addresses of adjacent landowners as
18             determined by the current tax assessment roles.
19                  (C)  Upon receipt of a notification of  intent,
20             the  Agency shall verify that the regulated activity
21             will affect a wetland that it previously  classified
22             as Class III.  If the Agency so verifies, the Agency
23             shall send the person, within 30 days of the receipt
24             of  the  notification,  a  response stating that the
25             regulated activity  may  proceed.    If  the  Agency
26             cannot  so verify, the Agency shall send the person,
27             within 30 days of the receipt of the notification, a
28             response stating that  no  classification  has  been
29             made  by  the Agency or that a classification of IA,
30             IB, or II was made and that the  regulated  activity
31             may  not  proceed  until  either a classification is
32             made pursuant  to  this  Section,  or  a  permit  is
33             obtained,  as  applicable.  Failure of the Agency to
34             respond to a notification  shall  be  deemed  as  an
 
                            -16-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1             authorization to proceed.
 2                  (D)  No   permit   shall   be  required  for  a
 3             regulated activity covered under this Act that  will
 4             impact  an  area that has been classified as a Class
 5             III wetland.
 6        (e)  Within  15  days  of  the  receipt   of   a   permit
 7    application,  the Agency shall determine if an application is
 8    complete. To be deemed complete, an application must  provide
 9    all  information,  as  requested in Agency application forms,
10    sufficient to evaluate the application. The information shall
11    include, at a minimum, the following:
12             (1)  A sketch that reasonably depicts the area  that
13        will  be  affected  by  the regulated activity, including
14        wetland and water boundaries for the areas  affected  and
15        the existing land uses and structures.
16             (2)  A   description   of   the  proposed  activity,
17        including its purpose.
18             (3)  A description  of  any  public  benefit  to  be
19        derived from the proposed project.
20             (4)  The  names and addresses of adjacent landowners
21        as determined by the current tax assessment roles.
22             (5)  A wetland delineation made in  accordance  with
23        the  COE  Wetlands  Delineation  Manual, Technical Report
24        Y-87-1.
25        The Agency application forms shall be finalized and  made
26    available  prior  to  the  date  on  which any application is
27    required. The Agency shall provide notice to the applicant as
28    to whether a submitted application is  complete.  Unless  the
29    Agency   notifies  the  applicant  that  the  application  is
30    incomplete within 20 days of receipt of the application,  the
31    application  shall be deemed complete. The Agency may request
32    additional information as needed  to  make  the  completeness
33    determination.  The  Agency  may,  to the extent practicable,
34    provide  the  applicant  with  a  reasonable  opportunity  to
 
                            -17-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    correct  deficiencies  prior  to  a  final  determination  of
 2    completeness. Within 90 days after the receipt of a  complete
 3    application  for  permit,  the  Agency  shall issue, deny, or
 4    issue with conditions a permit. If a public hearing  is  held
 5    on the application, however, this period shall be extended by
 6    45 days.
 7        (f)  The  Agency  shall  not issue any permit pursuant to
 8    this  Section  unless  the  Agency  has  certified  that  the
 9    proposed activity will not cause or contribute to a violation
10    of any State water  quality  standard.  The  Agency  will  be
11    deemed  to have certified that the proposed activity will not
12    cause or contribute to a violation of any State water quality
13    standard if it has not declined  in  writing  to  so  certify
14    within  80  days of the filing of the application, unless the
15    Agency  has  requested  that  the   applicant   supply   more
16    information  relevant  to assessing the water quality impacts
17    of the proposed activity.
18        (g)  Any  person  may  submit  concurrent  requests   for
19    determination  and  delineation, classification, and a permit
20    application or provision of notification.  The  Agency  shall
21    act on such combined requests concurrently in accordance with
22    expedited  permitting  procedures  proposed by the Agency and
23    adopted by the Board.
24        (h)  Any  person  may  submit  an  application   for   an
25    after-the-fact  permit  to  be issued under this Act, and the
26    Agency is authorized to issue such an  after-the-fact  permit
27    if   it   determines  that  the  activities  covered  by  the
28    after-the-fact  permit  application   were   undertaken   and
29    conducted  in response to emergency circumstances where there
30    may be an imminent threat to persons, public  infrastructure,
31    personal property, or uninterrupted utility service that made
32    it   impracticable   for   the   applicant  to  obtain  prior
33    authorization under this Act to undertake  and  conduct  such
34    activities.  The  applicant  shall be required to demonstrate
 
                            -18-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    that it provided  notice  to  the  Agency  of  the  emergency
 2    circumstances  as  soon  as reasonably possible following the
 3    discovery of such circumstances.
 4        (i)  The  Board  shall  adopt  rules  to  carry  out  the
 5    provisions of this Section in accordance with Section  40  of
 6    this Act.

 7        Section  30.  Surety.  The  Board may provide by rule for
 8    any requirements regarding bonds  or  letters  of  credit  in
 9    favor of the State, including conditions sufficient to secure
10    compliance with conditions and limitations of a permit.

11        Section 35.  General permits.
12        (a)  Notwithstanding  Section  25, any person who intends
13    to conduct a regulated activity within the State may do so in
14    accordance with a general permit issued by the  Agency  under
15    this Section.
16        (b)  Permits for all categories of activities, subject to
17    the  same  permit  limitations  and  conditions  that are the
18    subject of a nationwide permit issued by the COE,  in  effect
19    on  the  date  of  the  enactment  of this Act are adopted as
20    general permits covering regulated activities subject to this
21    Act.
22        (c)  The Agency may adopt general permits covering  other
23    activities   that   would  be  subject  to  the  same  permit
24    limitations  and  conditions  if  it  determines   that   the
25    activities  in  that category will cause only minimal adverse
26    environmental effects when performed  separately,  will  have
27    only  minimal  cumulative  adverse effect on the environment,
28    will not cause or contribute to a violation  of  State  water
29    quality  standards  when  performed separately, and will have
30    only a minimal cumulative adverse effect  on  water  quality.
31    The  Agency  may  prescribe the best management practices for
32    any general permit issued  under  this  Section.  The  Agency
 
                            -19-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    shall   consider  any  optional  mitigation  proposed  by  an
 2    applicant   in   determining   whether   the   net    adverse
 3    environmental  effects  of  a proposed regulated activity are
 4    minimal.  Specifically,  the  Agency  must  adopt  a  general
 5    permit for:
 6             (1)  the construction or maintenance of access roads
 7        for  utility  lines, substations, or related equipment or
 8        facilities; and
 9             (2)  activities for the purpose  of  preserving  and
10        enhancing   aviation  safety  or  preventing  an  airport
11        hazard.
12        (d)  No general permit adopted under this  Section  shall
13    be  for  a  period of more than 5 years after the date of its
14    adoption and the general permit may be revoked or modified by
15    the Agency if, after  opportunity  for  public  hearing,  the
16    Agency  determines  that  the  activities  authorized  by the
17    general permit have an adverse  impact  on  the  environment,
18    cause  or  contribute  to  a violation of State water quality
19    standards, or are more appropriately authorized by individual
20    permits.
21        (e)  Compliance with the terms  of  the  general  permits
22    shall be deemed compliance with the provisions of this Act if
23    the  applicant  (i)  files  a  notice of intent to be covered
24    under the provisions of the general permit in accordance with
25    rules adopted pursuant to this Act and (ii) files any reports
26    required by the general permit.
27        (f)  The Agency shall respond to a notice  of  intent  to
28    proceed  under  general  permits  issued  under  this Section
29    within 30 days after the Agency receives the notice.  In  the
30    event  that the Agency fails to respond to a notice of intent
31    to proceed within 30 days as required by this subsection (f),
32    the person  submitting  the  notice  shall  be  deemed  fully
33    authorized  to conduct the activities described in the notice
34    under the terms and  conditions  of  the  applicable  general
 
                            -20-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    permit.

 2        Section   40.  Illinois   Wetlands   Advisory  Committee;
 3    duties; rules.
 4        (a)  There is hereby established  the  Illinois  Wetlands
 5    Advisory  Committee consisting of 13 members appointed by the
 6    Governor.  The Committee shall  include  5  members  selected
 7    from among the following 10 organizations:
 8             (1)  The Illinois State Chamber of Commerce.
 9             (2)  The Illinois Association of Realtors.
10             (3)  The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois.
11             (4)  The Consulting Engineers Council of Illinois.
12             (5)  The    Illinois    Association   of   Aggregate
13        Producers.
14             (6)  The Illinois Association of Home Builders.
15             (7)  The Illinois Energy Association.
16             (8)  The Illinois Manufacturers Association.
17             (9)  The    National    Solid    Waste    Management
18        Association.
19             (10)  The Illinois Farm Bureau.
20        The Committee shall include 3 members selected  from  the
21    membership  of  environmental  and conservation groups in the
22    State.
23        The  Committee  shall  include  2  persons   representing
24    counties exercising authority under Section 5-1062 or Section
25    5-1062.1   of  the  Counties  Code  to  establish  stormwater
26    management programs.
27        The Committee shall include 3 other members as determined
28    by the Governor.
29        Members of the Committee may organize themselves as  they
30    deem necessary and shall serve without compensation.
31        (b)  The  Committee  shall  review,  evaluate,  and  make
32    recommendations   (i)   regarding   State  laws,  rules,  and
33    procedures that relate to this Act and (ii) relating  to  the



 
                            -21-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    State's efforts to implement this Act.
 2        (c)  Within  6  months  after  the effective date of this
 3    Act, the Agency, after consideration of  the  recommendations
 4    of  the  Committee,  shall  propose  to  the  Board any rules
 5    required by this Act prescribing procedures and standards for
 6    its administration. Within 6 months of the proposal  of  such
 7    rules  to  the  Board,  the  Board  shall  adopt, pursuant to
 8    Sections 27 and 28 of the Environmental  Protection  Act  and
 9    any  rules adopted thereunder, rules that are consistent with
10    this Act. Nothing in this Act shall preclude,  at  any  time,
11    the  recommendation, proposal, or adoption of any other rules
12    deemed necessary for the orderly implementation of this Act.
13        (d)  The Committee shall develop  a  plan  for  Statewide
14    wetlands  protection  and shall submit the plan to the State.
15    The State shall seek to obtain a delegation of COE  authority
16    under  Section  404  of  the  federal Clean Water Act for all
17    wetlands in Illinois on or before July 1, 2007, in accordance
18    with Section 20 of this Act.

19        Section 45.  Appeal of final  agency  decision;  judicial
20    review.
21        (a)  If  the  Agency rejects a proposed determination and
22    delineation, refuses to approve a classification, or approves
23    a classification other than that supplied by  the  applicant,
24    or  refuses to grant or grants with conditions a permit under
25    Sections 25 or 35 of this Act, the applicant may,  within  35
26    days  after  receipt  of the decision, petition for a hearing
27    before the Board to  contest  the  decision  of  the  Agency.
28    However,  the 35-day period for petitioning for a hearing may
29    be extended by the applicant for a  period  of  time  not  to
30    exceed  90  days by written notice provided to the Board from
31    the applicant and the Agency within the initial  period.  The
32    applicant  and  the  Agency  must  jointly file a request for
33    extension within 35 days after the date  of  service  of  the
 
                            -22-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    Agency's final decision. The joint request may seek an appeal
 2    period not exceeding 125 days from the date of service of the
 3    Agency's  final  decision to file a petition for review under
 4    this Section. The Board shall publish notice in  a  newspaper
 5    of  general  circulation  in  that county where the regulated
 6    activity at issue is located for a period  of  21  days.  The
 7    Agency  shall  appear  as  respondent  in the hearing. At the
 8    hearing the rules prescribed in Section 32 and subsection (a)
 9    of Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act shall apply
10    and the burden of proof shall be on the petitioner.
11        (b)  The applicant or the Agency, when adversely affected
12    by a final order or determination of the  Board,  may  obtain
13    judicial  review  by  filing  a petition for review within 35
14    days from the date that a copy of the order  or  other  final
15    action  sought  to  be  reviewed  was  served  upon the party
16    affected by the order or other final Board action  complained
17    of, under the provisions of the Administrative Review Law and
18    the  rules adopted pursuant thereto, except that review shall
19    be afforded directly in the appellate court for the  district
20    in  which  the  cause  of action arose and not in the circuit
21    court.

22        Section 50.  Investigation; enforcement.
23        (a)  In accordance with constitutional  limitations,  the
24    Agency  shall have authority to enter at all reasonable times
25    upon any private  or  public  property  for  the  purpose  of
26    inspecting and investigating to ascertain possible violations
27    of this Act or of rules adopted hereunder or permits or terms
28    or conditions thereof.
29        (b)  The  Agency  shall conduct investigations and pursue
30    enforcement of alleged  violations  of  this  Act,  any  rule
31    adopted pursuant to this Act, a permit granted by the Agency,
32    or  a  term or condition of a permit as prescribed in Section
33    30 and subsections (a), (b), and (c) of  Section  31  of  the
 
                            -23-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    Environmental  Protection  Act and any rules adopted pursuant
 2    to this Act.
 3        (c)  The Agency shall have the  duty  to  administer  the
 4    permit  and  certification  systems  as may be established by
 5    this Act or by rules adopted pursuant to this Act.
 6        (d)  In hearings before the Board to  enforce  provisions
 7    of this Act, the burden shall be on the Agency to show either
 8    that  the respondent has violated or threatens to violate any
 9    provision of this Act or any rule adopted  pursuant  to  this
10    Act  or  a  permit  or term or condition of a permit. If such
11    proof has been made, the burden shall be on the respondent to
12    show that compliance with the Board's rules would  impose  an
13    arbitrary or unreasonable hardship.
14        (e)  Hearings in enforcement proceedings shall be held in
15    accordance  with  Section  32 of the Environmental Protection
16    Act and any rules adopted thereunder.
17        (f)  Board determinations and orders  shall  be  made  in
18    accordance  with  Section  33 of the Environmental Protection
19    Act and any rules adopted thereunder.
20        (g)  The civil penalties provided for in this Section may
21    be recovered in a civil action, which may be instituted in  a
22    court  of competent jurisdiction or by determination or order
23    of the Board. The State's Attorney of the county in which the
24    alleged violation occurred, or the Attorney General, may,  at
25    the  request  of  the  Agency  or  on  his or her own motion,
26    institute a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction
27    to recover civil penalties  and  an  injunction  to  restrain
28    violations of the Act.
29        (h)  Any person who violates any provision of this Act or
30    any  rule adopted pursuant to this Act, or any permit or term
31    or condition thereof, or that violates any  determination  or
32    order  of the Board pursuant to this Act, shall be liable for
33    a  civil  penalty  of  not  to  exceed  $10,000  per  day  of
34    violation; such penalties may, upon order of the Board  or  a
 
                            -24-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    court  of  competent  jurisdiction,  be  made  payable to the
 2    Environmental Protection Trust Fund, to be used in accordance
 3    with the provisions of  the  Environmental  Protection  Trust
 4    Fund Act.
 5        (i)  In  determining  the appropriate civil penalty to be
 6    imposed under  this  Section,  the  Board  is  authorized  to
 7    consider  any  matters of record in mitigation or aggravation
 8    of penalty,  including  but  not  limited  to  the  following
 9    factors:
10             (1)  The duration and gravity of the violation.
11             (2)  The presence or absence of due diligence on the
12        part   of   the  person  in  attempting  to  comply  with
13        requirements of this Act and rules adopted  hereunder  or
14        to secure relief therefrom as provided by this Act.
15             (3)  Any  economic  benefits  accrued  by the person
16        because of delay in compliance with requirements.
17             (4)  The amount of monetary penalty which will serve
18        to  deter  further  violations  by  the  person  and   to
19        otherwise aid in enhancing voluntary compliance with this
20        Act  by the person and other persons similarly subject to
21        the Act.
22             (5)  The number, proximity in time, and  gravity  of
23        previously  adjudicated  violations  of  this  Act by the
24        person.
25        (j)  A violation of any provision of this Act or any rule
26    adopted pursuant to this  Act,  or  any  permit  or  term  or
27    condition  thereof,  or any violation of any determination or
28    order of the Board pursuant to this Act, shall not be  deemed
29    a criminal offense.
30        (k)  All  final  orders imposing civil penalties pursuant
31    to this Section shall prescribe the time for payment of  such
32    penalties.  If  any  such penalty is not paid within the time
33    prescribed, interest on the penalty at the rate set forth  in
34    subsection (a) of Section 1003 of the Illinois Income Tax Act
 
                            -25-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    shall  be  paid  for  the period from the date payment is due
 2    until the date payment is received. However, if the time  for
 3    payment  is stayed during the pendency of an appeal, interest
 4    shall not accrue during such stay.

 5        Section 55.  Fees.
 6        (a)  Any  person  seeking  a  permit,  coverage  under  a
 7    general permit, or filing a notification of activities to  be
 8    conducted  on a Class III wetland from the Agency shall pay a
 9    fee to the Agency at the time of  filing  an  application  or
10    notification. The following fee amounts shall apply:
11             (1)  The  fee  for a Class IA or Class IB wetland is
12        $400 if the site is less than 1 acre; $500 if the site is
13        equal to or greater than 1 acre but less than  10  acres;
14        $750 if the site is equal to or greater than 10 acres but
15        less than 50 acres; and $1,000 if the site is equal to or
16        greater  than  50  acres. In the event that the Agency is
17        required to review a mitigation plan for any  such  site,
18        an  additional  fee  will  be  required  at  the time the
19        applicant is notified that such a review is required. The
20        additional mitigation review fee shall be:  $750  if  the
21        affected  wetland  is  less  than 0.5 acres; $1000 if the
22        affected wetland is equal to or greater  than  0.5  acres
23        but  less  than 2 acres; $1250 if the site is equal to or
24        greater than 2 acres but less than 5 acres; and $1,500 if
25        the site is equal to or greater than 5 acres.
26             (2)  The  fee  for  a  Class  II  wetland  shall  be
27        calculated at 50% of the fee charged to  a  Class  IA  or
28        Class IB wetland.
29             (3)  The  fee  for  filing  a notice of intent to be
30        covered under a general permit shall be $200.
31             (4)  The fee for filing a notification of activities
32        to be conducted on a Class III wetland shall be $150.
33        (b)  The  Agency  shall  establish  procedures  for   the
 
                            -26-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    collection of fees required under this Act.
 2        (c)  There  is  hereby  created  in  the State Treasury a
 3    special fund to be known as  the  Wetlands  Management  Fund.
 4    There  shall  be  deposited into the Fund all monies received
 5    from the fees collected under subsection (a) of this Section.
 6    Pursuant to appropriation, monies  from  the  Fund  shall  be
 7    allocated  in  amounts deemed necessary to implement this Act
 8    and,   if   sufficient   funds   are   available,   for   the
 9    administration of other permit programs administered  by  the
10    Agency.
11        (d)  Counties that are delegated functions under this Act
12    pursuant  to  Section  60  (d)  may  establish  fees it deems
13    necessary in lieu of using the fee  structure  in  subsection
14    (a).

15        Section 60.  Home rule; delegation of authority.
16        (a)  A home rule unit may not regulate wetlands except as
17    provided  in  subsection  (b)  and  (c) of this Section. This
18    Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6  of
19    Article  VII  of  the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent
20    exercise by home rule units of powers in functions  exercised
21    by the State.
22        (b)  In cases where a county government has implemented a
23    wetlands  regulation  program  prior  to  March 1, 2003, that
24    county will be permitted to regulate wetlands until  July  1,
25    2005. Beginning on July 1, 2005, the limitation in subsection
26    (a) of this Section shall take effect.
27        (c)  The   provisions  of  any  ordinance  or  resolution
28    adopted before, on, or after the effective date of  this  Act
29    of  the  93d General Assembly by any unit of local government
30    that   impose   restrictions   or    limitations    on    the
31    identification,  classification, notification, permitting, or
32    regulatory criteria  for  wetlands  are  invalid,  except  as
33    authorized  by  subsection (d) of this Section, and all those
 
                            -27-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1    existing ordinances and resolutions  are  declared  null  and
 2    void.  This subsection shall not be deemed to be a limitation
 3    on any legitimate statutory authority of any  unit  of  local
 4    government   to   regulate   flood   control   or  stormwater
 5    management, so long as those rules  are  not  more  stringent
 6    than the rules adopted under Section 40 of this Act.
 7        (d)  The   Agency   may  enter  into  written  delegation
 8    agreements with any county  government  under  which  it  may
 9    delegate  all  or  portions of its inspecting, investigating,
10    and enforcement functions under this Act. In  cases  where  a
11    county  government  has  implemented  a  wetlands  regulation
12    program  prior  to  March 1, 2003, the Agency shall, upon the
13    receipt  of  a  request  for  delegation   by   such   county
14    government,  delegate  all or portions of its functions under
15    this Act, as requested. Such delegation agreements shall,  at
16    a minimum, require that:
17             (1)  All   of   the  administrative  procedures  and
18        operations performed by the delegated  county  government
19        shall  be  performed in accordance with the provisions of
20        this Act and with rules adopted pursuant to Section 40 of
21        this Act.
22             (2)  The general permits issued under Section 35  of
23        this  Act  shall  be administered by the delegated county
24        government for those activities covered under the general
25        permits.
26             (3)  At the time of filing a permit  application  or
27        notification  with  a  delegated  county  government, the
28        person  shall  file  a  certification  with  the   Agency
29        attesting to such filing.
30             (4)  Within  30  days  after  the  delegated  county
31        government   takes   final   action   on   a   permit  or
32        notification, a copy of the permit or notice action shall
33        be filed with the Agency.
34             (5)  Any final action taken by  a  delegated  county
 
                            -28-     LRB093 04535 AMC 16601 a
 1        government   may  be  appealed  in  accordance  with  the
 2        provisions of Section 45 of this Act.
 3        (e)  Notwithstanding any other provision of  law  to  the
 4    contrary, no unit of local government shall be liable for any
 5    injury  resulting from the exercise of its authority pursuant
 6    to  such  a  delegation  agreement,  unless  the  injury   is
 7    proximately caused by the willful and wanton negligence of an
 8    agent  or  employee  of the unit of local government, and any
 9    policy of insurance  coverage  issued  to  a  unit  of  local
10    government  may  provide  for the denial of liability and the
11    nonpayment of claims based upon injuries for which  the  unit
12    of   local   government   is  not  liable  pursuant  to  this
13    subsection.

14        Section 90.  The State Finance Act is amended  by  adding
15    Section 5.595 as follows:

16        (30 ILCS 105/5.595 new)
17        Sec. 5.595.  The Wetlands Management Fund.

18        Section 97.  Severability. The provisions of this Act are
19    severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

20        Section  99.  Effective  date. This Act takes effect upon
21    becoming law.".