415 ILCS 5/55.3

(415 ILCS 5/55.3) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1055.3)

Sec. 55.3. (a) Upon finding that an accumulation of used or waste tires creates an immediate danger to health, the Agency may take action pursuant to Section 34 of this Act.

(b) Upon making a finding that an accumulation of used or waste tires creates a hazard posing a threat to public health or the environment, the Agency may undertake preventive or corrective action in accordance with this subsection. Such preventive or corrective action may consist of any or all of the following:

(1) Treating and handling used or waste tires and other infested materials within the area for control of mosquitoes and other disease vectors.

(2) Relocation of ignition sources and any used or waste tires within the area for control and prevention of tire fires.

(3) Removal of used and waste tire accumulations from the area.

(4) Removal of soil and water contamination related to tire accumulations.

(5) Installation of devices to monitor and control groundwater and surface water contamination related to tire accumulations.

(6) Such other actions as may be authorized by Board regulations.

(c) The Agency may, subject to the availability of appropriated funds, undertake a consensual removal action for the removal of up to 1,000 used or waste tires at no cost to the owner according to the following requirements:

(1) Actions under this subsection shall be taken pursuant to a written agreement between the Agency and the owner of the tire accumulation.

(2) The written agreement shall at a minimum specify:

(i) that the owner relinquishes any claim of an ownership interest in any tires that are removed, or in any proceeds from their sale;

(ii) that tires will no longer be allowed to be accumulated at the site;

(iii) that the owner will hold harmless the Agency or any employee or contractor utilized by the Agency to effect the removal, for any damage to property incurred during the course of action under this subsection, except for gross negligence or intentional misconduct; and

(iv) any conditions upon or assistance required from the owner to assure that the tires are so located or arranged as to facilitate their removal.

(3) The Agency may by rule establish conditions and priorities for removal of used and waste tires under this subsection.

(4) The Agency shall prescribe the form of written agreements under this subsection.

(d) The Agency shall have authority to provide notice to the owner or operator, or both, of a site where used or waste tires are located and to the owner or operator, or both, of the accumulation of tires at the site, whenever the Agency finds that the used or waste tires pose a threat to public health or the environment, or that there is no owner or operator proceeding in accordance with a tire removal agreement approved under Section 55.4.

The notice provided by the Agency shall include the identified preventive or corrective action, and shall provide an opportunity for the owner or operator, or both, to perform such action.

For sites with more than 250,000 passenger tire equivalents, following the notice provided for by this subsection (d), the Agency may enter into a written reimbursement agreement with the owner or operator of the site. The agreement shall provide a schedule for the owner or operator to reimburse the Agency for costs incurred for preventive or corrective action, which shall not exceed 5 years in length. An owner or operator making payments under a written reimbursement agreement pursuant to this subsection (d) shall not be liable for punitive damages under subsection (h) of this Section.

(e) In accordance with constitutional limitations, the Agency shall have authority to enter at all reasonable times upon any private or public property for the purpose of taking whatever preventive or corrective action is necessary and appropriate in accordance with the provisions of this Section, including but not limited to removal, processing or treatment of used or waste tires, whenever the Agency finds that used or waste tires pose a threat to public health or the environment.

(f) In undertaking preventive, corrective or consensual removal action under this Section the Agency may consider use of the following: rubber reuse alternatives, shredding or other conversion through use of mobile or fixed facilities, energy recovery through burning or incineration, and landfill disposal.

(g) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the owner or operator of any site or accumulation of used or waste tires at which the Agency has undertaken corrective or preventive action under this Section shall be liable for all costs thereof incurred by the State of Illinois, including reasonable costs of collection. Any monies received by the Agency hereunder shall be deposited into the Used Tire Management Fund. The Agency may in its discretion store, dispose of or convey the tires that are removed from an area at which it has undertaken a corrective, preventive or consensual removal action, and may sell or store such tires and other items, including but not limited to rims, that are removed from the area. The net proceeds of any sale shall be credited against the liability incurred by the owner or operator for the costs of any preventive or corrective action.

(h) Any person liable to the Agency for costs incurred under subsection (g) of this Section may be liable to the State of Illinois for punitive damages in an amount at least equal to, and not more than 2 times, the costs incurred by the State if such person failed without sufficient cause to take preventive or corrective action pursuant to notice issued under subsection (d) of this Section.

(i) There shall be no liability under subsection (g) of this Section for a person otherwise liable who can establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the hazard created by the tires was caused solely by:

(1) an act of God;

(2) an act of war; or

(3) an act or omission of a third party other than an employee or agent, and other than a person whose act or omission occurs in connection with a contractual relationship with the person otherwise liable.

For the purposes of this subsection, "contractual relationship" includes, but is not limited to, land contracts, deeds and other instruments transferring title or possession, unless the real property upon which the accumulation is located was acquired by the defendant after the disposal or placement of used or waste tires on, in or at the property and one or more of the following circumstances is also established by a preponderance of the evidence:

(A) at the time the defendant acquired the property, the defendant did not know and had no reason to know that any used or waste tires had been disposed of or placed on, in or at the property, and the defendant undertook, at the time of acquisition, all appropriate inquiries into the previous ownership and uses of the property consistent with good commercial or customary practice in an effort to minimize liability;

(B) the defendant is a government entity which acquired the property by escheat or through any other involuntary transfer or acquisition, or through the exercise of eminent domain authority by purchase or condemnation; or

(C) the defendant acquired the property by inheritance or bequest.

(j) Nothing in this Section shall affect or modify the obligations or liability of any person under any other provision of this Act, federal law, or State law, including the common law, for injuries, damages or losses resulting from the circumstances leading to Agency action under this Section.

(k) The costs and damages provided for in this Section may be imposed by the Board in an action brought before the Board in accordance with Title VIII of this Act, except that subsection (c) of Section 33 of this Act shall not apply to any such action.

(l) The Agency shall, when feasible, consult with the Department of Public Health prior to taking any action to remove or treat an infested tire accumulation for control of mosquitoes or other disease vectors. The Agency may by contract or agreement secure the services of the Department of Public Health, any local public health department, or any other qualified person in treating any such infestation as part of an emergency or preventive action.

(m) Neither the State, the Agency, the Board, the Director, nor any State employee shall be liable for any damage or injury arising out of or resulting from any action taken under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-444, eff. 8-20-21.)