(415 ILCS 45/0.01) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 500)
Sec. 0.01.
Short title.
This Act may be cited as the
Public Water Supply Operations Act.
(Source: P.A. 86-1324.)
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(415 ILCS 45/1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 501)
Sec. 1.
(1) In order to safeguard the health and well-being of the
populace, every community water supply in Illinois, other than an exempt community water supply as specified in Section 9.1, shall have on its
operational staff, and shall designate to the Agency in writing, either (i) one Responsible Operator in Charge who directly supervises both the treatment and distribution facilities of the community water supply or (ii) one Responsible Operator in Charge who directly supervises the treatment facilities of the community water supply and one Responsible Operator in Charge who directly supervises the distribution facilities of the community water supply.
Except for exempt community water supplies as specified in Section 9.1 of
this Act, all portions of a community water supply system shall be under the
direct supervision of a Responsible Operator in Charge.
(2) The following class requirements apply:
(a) Each Class A community water supply shall have in | ||
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(b) Each Class B community water supply shall have in | ||
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(c) Each Class C community water supply shall have in | ||
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(d) Each Class D community water supply shall have in | ||
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(2.5) The Agency may adopt rules that classify or reclassify community water supplies as Class A, Class B, Class C, or Class D community water supplies. A community water supply that cannot be clearly classified under Section 5.1 or Agency rules shall be considered individually and
designated, in writing, by the Agency as a Class A, Class B, Class C, or Class D community water supply. Classifications made under this subsection (2.5) shall be based on the nature of the community water
supply and on the education and experience necessary to operate it.
(3) A community water supply may satisfy the requirements of this
Section by contracting the services of an individual who is a properly qualified certified operator
of the required class or higher and will directly supervise the operation of the community water supply. That individual shall serve as the Responsible Operator in Charge of the community water supply. A
written agreement to this effect must be on file with the Agency certifying
that such an agreement exists, and delegating responsibility and authority
to the contracted party. This written agreement shall be signed by both the
certified operator to be contracted and the responsible community water
supply owner or official custodian and must be approved in writing by the
Agency.
(Source: P.A. 98-822, eff. 8-1-14; 98-856, eff. 8-4-14; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)
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(415 ILCS 45/1.1) Sec. 1.1. Duties of Responsible Operators in Charge. (a) Each individual who is a Responsible Operator in Charge for a community water supply is jointly accountable with the owner of the community water supply for the proper operation of the portions of the community water supply over which he or she has been designated as the Responsible Operator in Charge. (b) Each individual who is a Responsible Operator in Charge for a community water supply shall: (1) hold a certificate of the class required for the | ||
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(2) directly supervise the operation of the portions | ||
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(3) submit, in accordance with Board rules, consumer | ||
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(Source: P.A. 98-856, eff. 8-4-14.) |
(415 ILCS 45/2) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 502)
Sec. 2.
A properly certified water supply operator may operate a waste effluent
treatment facility which is a part of a water supply treatment plant,
notwithstanding the fact that such operator is not a certified waste
treatment operator, provided, however, that the primary function of such
plant is water supply treatment rather than waste effluent treatment and
that such waste is generated by processes of water supply treatment.
(Source: P.A. 78-810.)
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(415 ILCS 45/3) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 503)
Sec. 3.
As used in this Act, unless the context requires otherwise, the terms
defined in the Sections following this Section and preceding Section 10, inclusive, have the meanings ascribed
therein.
(Source: P.A. 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)
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(415 ILCS 45/4) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 504)
Sec. 4.
"Water Supply Operator" means any individual trained in the
treatment or distribution of water who has practical working knowledge of
the chemical, biological, and physical sciences essential to the practical
mechanics of water treatment or distribution and who is capable of
conducting and maintaining the water treatment or distribution processes in
a manner which will provide safe, potable water for human consumption.
(Source: P.A. 98-856, eff. 8-4-14.)
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(415 ILCS 45/5) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 505)
Sec. 5.
(a)
"Public Water Supply" means all mains, pipes and structures through
which water is obtained and distributed to the public, including wells and
well structures, intakes and cribs, pumping stations, treatment plants,
reservoirs, storage tanks and appurtenances, collectively or severally,
actually used or intended for use for the purpose of furnishing water for
drinking or general domestic use and which serves at least 15 service
connections or which regularly serves at least 25 persons at least 60 days
per year. A public water supply is either a "community water supply" or
a "non-community water supply".
(b) "Community water supply" means a public water supply which serves
or is intended to serve at least 15 service connections used by residents
or regularly serves at least 25 residents.
(c) "Non-community water supply" means a public water supply that is not
a community water supply. The requirements of this Act shall not apply
to non-community water supplies.
(d) "Resident" means a person who dwells or has a place of abode which
is occupied by that person for 60 days or more each calendar year.
(e) "Service Connection" is the opening, including all fittings and appurtenances,
at the water main through which water is supplied to the user.
(Source: P.A. 82-393.)
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(415 ILCS 45/5.1) Sec. 5.1. Class definitions. Except as otherwise provided by Agency rules adopted pursuant to subsection (2.5) of Section 1 of this Act: "Class A community water supply" means (i) any surface water community water supply and (ii) any community water supply that includes coagulation, lime softening, ultraviolet disinfection, membrane filtration, or sedimentation as a part of its primary treatment. "Class B community water supply" means any community water supply that includes filtration (other than membrane filtration), aeration and filtration (other than membrane filtration), or ion exchange equipment as a part of its primary treatment. "Class C community water supply" means any community water supply that uses chemical feeding as its only form of treatment. "Class D community water supply" means any community water supply that has only pumpage, storage, or distribution facilities.
(Source: P.A. 98-822, eff. 8-1-14.) |
(415 ILCS 45/6) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 506)
Sec. 6.
"Agency" means the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
(Source: P.A. 78-810.)
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(415 ILCS 45/7) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 507)
Sec. 7.
"Director" means the Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency.
(Source: P.A. 78-810.)
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(415 ILCS 45/8) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 508)
Sec. 8.
"Advisory Board" means the Water Supply Operators' Advisory Board
provided for by this Act.
(Source: P.A. 78-810.)
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(415 ILCS 45/9) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 509)
Sec. 9.
"Owner" means any person who owns a community water supply.
(Source: P.A. 98-856, eff. 8-4-14.)
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(415 ILCS 45/9.1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 509.1)
Sec. 9.1.
"Exempt Community Water Supply" means any
community water supply
which meets all of the following requirements:
(1) consists only of distribution and storage facilities and
does not have any collection and treatment facilities;
(2) obtains all of its water from, but is not owned or
operated by, a community water supply that is required to employ a Class A,
Class B, Class C, or Class D community water supply operator;
(3) does not sell water to any person; and
(4) is not a carrier that conveys passengers in interstate commerce.
(Source: P.A. 91-84, eff. 7-9-99.)
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(415 ILCS 45/9.2) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 509.2)
Sec. 9.2.
(Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 82-393. Repealed by P.A. 91-84, eff. 7-9-99.)
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(415 ILCS 45/9.3)
Sec. 9.3.
Grandparenting means the exemption for the existing operator in
responsible charge, as of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st
General Assembly, from meeting the initial education and examination
requirements for the class of certification the community water supply has been
assigned.
(Source: P.A. 91-84, eff. 7-9-99.)
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(415 ILCS 45/9.4) Sec. 9.4. Official custodian. "Official custodian" means an individual who is an officer of an entity that is the owner of a community water supply and acts as the owner's agent in matters concerning the community water supply.
(Source: P.A. 98-856, eff. 8-4-14.) |
(415 ILCS 45/9.5) Sec. 9.5. Person. "Person" means any individual, partnership, co-partnership, firm, company, limited liability company, corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, estate, political subdivision, state agency, or any other legal entity, or their legal representative, agent, or assigns.
(Source: P.A. 98-856, eff. 8-4-14.) |
(415 ILCS 45/9.6) Sec. 9.6. Responsible Operator in Charge. "Responsible Operator in Charge" means an individual who is designated as a Responsible Operator in Charge of a community water supply under Section 1 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 98-856, eff. 8-4-14.) |
(415 ILCS 45/10) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 510)
Sec. 10.
The Agency shall exercise the following functions, powers, and
duties:
(a) The Agency shall conduct examinations to ascertain the
qualifications of applicants for certificates of competency as community
water supply operators, and pass upon the qualifications of applicants for
reciprocal certificates.
(b) The Agency shall determine the qualifications of each applicant
on the basis of written examinations, and upon a review of the requirements
stated in Sections 13 and 14 of this Act.
(c) (Blank).
(d) The Agency may suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue any certificate
of competency for any one or any combination of the following causes:
(1) the practice of any fraud or deceit in obtaining | ||
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(2) any gross negligence, incompetency, misconduct, | ||
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(3) being declared to be an individual under legal | ||
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(4) failure to comply with any of the Rules | ||
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(e) The Agency shall issue a Certificate to any applicant who has
satisfactorily met all the requirements of the Act pertaining to a certificate
of competency as a water supply operator.
(f) The Agency shall notify every certified community water supply
operator at the last address specified by the operator to the Agency, and at
least one month in advance of the expiration of the certificate, of the date
of expiration of the certificate and the amount of fee required for its renewal
for 3 years.
(g) The Agency shall, upon its own motion, or upon a written complaint,
investigate the action of any individual holding or claiming to hold a certificate,
and take appropriate action.
(h) The Agency is authorized to adopt reasonable and
necessary rules to set forth procedures and criteria for the
administration of this Act.
(i) The Agency may investigate violations of this Act or any rule adopted under this Act. (j) The Agency may issue administrative citations as provided in Section 23.1 of this Act. (Source: P.A. 98-856, eff. 8-4-14.)
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(415 ILCS 45/11) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 511)
Sec. 11.
"Advisory Board" means the community water supply operator's
advisory board to
assist in the formulation of and to review the policies and program of the
Agency as developed under authority of this Act, and to make
recommendations and to provide the Agency with such technical
advice and assistance as may be requested.
The Advisory Board shall consist of the Director and 5 other
members to
be appointed by the Governor one of whom shall be the chief executive
officer of a municipality operating its own municipal water plant. The 5
appointed members shall be individuals having an active interest and with wide
background in water supply management and operation from a practical and
technical standpoint.
The 5 appointed members of the Advisory Board
serving at the
effective date of this Act shall continue in the same capacity until their
previously designated term expires. On the expiration of the term of any member the Governor
shall appoint for a term of 5 years an individual having the qualifications
hereinabove specified to take the place of the member whose term has
expired, and who shall hold office until the expiration of the term and until a successor has been appointed
and
qualified.
The Director of the Agency or an authorized representative shall serve as
secretary of the Advisory Board without any additional compensation.
The Director or an authorized representative shall
attend all meetings of the
Advisory Board, keep minutes, and take part in its discussion, but shall
not be entitled
to vote.
The Advisory Board shall select one of its
members to serve as Chairman at the first regular meeting in each
calendar year.
The Advisory Board shall meet annually and at such intervals as may be
necessary to transact business which may come before it upon call of the
Agency, the
Chairman of the Advisory Board, or any 3 of its members. Any
3 members shall constitute a quorum.
The Secretary shall see that accurate minutes are kept of all duly
constituted meetings of the Advisory Board.
Members of the Advisory Board shall serve without compensation, but
shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred while traveling and performing
duties under this Act. Such expenses shall be paid from funds of the Agency
appropriated therefor.
The Advisory Board shall have the authority to review
contested Agency reciprocity determinations. The Advisory Board
must provide applicants who are denied reciprocity with an
opportunity to appear before the Board. The Advisory Board shall
review the decision to deny reciprocity and must provide a
recommendation to the Agency.
(Source: P.A. 98-856, eff. 8-4-14.)
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(415 ILCS 45/12) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 512)
Sec. 12.
(a) The Pollution Control Board shall, upon the sworn written
request of the applicant or certificate holder, conduct
hearings or proceedings for the Agency's refusal to issue, suspension,
revocation,
or denied renewal of certificates of individuals applying
for or holding certification under the provisions of this
Act.
(b) Hearings shall be conducted under Rules and Regulations adopted
by the Pollution Control Board outlining the procedures to be followed in
conducting a hearing.
(Source: P.A. 98-856, eff. 8-4-14.)
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(415 ILCS 45/13) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 513)
Sec. 13.
Community Water Supply Operators shall be certified in accordance with the
following classifications:
(a) A "Class A" Water Supply Operator Certificate | ||
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(b) A "Class B" Water Supply Operator Certificate | ||
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(c) A "Class C" Water Supply Operator Certificate | ||
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(d) A "Class D" Water Supply Operator Certificate | ||
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(Source: P.A. 98-822, eff. 8-1-14; 98-856, eff. 8-4-14; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)
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(415 ILCS 45/14) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 514)
Sec. 14.
Every community water supply operator certified by the Agency
shall be capable
of performing his or her duties without endangering the health and well
being of the
populace; shall be able to read and write English; and shall produce evidence
acceptable to the Agency as to his or her character and his or her
ability to
maintain and
operate properly the structures and equipment entrusted to the operator's care.
In
addition, water supply operators shall be certified as Class "A", Class "B",
Class "C", Class "D" operators in accordance with classes based on the
level of
competency determined by examination and in accordance with educational and
experience levels as follows:
(a) Class "A" and Class "B" Water Supply Operator Certificates
require graduation from high school or equivalent and not less than 3 years
of acceptable study, training, and responsible experience in water supply
operation or management as described in Sections 13 and 14 of this Act.
(b) Class "C" Water Supply Operator Certificates require graduation from high school or the equivalent and not less than
one year
of acceptable study, training, and responsible experience in water supply
operation or management as described in Sections 13 and 14 of this Act.
(c) Class "D" Water Supply Operator Certificates require graduation from high school or equivalent and not less than 6 months
of acceptable study, training, and responsible experience in water supply
operation or management as described in Sections 13 and 14 of this Act.
(d) The requirement for graduation from high school or the
equivalent shall be waived for community water supply operators certified
prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly
and for
community water supply operators certified under Section 19(a) of this
Act.
(Source: P.A. 91-84, eff. 7-9-99.)
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(415 ILCS 45/15) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 515)
Sec. 15.
Appropriate credit, to be applied against the experience requirement,
shall be granted by the Agency on the following basis:
(a) The Agency shall grant appropriate credit for | ||
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(b) The Agency shall grant one year credit for the | ||
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(c) Not more than one-half of the experience | ||
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(Source: P.A. 78-810.)
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(415 ILCS 45/16) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 516)
Sec. 16.
Applications for certification shall:
(a) Be on forms prescribed and furnished by the Agency;
(b) Contain statements showing applicant's education and
experience;
(c) Contain not less than 3 references; and
(d) Be accompanied by the proper fee as provided in
Section 22 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 91-84, eff. 7-9-99.)
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(415 ILCS 45/17) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 517)
Sec. 17.
Examinations provided for in Section 10 of this Act shall be given
to
community water supply operator certification applicants for the purpose of
determining if said applicants can demonstrate the necessary skills,
knowledge, ability, and judgment of the sciences and mechanics of water supply
operation as
outlined in Section 13 of this Act.
(a) Examinations shall be of separate classifications as outlined in
Section 13 of this Act.
(b) Examinations shall be conducted
by the Agency, and shall be held not less frequently than annually, at
times and places prescribed by the Agency, of which applicants shall be
notified by the Agency in writing.
(c) Unless issued under grandparenting in Section 19 of this Act, or under
reciprocity in Section 20 of this Act, no
certificate shall be issued prior to successful completion of the
applicable examination.
(Source: P.A. 91-84, eff. 7-9-99.)
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(415 ILCS 45/18) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 518)
Sec. 18.
The Water Supply Operator Certificate shall certify the competency
of
the applicant within the class of certificate issued, and shall show the
full name of the applicant and be signed by the
Director.
(a) Certificates shall be issued for a period of 3 years, with the
expiration date being three years from the first day of July of the
calendar year in which the certificate is issued.
(b) Every 3 years, on or before the July 1 expiration, a certified
community water
supply operator shall renew his or her certificate of competency and pay
the
required renewal fee. A grace period for renewal will be granted until
August 1 of that year before the restoration fee
is assessed as
provided in Section 22 of this Act.
(c) A certified water supply operator may renew his or her certificate
every 3 years upon a
showing, prior to certificate renewal, that:
(1) in the case of a Class "A" or Class "B" operator, | ||
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(2) in the case of a Class "C" or Class "D" operator, | ||
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(d) An individual whose
certificate of competency
has been expired for less than 2 years may have his or her
certificate restored only
upon payment of the
required restoration fee and upon a showing that the individual has completed
the required training. An individual whose
certificate has been
expired
for more than 2 years may reapply for certification
as a water supply operator.
(e) Any certified Community Water Supply Operator whose certificate of
competency
has expired while the operator was engaged in Federal Service on
Active Duty with the
Armed Forces of the United States, including United States Merchant
Marines, or in training or education under the supervision of the United
States preliminary to induction into the military service, may have
his or her
certificate of competency restored without paying any lapsed renewal fee or
restoration fee or passing any additional examination if, within one year
after termination of such service, training, or education, other than by
dishonorable discharge, the operator furnishes the Agency with an
affidavit to the
effect that the operator was so engaged and that his or her
service, training, or education
was so terminated.
(Source: P.A. 91-84, eff. 7-9-99.)
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(415 ILCS 45/19) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 519)
Sec. 19.
(a) The registered individual in responsible
charge of a previously exempt community water supply on the
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly may be
issued a certificate of
competency, with no fee required, after the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly for the community water supply for
which the individual is
registered.
The community water supply owner must make application for grandparenting of
the operator in responsible charge within 2 years of the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly.
This certificate is non-transferable, site specific,
and is not valid if the water system is reclassified to a higher
level.
(b) Each individual who is issued a certificate of competency
under Section 19(a) of this Act may renew the certificate every 3 years in
accordance with the renewal requirements of Sections 18 and 22 of
this Act.
(Source: P.A. 98-856, eff. 8-4-14.)
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(415 ILCS 45/20) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 520)
Sec. 20.
The Agency shall, upon application and payment of the
proper fee, issue a certificate of competency to any individual who holds an
unexpired certificate of competency issued by any state or territory
or possession of the United States or of any country, if:
(a) the requirements for the certificate of | ||
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(b) the particular state or territory or possession | ||
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(Source: P.A. 98-856, eff. 8-4-14.)
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(415 ILCS 45/21) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 521)
Sec. 21.
(Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 78-810. Repealed by P.A. 91-84, eff. 7-9-99.)
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(415 ILCS 45/22) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 522)
Sec. 22.
Fees for the issuance, renewal, or restoration of an Illinois Water
Supply Operator Certificate shall be as follows:
(a) The fee to be paid by an applicant for an
Illinois certificate of competency is $30.
(b) The fee to be paid by an applicant for the following transactions is
$10:
(1) examination to determine fitness to receive a | ||
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(2) issuance of a reciprocal certificate of | ||
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(3) (Blank);
(4) renewal of a certificate of competency;
(5) restoration of a certificate of competency; or
(6) issuance of a duplicate certificate of competency.
(c) All fees collected by the Agency under this Section shall be
deposited into the Environmental Protection Permit and Inspection Fund in
accordance with Section 22.8 of the Environmental Protection Act.
(Source: P.A. 91-84, eff. 7-9-99.)
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(415 ILCS 45/23) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 523)
Sec. 23.
Authority is hereby vested in the Illinois Pollution Control Board to
conduct hearings on complaints charging that any public water supply owner,
owner's manager or agent, official custodian, municipal, state or other
official has violated or aided and abetted the violation of Section 1 of
this Act, or has refused or neglected to comply with any order issued by
the Director, as herein provided for. Based on the determinations of the
Illinois Pollution Control Board, the violator shall be penalized by the
Illinois Pollution Control Board not less than $100.00 nor more than
$1000.00 for each offense.
(Source: P.A. 78-810.)
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(415 ILCS 45/23.1) Sec. 23.1. Administrative citations. (a) Violations of the requirement set forth in paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 1.1 of this Act shall be enforceable by administrative citation under this Section or as otherwise provided in this Act. (b) If Agency personnel discover that a Responsible Operator in Charge has violated paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 1.1 of this Act, the Agency may issue and serve, in person or by certified mail, an administrative citation upon that individual within not more than 90 days after the date of the discovery of the violation. Each citation issued under this subsection (b) shall be served upon the individual named in the citation or that individual's authorized agent for service of process, and shall include the following information: (1) a statement specifying the report or result that | ||
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(2) a copy of any report in which the Agency recorded | ||
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(3) the penalty imposed by subsection (f) of this | ||
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(4) instructions for contesting the administrative | ||
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(5) an affidavit by the personnel recording the | ||
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(c) No later than 15 days after the date of service, the Agency shall file a copy of each administrative citation served under subsection (b) of this Section with the Illinois Pollution Control Board, which is hereby authorized to conduct proceedings upon administrative citations issued pursuant to this Section. (d) If the individual named in the administrative citation fails to petition the Illinois Pollution Control Board for review within 35 days after the date of service of the citation, the Illinois Pollution Control Board shall adopt a final order, which shall include the administrative citation and findings of violation as alleged in the citation, and shall impose the penalty specified in subsection (f) of this Section. If a petition for review is filed before the Illinois Pollution Control Board to contest an administrative citation issued under subsection (b) of this Section, the Agency shall appear as a complainant at a hearing before the Illinois Pollution Control Board to be conducted in accordance with the requirements of Section 32 of the Environmental Protection Act at a time not less than 21 days after notice of the hearing has been sent by the Illinois Pollution Control Board to the Agency and the individual named in the citation. In these hearings, the burden of proof shall be on the Agency. If, based on the record, the Illinois Pollution Control Board finds that the alleged violation occurred, it shall adopt a final order, which shall include the administrative citation and findings of violation as alleged in the citation, and shall impose the penalty specified in subsection (f) of this Section. However, if the Illinois Pollution Control Board finds that the individual appealing the citation has shown that the violation resulted from uncontrollable circumstances, the Illinois Pollution Control Board shall adopt a final order that makes no finding of violation and imposes no penalty. (e) Sections 10-25 through 10-60 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act shall not apply to any administrative citation issued under subsection (b) of this Section. (f) In an administrative citation action under this Section, any Responsible Operator in Charge who is found to have violated paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 1.1 of this Act shall pay a civil penalty of $500 for each violation of that provision, plus any hearing costs incurred by the Board and the Agency, except that the civil penalty amount shall be $1,500 for each violation of paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 1.1 of this Act that is the individual's second or subsequent adjudicated violation of that provision. The penalties assessed under this Section shall be deposited into the Environmental Protection Trust Fund, to be used in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Protection Trust Fund Act. (g) All final orders issued and entered by the Illinois Pollution Control Board pursuant to this Section shall be enforceable by injunction, mandamus, or other appropriate remedy, as is provided for other orders of the Illinois Pollution Control Board under Section 42 of the Environmental Protection Act.
(Source: P.A. 98-856, eff. 8-4-14.) |