97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB1841

 

Introduced 2/9/2011, by Sen. Linda Holmes

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
415 ILCS 5/31  from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1031

    Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to serve each notice of alleged violation within 90 rather than 180 days after receiving a complaint alleging a violation of the Act, any rule adopted under the Act, a permit granted by the Agency, or a condition of such a permit. Prohibits the Agency from disclosing investigative data until it has served the alleged violator with a notice of the alleged violation. Defines "investigative data". Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning safety.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Environmental Protection Act is amended by
5changing Section 31 as follows:
 
6    (415 ILCS 5/31)  (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1031)
7    Sec. 31. Notice; complaint; hearing.
8    (a)(1) Within 90 180 days of becoming aware of an alleged
9    violation of the Act or any rule adopted under the Act or
10    of a permit granted by the Agency or condition of the
11    permit, the Agency shall issue and serve, by certified
12    mail, upon the person complained against a written notice
13    informing that person that the Agency has evidence of the
14    alleged violation. At a minimum, the written notice shall
15    contain:
16            (A) notification to the person complained against
17        of the requirement to submit a written response
18        addressing the violations alleged and the option to
19        meet with appropriate agency personnel to resolve any
20        alleged violations that could lead to the filing of a
21        formal complaint;
22            (B) a detailed explanation by the Agency of the
23        violations alleged;

 

 

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1            (C) an explanation by the Agency of the actions
2        that the Agency believes may resolve the alleged
3        violations, including an estimate of a reasonable time
4        period for the person complained against to complete
5        the suggested resolution; and
6            (D) an explanation of any alleged violation that
7        the Agency believes cannot be resolved without the
8        involvement of the Office of the Illinois Attorney
9        General or the State's Attorney of the county in which
10        the alleged violation occurred and the basis for the
11        Agency's belief.
12        (2) A written response to the violations alleged shall
13    be submitted to the Agency, by certified mail, within 45
14    days of receipt of notice by the person complained against,
15    unless the Agency agrees to an extension. The written
16    response shall include:
17            (A) information in rebuttal, explanation or
18        justification of each alleged violation;
19            (B) a proposed Compliance Commitment Agreement
20        that includes specified times for achieving each
21        commitment and which may consist of a statement
22        indicating that the person complained against believes
23        that compliance has been achieved; and
24            (C) a request for a meeting with appropriate Agency
25        personnel if a meeting is desired by the person
26        complained against.

 

 

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1        (3) If the person complained against fails to respond
2    in accordance with the requirements of subdivision (2) of
3    this subsection (a), the failure to respond shall be
4    considered a waiver of the requirements of this subsection
5    (a) and nothing in this Section shall preclude the Agency
6    from proceeding pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section.
7        (4) A meeting requested pursuant to subdivision (2) of
8    this subsection (a) shall be held without a representative
9    of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General or the
10    State's Attorney of the county in which the alleged
11    violation occurred, within 60 days of receipt of notice by
12    the person complained against, unless the Agency agrees to
13    a postponement. At the meeting, the Agency shall provide an
14    opportunity for the person complained against to respond to
15    each alleged violation, suggested resolution, and
16    suggested implementation time frame, and to suggest
17    alternate resolutions.
18        (5) If a meeting requested pursuant to subdivision (2)
19    of this subsection (a) is held, the person complained
20    against shall, within 21 days following the meeting or
21    within an extended time period as agreed to by the Agency,
22    submit by certified mail to the Agency a written response
23    to the alleged violations. The written response shall
24    include:
25            (A) additional information in rebuttal,
26        explanation or justification of each alleged

 

 

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1        violation;
2            (B) a proposed Compliance Commitment Agreement
3        that includes specified times for achieving each
4        commitment and which may consist of a statement
5        indicating that the person complained against believes
6        that compliance has been achieved; and
7            (C) a statement indicating that, should the person
8        complained against so wish, the person complained
9        against chooses to rely upon the initial written
10        response submitted pursuant to subdivision (2) of this
11        subsection (a).
12        (6) If the person complained against fails to respond
13    in accordance with the requirements of subdivision (5) of
14    this subsection (a), the failure to respond shall be
15    considered a waiver of the requirements of this subsection
16    (a) and nothing in this Section shall preclude the Agency
17    from proceeding pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section.
18        (7) Within 30 days of the Agency's receipt of a written
19    response submitted by the person complained against
20    pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection (a), if a
21    meeting is not requested, or subdivision (5) of this
22    subsection (a), if a meeting is held, or within a later
23    time period as agreed to by the Agency and the person
24    complained against, the Agency shall issue and serve, by
25    certified mail, upon the person complained against a
26    written notice informing the person of its acceptance,

 

 

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1    rejection, or proposed modification to the proposed
2    Compliance Commitment Agreement as contained within the
3    written response.
4        (8) Nothing in this subsection (a) is intended to
5    require the Agency to enter into Compliance Commitment
6    Agreements for any alleged violation that the Agency
7    believes cannot be resolved without the involvement of the
8    Office of the Attorney General or the State's Attorney of
9    the county in which the alleged violation occurred, for,
10    among other purposes, the imposition of statutory
11    penalties.
12        (9) The Agency's failure to respond to a written
13    response submitted pursuant to subdivision (2) of this
14    subsection (a), if a meeting is not requested, or
15    subdivision (5) of this subsection (a), if a meeting is
16    held, within 30 days, or within the time period otherwise
17    agreed to in writing by the Agency and the person
18    complained against, shall be deemed an acceptance by the
19    Agency of the proposed Compliance Commitment Agreement for
20    the violations alleged in the written notice issued under
21    subdivision (1) of this subsection (a) as contained within
22    the written response.
23        (10) If the person complained against complies with the
24    terms of a Compliance Commitment Agreement accepted
25    pursuant to this subsection (a), the Agency shall not refer
26    the alleged violations which are the subject of the

 

 

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1    Compliance Commitment Agreement to the Office of the
2    Illinois Attorney General or the State's Attorney of the
3    county in which the alleged violation occurred. However,
4    nothing in this subsection is intended to preclude the
5    Agency from continuing negotiations with the person
6    complained against or from proceeding pursuant to the
7    provisions of subsection (b) of this Section for alleged
8    violations which remain the subject of disagreement
9    between the Agency and the person complained against
10    following fulfillment of the requirements of this
11    subsection (a).
12        (11) Nothing in this subsection (a) is intended to
13    preclude the person complained against from submitting to
14    the Agency, by certified mail, at any time, notification
15    that the person complained against consents to waiver of
16    the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this
17    Section.
18    (b) For alleged violations that remain the subject of
19disagreement between the Agency and the person complained
20against following fulfillment of the requirements of
21subsection (a) of this Section, and as a precondition to the
22Agency's referral or request to the Office of the Illinois
23Attorney General or the State's Attorney of the county in which
24the alleged violation occurred for legal representation
25regarding an alleged violation that may be addressed pursuant
26to subsection (c) or (d) of this Section or pursuant to Section

 

 

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142 of this Act, the Agency shall issue and serve, by certified
2mail, upon the person complained against a written notice
3informing that person that the Agency intends to pursue legal
4action. Such notice shall notify the person complained against
5of the violations to be alleged and offer the person an
6opportunity to meet with appropriate Agency personnel in an
7effort to resolve any alleged violations that could lead to the
8filing of a formal complaint. The meeting with Agency personnel
9shall be held within 30 days of receipt of notice served
10pursuant to this subsection upon the person complained against,
11unless the Agency agrees to a postponement or the person
12notifies the Agency that he or she will not appear at a meeting
13within the 30 day time period. Nothing in this subsection is
14intended to preclude the Agency from following the provisions
15of subsection (c) or (d) of this Section or from requesting the
16legal representation of the Office of the Illinois Attorney
17General or the State's Attorney of the county in which the
18alleged violations occurred for alleged violations which
19remain the subject of disagreement between the Agency and the
20person complained against after the provisions of this
21subsection are fulfilled.
22     (c)(1) For alleged violations which remain the subject of
23    disagreement between the Agency and the person complained
24    against following waiver, pursuant to subdivision (10) of
25    subsection (a) of this Section, or fulfillment of the
26    requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this Section,

 

 

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1    the Office of the Illinois Attorney General or the State's
2    Attorney of the county in which the alleged violation
3    occurred shall issue and serve upon the person complained
4    against a written notice, together with a formal complaint,
5    which shall specify the provision of the Act or the rule or
6    regulation or permit or term or condition thereof under
7    which such person is said to be in violation, and a
8    statement of the manner in, and the extent to which such
9    person is said to violate the Act or such rule or
10    regulation or permit or term or condition thereof and shall
11    require the person so complained against to answer the
12    charges of such formal complaint at a hearing before the
13    Board at a time not less than 21 days after the date of
14    notice by the Board, except as provided in Section 34 of
15    this Act. Such complaint shall be accompanied by a
16    notification to the defendant that financing may be
17    available, through the Illinois Environmental Facilities
18    Financing Act, to correct such violation. A copy of such
19    notice of such hearings shall also be sent to any person
20    that has complained to the Agency respecting the respondent
21    within the six months preceding the date of the complaint,
22    and to any person in the county in which the offending
23    activity occurred that has requested notice of enforcement
24    proceedings; 21 days notice of such hearings shall also be
25    published in a newspaper of general circulation in such
26    county. The respondent may file a written answer, and at

 

 

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1    such hearing the rules prescribed in Sections 32 and 33 of
2    this Act shall apply. In the case of actual or threatened
3    acts outside Illinois contributing to environmental damage
4    in Illinois, the extraterritorial service-of-process
5    provisions of Sections 2-208 and 2-209 of the Code of Civil
6    Procedure shall apply.
7        With respect to notices served pursuant to this
8    subsection (c)(1) which involve hazardous material or
9    wastes in any manner, the Agency shall annually publish a
10    list of all such notices served. The list shall include the
11    date the investigation commenced, the date notice was sent,
12    the date the matter was referred to the Attorney General,
13    if applicable, and the current status of the matter.
14        (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1)
15    of this subsection (c), whenever a complaint has been filed
16    on behalf of the Agency or by the People of the State of
17    Illinois, the parties may file with the Board a stipulation
18    and proposal for settlement accompanied by a request for
19    relief from the requirement of a hearing pursuant to
20    subdivision (1). Unless the Board, in its discretion,
21    concludes that a hearing will be held, the Board shall
22    cause notice of the stipulation, proposal and request for
23    relief to be published and sent in the same manner as is
24    required for hearing pursuant to subdivision (1) of this
25    subsection. The notice shall include a statement that any
26    person may file a written demand for hearing within 21 days

 

 

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1    after receiving the notice. If any person files a timely
2    written demand for hearing, the Board shall deny the
3    request for relief from a hearing and shall hold a hearing
4    in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1).
5        (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1)
6    of this subsection (c), if the Agency becomes aware of a
7    violation of this Act arising from, or as a result of,
8    voluntary pollution prevention activities, the Agency
9    shall not proceed with the written notice required by
10    subsection (a) of this Section unless:
11            (A) the person fails to take corrective action or
12        eliminate the reported violation within a reasonable
13        time; or
14            (B) the Agency believes that the violation poses a
15        substantial and imminent danger to the public health or
16        welfare or the environment. For the purposes of this
17        item (B), "substantial and imminent danger" means a
18        danger with a likelihood of serious or irreversible
19        harm.
20        (d)(1) Any person may file with the Board a complaint,
21    meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of this Section,
22    against any person allegedly violating this Act, any rule
23    or regulation adopted under this Act, any permit or term or
24    condition of a permit, or any Board order. The complainant
25    shall immediately serve a copy of such complaint upon the
26    person or persons named therein. Unless the Board

 

 

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1    determines that such complaint is duplicative or
2    frivolous, it shall schedule a hearing and serve written
3    notice thereof upon the person or persons named therein, in
4    accord with subsection (c) of this Section.
5        (2) Whenever a complaint has been filed by a person
6    other than the Attorney General or the State's Attorney,
7    the parties may file with the Board a stipulation and
8    proposal for settlement accompanied by a request for relief
9    from the hearing requirement of subdivision (c)(1) of this
10    Section. Unless the Board, in its discretion, concludes
11    that a hearing should be held, no hearing on the
12    stipulation and proposal for settlement is required.
13    (e) In hearings before the Board under this Title the
14burden shall be on the Agency or other complainant to show
15either that the respondent has caused or threatened to cause
16air or water pollution or that the respondent has violated or
17threatens to violate any provision of this Act or any rule or
18regulation of the Board or permit or term or condition thereof.
19If such proof has been made, the burden shall be on the
20respondent to show that compliance with the Board's regulations
21would impose an arbitrary or unreasonable hardship.
22    (f) The provisions of this Section shall not apply to
23administrative citation actions commenced under Section 31.1
24of this Act.
25    (g) Until the Agency issues and serves upon a person
26complained against a written notice pursuant to subdivision

 

 

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1(a)(1) of this Section informing that person that the Agency
2has evidence of an alleged violation, the Agency shall not
3disclose any investigative data concerning the alleged
4violation of the Act, any rule adopted under the Act, a permit
5granted by the Agency, or a condition of such a permit. For the
6purposes of this subsection (g), "investigative data" means the
7identity of an individual, data on individuals which is
8non-public, and all data collected by the Agency as part of an
9active investigation undertaken for the purposes set forth in
10subdivision (a)(1) of this Section.
11(Source: P.A. 92-574, eff. 6-26-02; 93-152, eff. 7-10-03.)
 
12    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
13becoming law.