415 ILCS 5/ Environmental Protection Act.

(415 ILCS 5/54.13) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1054.13)

Sec. 54.13. "Used tire" means a worn, damaged, or defective tire that is not mounted on a vehicle.

(Source: P.A. 92-24, eff. 7-1-01.)

(415 ILCS 5/54.14) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1054.14)

Sec. 54.14. "Vector" means arthropods, rats, mice, birds or other animals capable of carrying disease-producing organisms to a human or animal host. "Vector" does not include animals that transmit disease to humans only when used as human food.

(Source: P.A. 86-452.)

(415 ILCS 5/54.15) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1054.15)

Sec. 54.15. "Vehicle" means every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn, except devices moved by human power or by animal power, devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks, and motorized wheelchairs.

(Source: P.A. 86-452.)

(415 ILCS 5/54.16) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1054.16)

Sec. 54.16. "Waste tire" means a used tire that has been disposed of.

(Source: P.A. 86-452.)

(415 ILCS 5/55) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1055)

Sec. 55. Prohibited activities.

(a) No person shall:

(1) Cause or allow the open dumping of any used or waste tire.

(2) Cause or allow the open burning of any used or waste tire.

(3) Except at a tire storage site which contains more than 50 used tires, cause or allow the storage of any used tire unless the tire is altered, reprocessed, converted, covered, or otherwise prevented from accumulating water.

(4) Cause or allow the operation of a tire storage site except in compliance with Board regulations.

(5) Abandon, dump or dispose of any used or waste tire on private or public property, except in a sanitary landfill approved by the Agency pursuant to regulations adopted by the Board.

(6) Fail to submit required reports, tire removal agreements, or Board regulations.

(b) (Blank.)

(b-1) No person shall knowingly mix any used or waste tire, either whole or cut, with municipal waste, and no owner or operator of a sanitary landfill shall accept any used or waste tire for final disposal; except that used or waste tires, when separated from other waste, may be accepted if the sanitary landfill provides and maintains a means for shredding, slitting, or chopping whole tires and so treats whole tires and, if approved by the Agency in a permit issued under this Act, uses the used or waste tires for alternative uses, which may include on-site practices such as lining of roadways with tire scraps, alternative daily cover, or use in a leachate collection system. In the event the physical condition of a used or waste tire makes shredding, slitting, chopping, reuse, reprocessing, or other alternative use of the used or waste tire impractical or infeasible, then the sanitary landfill, after authorization by the Agency, may accept the used or waste tire for disposal.

(c) Any person who sells new or used tires at retail or operates a tire storage site or a tire disposal site which contains more than 50 used or waste tires shall give notice of such activity to the Agency. Any person engaging in such activity for the first time after January 1, 1990, shall give notice to the Agency within 30 days after the date of commencement of the activity. The form of such notice shall be specified by the Agency and shall be limited to information regarding the following:

(1) the name and address of the owner and operator;

(2) the name, address and location of the operation;

(3) the type of operations involving used and waste tires (storage, disposal, conversion or processing); and

(4) the number of used and waste tires present at the location.

(d) Beginning January 1, 1992, no person shall cause or allow the operation of:

(1) a tire storage site which contains more than 50 used tires, unless the owner or operator, by January 1, 1992 (or the January 1 following commencement of operation, whichever is later) and January 1 of each year thereafter, (i) registers the site with the Agency, except that the registration requirement in this item (i) does not apply in the case of a tire storage site required to be permitted under subsection (d-5), (ii) certifies to the Agency that the site complies with any applicable standards adopted by the Board pursuant to Section 55.2, (iii) reports to the Agency the number of tires accumulated, the status of vector controls, and the actions taken to handle and process the tires, and (iv) pays the fee required under subsection (b) of Section 55.6; or

(2) a tire disposal site, unless the owner or operator (i) has received approval from the Agency after filing a tire removal agreement pursuant to Section 55.4, or (ii) has entered into a written agreement to participate in a consensual removal action under Section 55.3.

The Agency shall provide written forms for the annual registration and certification required under this subsection (d).

(d-4) On or before January 1, 2015, the owner or operator of each tire storage site that contains used tires totaling more than 10,000 passenger tire equivalents, or at which more than 500 tons of used tires are processed in a calendar year, shall submit documentation demonstrating its compliance with Board rules adopted under this Title. This documentation must be submitted on forms and in a format prescribed by the Agency.

(d-5) Beginning July 1, 2016, no person shall cause or allow the operation of a tire storage site that contains used tires totaling more than 10,000 passenger tire equivalents, or at which more than 500 tons of used tires are processed in a calendar year, without a permit granted by the Agency or in violation of any conditions imposed by that permit, including periodic reports and full access to adequate records and the inspection of facilities, as may be necessary to ensure compliance with this Act and with regulations and standards adopted under this Act.

(d-6) No person shall cause or allow the operation of a tire storage site in violation of the financial assurance rules established by the Board under subsection (b) of Section 55.2 of this Act. In addition to the remedies otherwise provided under this Act, the State's Attorney of the county in which the violation occurred, or the Attorney General, may, at the request of the Agency or on his or her own motion, institute a civil action for an immediate injunction, prohibitory or mandatory, to restrain any violation of this subsection (d-6) or to require any other action as may be necessary to abate or mitigate any immediate danger or threat to public health or the environment at the site. Injunctions to restrain a violation of this subsection (d-6) may include, but are not limited to, the required removal of all tires for which financial assurance is not maintained and a prohibition against the acceptance of tires in excess of the amount for which financial assurance is maintained.

(e) No person shall cause or allow the storage, disposal, treatment or processing of any used or waste tire in violation of any regulation or standard adopted by the Board.

(f) No person shall arrange for the transportation of used or waste tires away from the site of generation with a person known to openly dump such tires.

(g) No person shall engage in any operation as a used or waste tire transporter except in compliance with Board regulations.

(h) No person shall cause or allow the combustion of any used or waste tire in an enclosed device unless a permit has been issued by the Agency authorizing such combustion pursuant to regulations adopted by the Board for the control of air pollution and consistent with the provisions of Section 9.4 of this Act.

(i) No person shall cause or allow the use of pesticides to treat tires except as prescribed by Board regulations.

(j) No person shall fail to comply with the terms of a tire removal agreement approved by the Agency pursuant to Section 55.4.

(k) No person shall:

(1) Cause or allow water to accumulate in used or waste tires. The prohibition set forth in this paragraph (1) of subsection (k) shall not apply to used or waste tires located at a residential household, as long as not more than 4 used or waste tires at the site are covered and kept dry.

(2) Fail to collect a fee required under Section 55.8 of this Title.

(3) Fail to file a return required under Section 55.10 of this Title.

(4) Transport used or waste tires in violation of the registration and vehicle placarding requirements adopted by the Board.

(Source: P.A. 100-103, eff. 8-11-17; 100-327, eff. 8-24-17; 100-621, eff. 7-20-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

(415 ILCS 5/55.1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1055.1)

Sec. 55.1. (a) The prohibitions set forth in subdivision (a)(3) of Section 55 of this Act shall not apply to used tires:

(1) generated and located at a site as a result of the growing and harvesting of agricultural crops or the raising of animals, as long as not more than 20 used tires are located at the site;

(2) located at a residential household, as long as not more than 12 used tires are located at the site; or

(3) which were placed in service for recreational purposes prior to January 1, 1990 at a school, park or playground, provided that the used tires are altered by January 1, 1992.

(b) The prohibitions set forth in subdivisions (a)(3), (a)(4), (c), (d), (d-5), (d-6), (e), (g), and (k)(4) of Section 55 of this Act shall not apply to used or waste tires collected by a not-for-profit corporation if:

(1) the collection location has been approved by the applicable general purpose unit of local government;

(2) the collected tires are transported to a facility permitted by the Agency to store, process or dispose of used or waste tires within 7 days after collection; and

(3) the collection does not occur as a continuous business operation.

(c) The prohibitions set forth in subdivisions (a)(3), (a)(4), (c), (d), (d-5), (d-6), (e), (g), and (k)(4) of Section 55 of this Act shall not apply to used or waste tires collected by the State or a unit of local government, provided that:

(1) the collection is part of an established program to take preventive or corrective action regarding such tires;

(2) any staging sites for handling such tires are reasonably secure and regularly maintained in a safe manner; and

(3) the Agency is notified in writing during January of each calendar year regarding the location of the staging sites, the number of such tires accumulated, the status of vector controls, and actions taken to process such tires.

The Agency shall provide written confirmation to a State agency or unit of local government regarding the applicability of this subsection upon receipt of a written description of its established program, and each January following receipt of the annual report required under subdivision (c)(3) of this subsection.

For purposes of determining the applicability of this subsection, any municipality with a population over 1,000,000 may certify to the Agency by January 1, 1990 that it operates an established program. Upon the filing of such a certification, the established program shall be deemed to satisfy the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection.

(d) The prohibitions set forth in subdivision (a)(5) of Section 55 of this Act shall not apply to used tires that are generated and located at a permitted coal mining site after use on specialized coal hauling and extraction vehicles.

(Source: P.A. 98-656, eff. 6-19-14.)

(415 ILCS 5/55.2) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1055.2)

Sec. 55.2. (a) Not later than July 1, 1990, the Agency shall propose regulations which prescribe standards for the storage, disposal, processing and transportation of used and waste tires.

(b) Not later than one year after the receipt of the Agency's proposed regulations, the Board shall adopt, pursuant to Sections 27 and 28 of this Act, regulations which are consistent with the provisions of this Title. These regulations shall, at a minimum, specify: recordkeeping and reporting requirements; criteria for minimizing the danger of tire fires, including dimensions for piling tires and minimum aisle spacing; financial assurance criteria; and criteria for distinguishing storage from disposal. In addition, such regulations shall prohibit the use of pesticides as an ongoing means of demonstrating compliance with this Title.

(b-5) Not later than 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, the Agency shall propose, and, not later than 9 months after receipt of the Agency's proposal, the Board shall adopt, revisions to the rules adopted under this Title that are necessary to conform those rules to the requirements of this Title, including, but not limited to, revisions to those rules that are necessary to implement the changes made to this Act by this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly.

(c) In adopting regulations under this Section, the Board may impose different requirements for different categories of used or waste tire storage, disposal, transport, and processing.

(d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as limiting the general authority of the Board to promulgate regulations pursuant to Title VII of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-656, eff. 6-19-14.)

(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.)

(415 ILCS 5/55.4) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1055.4)

Sec. 55.4. (a) The owner or operator of a tire disposal site required to file and receive approval of a tire removal agreement under subsection (d) of Section 55 shall remove used or waste tires from the site in a manner that:

(1) minimizes the need for further maintenance;

(2) removes all used and waste tires and any residues therefrom; and

(3) protects human health during the removal and post-removal periods.

(b) A tire removal agreement submitted to the Agency shall include the following:

(1) A complete inventory of the tires located on the site.

(2) A description of how the removal will be conducted in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section.

(3) A description of the methods to be used during removal including, but not limited to, the methods for removing, transporting, processing, storing or disposing of tires and residues, and the offsite facilities to be used.

(4) A detailed description of other activities necessary during the removal period to ensure that the requirements of subsection (a) of this Section are met.

(5) A schedule for completing the removal of tires from the site, as required in subsection (d).

(c) For a site at which the owner or operator is proposing to proceed with removal, the Agency shall approve, modify or disapprove a proposed agreement within 90 days of receiving it. If the Agency does not approve the agreement, the Agency shall provide the owner or operator with a written statement of reasons for the refusal, and the owner or operator shall modify the agreement or submit a new agreement for approval within 30 days after receiving the statement. The Agency shall approve or modify the second proposed agreement within 60 days. If the Agency modifies the second proposed agreement, the agreement as modified shall become the approved agreement.

(d) Each approved agreement shall include a schedule by which the owner or operator must complete the removal activities. The total time allowed shall not exceed the following:

(1) one year if the site contains 1,000 tires or less;

(2) two years if the site contains more than 1,000 tires but less than 10,000 tires;

(3) five years if the site contains 10,000 or more tires.

The owner or operator may apply for an extension of time, no later than 90 days before the end of the time period specified in the agreement. The Agency shall not grant such an extension unless it determines that the owner or operator has proceeded to carry out the agreement with all due diligence. The requested extension of time may not exceed 3 years, and the Agency may approve the request as submitted or may approve a lesser amount of time.

(e) Within 60 days after the completion of removal activities under an approved agreement, the owner or operator shall submit to the Agency a certification that the site or the affected portion of the site has been cleared of tires in accordance with the approved agreement.

(f) Modification of or refusal to modify an agreement submitted by an owner or operator proposing to proceed with removal is a permit denial for purposes of subsection (a) of Section 40 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 86-452.)