EPA-PERMITS-MODIFICATIONS Senate SponsorsSen. James F. Clayborne, Jr.-William R. Haine, Dave Syverson-John O. Jones-Dale E. Risinger and Martin A. Sandoval House Sponsors(Rep. Dan Reitz-Jim Watson) 1/12/2011SenateSession Sine Die 415 ILCS 5/4from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1004415 ILCS 5/39from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1039415 ILCS 5/39.6 newAmends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, without public notice, to provide permit applicants with an opportunity to review and comment on draft permits. Authorizes the Agency, without public notice, to modify draft permits. Requires the Agency, to the maximum extent possible, to issue general (rather than site-specific) air permits. Requires the Agency to expedite NPDES permit renewals if certain requirements are met. Authorizes the Illinois Pollution Control Board to adopt rules providing for the issuance of air permits by rule, if it deems that a class of facilities or equipment does not "make a significant contribution of air contaminants to the atmosphere". Requires the Agency to issue permits to the owners or operators of facilities or equipment meeting the requirements of the rules adopted by the Board. Requires the Agency to create common company identification numbers to be used agency-wide to refer to companies that do business in the State. Requires the Agency to create a permit streamlining unit.Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to:30 ILCS 105/5.755Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Expedited Permit Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to create a permit expediting unit for the purpose of implementing an expedited permitting process. Provides that permit applicants may access the expedited permitting process if the permit is necessary to commence a construction or maintenance project that results in an investment by the applicant of at least $10 million and the applicant pays an expedited permit fee, to be established by the Agency by rule, but not to exceed 200% of the standard fee for an unexpedited permit. Provides that all expedited permit fees shall be deposited into the Expedited Permit Fund. Requires money in the Fund to be used to carry out the Agency's expedited permitting activities. Requires the Agency to form and convene a stakeholders group for the purpose of creating a priority list of suitable categories of sources to focus efforts in developing general permits. Requires the finalization of specified numbers of general permits within a certain period after the priority list is completed. Requires the Agency to adopt an expedited process for NPDES permit renewals if the applicant determines and certifies that no change necessitating a permit revision has occurred. Provides that the Board may, by rule, adopt construction and operating air permits for classes of facilities or equipment. Prohibits the Board from adopting an air permit authorizing construction of any facility defined as a "major source" under any applicable preconstruction permitting requirements of the federal Clean Air Act or regulations adopted under that Act. Requires the Agency to issue permits to the owners or operators of facilities or equipment that satisfy the requirements for an expedited air permit. Makes other changes.Fiscal Note (Environmental Protection Agency) SB 3344 would impose a cost on the Agency of $1.4 million per year, or $7.2 million over 5 years. This would cover the required 11 new full-time employees (FTEs), to staff the new unit as well as to implement the expanded use of general permitting and permitting by rule. Complicating matters are the proposed restrictions on the new fund created by the bill, coupled with the fact that the proposed expedited fees in the bill would fall woefully short of covering the Agency's cost since the Illinois EPA would not receive any fee for most of the affected permits covered by SB 3344. 2/10/2010SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. James F. Clayborne, Jr. 2/10/2010SenateFirst Reading 2/10/2010SenateReferred to Assignments 2/16/2010SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. William R. Haine 2/24/2010SenateAssigned to Environment 2/25/2010SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Dave Syverson 3/3/2010SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. John O. Jones 3/3/2010SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Dale E. Risinger 3/4/2010SenateDo Pass Environment; 008-000-000 3/4/2010SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 9, 2010 3/18/2010SenateSecond Reading 3/18/2010SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 23, 2010 3/19/2010SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As March 26, 2010 3/24/2010SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. James F. Clayborne, Jr. 3/24/2010SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments 3/24/2010SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Environment 3/24/2010SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Environment; 006-000-000 3/24/2010SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Martin A. Sandoval 3/24/2010SenateRecalled to Second Reading 3/24/2010SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Clayborne 3/24/2010SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading 3/24/2010SenateThird Reading - Passed; 056-000-000 3/25/2010HouseArrived in House 3/25/2010HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. Dan Reitz 3/25/2010HousePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading 3/25/2010HouseFirst Reading 3/25/2010HouseReferred to Rules Committee 4/12/2010HouseAssigned to Environment & Energy Committee 4/13/2010HouseFiscal Note Filed 4/15/2010HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jim Watson 4/21/2010HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Environment & Energy Committee; 018-000-000 4/22/2010HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 5/5/2010HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 5/5/2010HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate 5/7/2010HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 28, 2010 5/28/2010HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee 1/12/2011SenateSession Sine Die