103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB1578

 

Introduced 2/8/2023, by Sen. Adriane Johnson

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
415 ILCS 5/22.59
415 ILCS 5/22.59a new

    Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that owners and operators of CCR surface impoundments at electric generating plants that are within 4,000 feet of Lake Michigan shall close the CCR surface impoundment by removal and off-site disposal, pursuant to specified provisions and requirements. In additional provisions, requires an owner or operator of an electric generating plant located within 4,000 feet of Lake Michigan that generates or has generated CCR that is not disposed of, treated, stored, or abandoned in a CCR surface impoundment to remove from the owner's or operator's site, for off-site disposal, all CCR generated by the facility that is not disposed of, treated, stored, or abandoned in a CCR surface impoundment and remediate all soil and groundwater impacted by the CCR, in accordance with specified requirements. Requires owners or operators to submit specified plans and reports to the Environmental Protection Agency. Provides that an owner or operator shall post with the Agency a performance bond or other security for the purpose of ensuring removal and remediation in accordance with the provisions. Provides that the Agency may enter into such contracts and agreements as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of the provisions. Provides that neither the State, nor the Director of the Agency, nor any State employee shall be liable for any damages or injuries arising out of or resulting from any action taken under the provisions. Contains other provisions. Contains a severability provision. Effective immediately.


LRB103 05037 CPF 50051 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1578LRB103 05037 CPF 50051 b

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 22.59 and by adding Section 22.59a as
6follows:
 
7    (415 ILCS 5/22.59)
8    Sec. 22.59. CCR surface impoundments.
9    (a) The General Assembly finds that:
10        (1) the State of Illinois has a long-standing policy
11    to restore, protect, and enhance the environment,
12    including the purity of the air, land, and waters,
13    including groundwaters, of this State;
14        (2) a clean environment is essential to the growth and
15    well-being of this State;
16        (3) CCR generated by the electric generating industry
17    has caused groundwater contamination and other forms of
18    pollution at active and inactive plants throughout this
19    State;
20        (4) environmental laws should be supplemented to
21    ensure consistent, responsible regulation of all existing
22    CCR surface impoundments; and
23        (5) meaningful participation of State residents,

 

 

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1    especially vulnerable populations who may be affected by
2    regulatory actions, is critical to ensure that
3    environmental justice considerations are incorporated in
4    the development of, decision-making related to, and
5    implementation of environmental laws and rulemaking that
6    protects and improves the well-being of communities in
7    this State that bear disproportionate burdens imposed by
8    environmental pollution; and .
9        (6) the State recognizes the critical need to
10    zealously guard and vigilantly protect the water quality
11    and public uses of public bodies of water throughout the
12    State, including Lake Michigan.
13    Therefore, the purpose of this Section is to promote a
14healthful environment, including clean water, air, and land,
15meaningful public involvement, and the responsible disposal
16and storage of coal combustion residuals, so as to protect
17public health and to prevent pollution of the environment of
18this State.
19    The provisions of this Section shall be liberally
20construed to carry out the purposes of this Section.
21    (b) No person shall:
22        (1) cause or allow the discharge of any contaminants
23    from a CCR surface impoundment into the environment so as
24    to cause, directly or indirectly, a violation of this
25    Section or any regulations or standards adopted by the
26    Board under this Section, either alone or in combination

 

 

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1    with contaminants from other sources;
2        (2) construct, install, modify, operate, or close any
3    CCR surface impoundment without a permit granted by the
4    Agency, or so as to violate any conditions imposed by such
5    permit, any provision of this Section or any regulations
6    or standards adopted by the Board under this Section;
7        (3) cause or allow, directly or indirectly, the
8    discharge, deposit, injection, dumping, spilling, leaking,
9    or placing of any CCR upon the land in a place and manner
10    so as to cause or tend to cause a violation of this Section
11    or any regulations or standards adopted by the Board under
12    this Section; or
13        (4) construct, install, modify, or close a CCR surface
14    impoundment in accordance with a permit issued under this
15    Act without certifying to the Agency that all contractors,
16    subcontractors, and installers utilized to construct,
17    install, modify, or close a CCR surface impoundment are
18    participants in:
19            (A) a training program that is approved by and
20        registered with the United States Department of
21        Labor's Employment and Training Administration and
22        that includes instruction in erosion control and
23        environmental remediation; and
24            (B) a training program that is approved by and
25        registered with the United States Department of
26        Labor's Employment and Training Administration and

 

 

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1        that includes instruction in the operation of heavy
2        equipment and excavation.
3        Nothing in this paragraph (4) shall be construed to
4    require providers of construction-related professional
5    services to participate in a training program approved by
6    and registered with the United States Department of
7    Labor's Employment and Training Administration.
8        In this paragraph (4), "construction-related
9    professional services" includes, but is not limited to,
10    those services within the scope of: (i) the practice of
11    architecture as regulated under the Illinois Architecture
12    Practice Act of 1989; (ii) professional engineering as
13    defined in Section 4 of the Professional Engineering
14    Practice Act of 1989; (iii) the practice of a structural
15    engineer as defined in Section 4 of the Structural
16    Engineering Practice Act of 1989; or (iv) land surveying
17    under the Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act of 1989.
18    (c) (Blank).
19    (d) Before commencing closure of a CCR surface
20impoundment, in accordance with Board rules, the owner of a
21CCR surface impoundment must submit to the Agency for approval
22a closure alternatives analysis that analyzes all closure
23methods being considered and that otherwise satisfies all
24closure requirements adopted by the Board under this Act.
25Complete removal of CCR, as specified by the Board's rules,
26from the CCR surface impoundment must be considered and

 

 

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1analyzed. Section 3.405 does not apply to the Board's rules
2specifying complete removal of CCR. The selected closure
3method must ensure compliance with regulations adopted by the
4Board pursuant to this Section.
5    (e) Owners or operators of CCR surface impoundments who
6have submitted a closure plan to the Agency before May 1, 2019,
7and who have completed closure prior to 24 months after July
830, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-171) shall not
9be required to obtain a construction permit for the surface
10impoundment closure under this Section.
11    (f) Except for the State, its agencies and institutions, a
12unit of local government, or a not-for-profit electric
13cooperative as defined in Section 3.4 of the Electric Supplier
14Act, any person who owns or operates a CCR surface impoundment
15in this State shall post with the Agency a performance bond or
16other security for the purpose of: (i) ensuring closure of the
17CCR surface impoundment and post-closure care in accordance
18with this Act and its rules; and (ii) ensuring remediation of
19releases from the CCR surface impoundment. The only acceptable
20forms of financial assurance are: a trust fund, a surety bond
21guaranteeing payment, a surety bond guaranteeing performance,
22or an irrevocable letter of credit.
23        (1) The cost estimate for the post-closure care of a
24    CCR surface impoundment shall be calculated using a
25    30-year post-closure care period or such longer period as
26    may be approved by the Agency under Board or federal

 

 

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1    rules.
2        (2) The Agency is authorized to enter into such
3    contracts and agreements as it may deem necessary to carry
4    out the purposes of this Section. Neither the State, nor
5    the Director, nor any State employee shall be liable for
6    any damages or injuries arising out of or resulting from
7    any action taken under this Section.
8        (3) The Agency shall have the authority to approve or
9    disapprove any performance bond or other security posted
10    under this subsection. Any person whose performance bond
11    or other security is disapproved by the Agency may contest
12    the disapproval as a permit denial appeal pursuant to
13    Section 40.
14    (g) The Board shall adopt rules establishing construction
15permit requirements, operating permit requirements, design
16standards, reporting, financial assurance, and closure and
17post-closure care requirements for CCR surface impoundments.
18Not later than 8 months after July 30, 2019 (the effective date
19of Public Act 101-171) the Agency shall propose, and not later
20than one year after receipt of the Agency's proposal the Board
21shall adopt, rules under this Section. The Board shall not be
22deemed in noncompliance with the rulemaking deadline due to
23delays in adopting rules as a result of the Joint Committee
24Commission on Administrative Rules oversight process. The
25rules must, at a minimum:
26        (1) be at least as protective and comprehensive as the

 

 

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1    federal regulations or amendments thereto promulgated by
2    the Administrator of the United States Environmental
3    Protection Agency in Subpart D of 40 CFR 257 governing CCR
4    surface impoundments;
5        (2) specify the minimum contents of CCR surface
6    impoundment construction and operating permit
7    applications, including the closure alternatives analysis
8    required under subsection (d);
9        (3) specify which types of permits include
10    requirements for closure, post-closure, remediation and
11    all other requirements applicable to CCR surface
12    impoundments;
13        (4) specify when permit applications for existing CCR
14    surface impoundments must be submitted, taking into
15    consideration whether the CCR surface impoundment must
16    close under the RCRA;
17        (5) specify standards for review and approval by the
18    Agency of CCR surface impoundment permit applications;
19        (6) specify meaningful public participation procedures
20    for the issuance of CCR surface impoundment construction
21    and operating permits, including, but not limited to,
22    public notice of the submission of permit applications, an
23    opportunity for the submission of public comments, an
24    opportunity for a public hearing prior to permit issuance,
25    and a summary and response of the comments prepared by the
26    Agency;

 

 

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1        (7) prescribe the type and amount of the performance
2    bonds or other securities required under subsection (f),
3    and the conditions under which the State is entitled to
4    collect moneys from such performance bonds or other
5    securities;
6        (8) specify a procedure to identify areas of
7    environmental justice concern in relation to CCR surface
8    impoundments;
9        (9) specify a method to prioritize CCR surface
10    impoundments required to close under RCRA if not otherwise
11    specified by the United States Environmental Protection
12    Agency, so that the CCR surface impoundments with the
13    highest risk to public health and the environment, and
14    areas of environmental justice concern are given first
15    priority;
16        (10) define when complete removal of CCR is achieved
17    and specify the standards for responsible removal of CCR
18    from CCR surface impoundments, including, but not limited
19    to, dust controls and the protection of adjacent surface
20    water and groundwater; and
21        (11) describe the process and standards for
22    identifying a specific alternative source of groundwater
23    pollution when the owner or operator of the CCR surface
24    impoundment believes that groundwater contamination on the
25    site is not from the CCR surface impoundment.
26    (h) Any owner of a CCR surface impoundment that generates

 

 

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1CCR and sells or otherwise provides coal combustion byproducts
2pursuant to Section 3.135 shall, every 12 months, post on its
3publicly available website a report specifying the volume or
4weight of CCR, in cubic yards or tons, that it sold or provided
5during the past 12 months.
6    (i) The owner of a CCR surface impoundment shall post all
7closure plans, permit applications, and supporting
8documentation, as well as any Agency approval of the plans or
9applications, on its publicly available website.
10    (j) The owner or operator of a CCR surface impoundment
11shall pay the following fees:
12        (1) An initial fee to the Agency within 6 months after
13    July 30, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-171)
14    of:
15            $50,000 for each closed CCR surface impoundment;
16        and
17            $75,000 for each CCR surface impoundment that have
18        not completed closure.
19        (2) Annual fees to the Agency, beginning on July 1,
20    2020, of:
21            $25,000 for each CCR surface impoundment that has
22        not completed closure; and
23            $15,000 for each CCR surface impoundment that has
24        completed closure, but has not completed post-closure
25        care.
26    (k) All fees collected by the Agency under subsection (j)

 

 

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1shall be deposited into the Environmental Protection Permit
2and Inspection Fund.
3    (l) The Coal Combustion Residual Surface Impoundment
4Financial Assurance Fund is created as a special fund in the
5State treasury. Any moneys forfeited to the State of Illinois
6from any performance bond or other security required under
7this Section shall be placed in the Coal Combustion Residual
8Surface Impoundment Financial Assurance Fund and shall, upon
9approval by the Governor and the Director, be used by the
10Agency for the purposes for which such performance bond or
11other security was issued. The Coal Combustion Residual
12Surface Impoundment Financial Assurance Fund is not subject to
13the provisions of subsection (c) of Section 5 of the State
14Finance Act.
15    (m) The provisions of this Section shall apply, without
16limitation, to all existing CCR surface impoundments and any
17CCR surface impoundments constructed after July 30, 2019 (the
18effective date of Public Act 101-171), except to the extent
19prohibited by the Illinois or United States Constitutions.
20    (n) This subsection only applies to an owner or operator
21of a facility that (i) has at least one CCR surface impoundment
22and (ii) is an electric generating plant located within 4,000
23feet of Lake Michigan.
24    CCR in all CCR surface impoundments subject to this
25subsection, including CCR surface impoundments for which an
26adjusted standard has been sought pursuant to Section 28.1,

 

 

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1shall be closed by removal and off-site disposal, pursuant to
2this Section, applicable Illinois Pollution Control Board
3regulations, and the following provisions:
4        (1) CCR surface impoundments under this subsection are
5    not subject to the closure alternative analysis
6    requirement under subsection (d).
7        (2) Notwithstanding any other requirements of this
8    Section or Board rules or regulations, applications for
9    closure construction subject to this subsection shall be
10    submitted to the Agency within one year after the
11    effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General
12    Assembly. Application requirements and permit issuance
13    procedures shall follow those adopted by the Illinois
14    Pollution Control Board under this Section.
15        (3) If the owner or operator of any CCR surface
16    impoundment subject to this subsection has submitted a
17    construction permit application to the Agency to close a
18    subject CCR surface impoundment by any method other than
19    removal under Part 845 of Title 35 of the Illinois
20    Administrative Code, the owner or operator shall submit an
21    amended construction permit application that complies with
22    the requirements of this Section within one year after the
23    effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General
24    Assembly.
25        (4) Any permit issued by the Agency allowing a CCR
26    surface impoundment subject to this subsection to close in

 

 

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1    place shall be declared void. The Agency shall not issue
2    any operating permit or construction permit allowing
3    closure in place to the owner or operator of any CCR
4    surface impoundment subject to this subsection.
5(Source: P.A. 101-171, eff. 7-30-19; 102-16, eff. 6-17-21;
6102-137, eff. 7-23-21; 102-309, eff. 8-6-21; 102-558, eff.
78-20-21; 102-662, eff. 9-15-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; revised
88-24-22.)
 
9    (415 ILCS 5/22.59a new)
10    Sec. 22.59a. Great Lakes CCR protection.
11    (a) The General Assembly finds that:
12        (1) The State has a long-standing policy to restore,
13    protect, and enhance the environment and has a particular
14    interest in preserving the quality of Lake Michigan, which
15    serves as a drinking water source for millions of State
16    residents and provides irreplaceable recreational,
17    ecological, and economic value to Illinois.
18        (2) CCR generated by the electric generating industry
19    has contaminated, and continues to contaminate, Lake
20    Michigan, and CCR placed in unlined deposits, including
21    deposits outside of CCR surface impoundments as well as in
22    CCR surface impoundments, continues to threaten the
23    quality of Lake Michigan's water.
24        (3) The purpose of this Section is to protect Lake
25    Michigan against further contamination from CCR.

 

 

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1    (b) This Section only applies to an owner or operator of a
2facility that (i) generates or has generated CCR that is not
3disposed of, treated, stored, or abandoned in a CCR surface
4impoundment and (ii) is an electric generating plant located
5within 4,000 feet of Lake Michigan.
6    (c) An owner or operator of a facility that is subject to
7this Section shall remove from the owner's or operator's site,
8for off-site disposal, all CCR generated by the facility that
9is not disposed of, treated, stored, or abandoned in a CCR
10surface impoundment, and remediate all soil and groundwater
11impacted by that CCR, in accordance with the following:
12        (1) Within one year after the effective date of this
13    amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the owner or
14    operator shall conduct a site investigation and submit to
15    the Agency a site investigation report that identifies the
16    full extent of CCR at the site. The investigation and
17    report shall also identify the full extent of soil and
18    groundwater that, as a result of the CCR, exceeds the most
19    stringent remediation objectives adopted under Title XVII
20    of this Act.
21            (A) Within 5 days after submitting the report to
22        the Agency, the owner or operator shall post public
23        notice of the report's submission (i) on the owner or
24        operator's website, along with a copy of the report
25        for public viewing, and (ii) in a newspaper of general
26        distribution in the municipality where the applicable

 

 

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1        electric generating plant is located. The notice shall
2        be provided in English and Spanish and shall inform
3        the public of their right to submit comments on the
4        report to the Agency within 30 days after the date the
5        notice is published in the newspaper. The owner or
6        operator shall also maintain a copy of the report in a
7        public repository in the municipality where the
8        applicable electric generating plant is located for
9        public viewing, which shall be identified in the
10        public notice.
11            (B) Within 90 days after receipt of the site
12        investigation report, the Agency shall determine
13        whether the investigation and report comply with this
14        paragraph (1). In making its determination, the Agency
15        shall consider all public comments submitted within 30
16        days after the date of the newspaper notice required
17        under subparagraph (A).
18            (C) If the Agency determines the investigation and
19        report comply with this paragraph (1), it shall notify
20        the owner or operator in writing of its determination.
21        The owner or operator shall then submit a CCR removal
22        and remediation plan in accordance with paragraph (2).
23            (D) If the Agency determines the investigation or
24        report does not comply with this paragraph (1), it
25        shall notify the owner or operator in writing of its
26        determination and the reasons for the determination.

 

 

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1        The owner or operator shall then have 6 months to (i)
2        perform additional investigation or correct any
3        deficiencies and (ii) submit an amended site
4        investigation report to the Agency, which shall be
5        subject to the submission and review procedures set
6        forth in this paragraph (1).
7        (2) Within 6 months after the Agency's approval of the
8    site investigation report, the owner or operator shall
9    submit to the Agency a CCR removal and remediation plan
10    that will achieve the removal of all CCR at the site and
11    the remediation of all soil and groundwater that, as a
12    result of the CCR, exceeds the most stringent remediation
13    objectives adopted under Title XVII of this Act. The plan
14    shall include a schedule for completion of its major
15    milestones, along with the following:
16            (A) An analysis of the modes for transporting the
17        removed CCR off-site, including by rail, barge,
18        low-polluting trucks, or a combination of these
19        transportation modes.
20            (B) Removal of CCR consistent with 35 Ill. Adm.
21        Code 845.740 and 845.760.
22            (C) Within 5 days after submitting the plan to the
23        Agency, the owner or operator shall post public notice
24        of the plan's submission (i) on the owner or
25        operator's website, along with a copy of the plan for
26        public viewing, and (ii) in a newspaper of general

 

 

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1        distribution in the municipality where the applicable
2        electric generating plant is located. The notice shall
3        be provided in English and Spanish and shall inform
4        the public of their right to submit comments on the
5        plan to the Agency within 30 days after the date the
6        notice is published in the newspaper. The owner or
7        operator shall also maintain a copy of the report in a
8        public repository in the municipality where the
9        applicable electric generating plant is located for
10        public viewing, which shall be identified in the
11        public notice.
12            (D) Within 90 days after receipt of the plan, the
13        Agency shall determine whether the plan complies with
14        this paragraph (2). In making its determination, the
15        Agency shall consider all public comments submitted
16        within 30 days after the date of the newspaper notice
17        required under subparagraph (C).
18            (E) If the Agency determines the plan, with or
19        without Agency modifications, complies with this
20        paragraph (2), it shall notify the owner or operator
21        in writing of its determination. The owner or operator
22        shall then proceed with implementation of the plan,
23        including any modifications by the Agency, and
24        submission of a removal and remediation report in
25        accordance with paragraph (3).
26            (F) If the Agency determines the investigation or

 

 

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1        report does not comply with this paragraph (2), it
2        shall notify the owner or operator in writing of its
3        determination and the reasons for the determination.
4        The owner or operator shall then have 60 days to submit
5        an amended plan to the Agency, which shall be subject
6        to the submission and review procedures set forth in
7        subparagraphs (C) and (D).
8        (3) In accordance with a schedule approved by the
9    Agency, the owner or operator shall implement the
10    remediation plan and provide the Agency with updates on
11    the plan's implementation. Upon completion of the plan,
12    the owner or operator shall submit a completion report to
13    the Agency.
14            (A) Within 5 days after submitting an update or
15        the completion report to the Agency on plan
16        implementation, the owner or operator shall post
17        public notice of the report's submission (i) on the
18        owner or operator's website, along with a copy of the
19        report for public viewing, and (ii) in a newspaper of
20        general distribution in the municipality where the
21        applicable electric generating plant is located. The
22        notice shall be provided in English and Spanish and
23        shall inform the public of their right to submit
24        comments on the report to the Agency within 30 days
25        after the date the notice is published in the
26        newspaper. The owner or operator shall also maintain a

 

 

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1        copy of the report in a public repository in the
2        municipality where the applicable electric generating
3        plant is located for public viewing, which shall be
4        identified in the public notice.
5            (B) Within 90 days after receipt of the completion
6        report, the Agency shall determine whether the removal
7        and remediation has resulted in (i) the removal of all
8        CCR at the site and (ii) the remediation of all soil
9        and groundwater that, as a result of the CCR, exceeds
10        the most stringent remediation objectives adopted
11        under Title XVII of this Act. In making its
12        determination, the Agency shall consider all public
13        comments submitted within 30 days after the date of
14        the newspaper notice required under subparagraph (A).
15            (C) If the Agency determines that the required
16        removal and remediation is complete, it shall notify
17        the owner or operator in writing of its determination.
18            (D) If the Agency determines that the required
19        removal and remediation is not complete, it shall
20        notify the owner or operator in writing of its
21        determination and the reasons for the determination.
22        The owner or operator shall then continue removal or
23        remediation, and submit reports to the Agency, in
24        accordance with a schedule established by the Agency.
25        Reports shall be subject to the submission and review
26        procedures set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B). If

 

 

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1        necessary, the owner or operator may amend the plan
2        and submit it for review and approval in accordance
3        with paragraph (2).
4    (d) Except for the State, its agencies and institutions, a
5unit of local government, or a not-for-profit electric
6cooperative as defined in Section 3.4 of the Electric Supplier
7Act, an owner or operator shall post with the Agency a
8performance bond or other security for the purpose of ensuring
9removal and remediation in accordance with this Section. The
10only acceptable forms of financial assurance are the forms of
11financial assurance that are acceptable for CCR surface
12impoundments under Section 22.59.
13    (e) The Agency may enter into such contracts and
14agreements as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of
15this Section. Neither the State, nor the Director of the
16Agency, nor any State employee shall be liable for any damages
17or injuries arising out of or resulting from any action taken
18under this Section.
19    (f) The Agency may approve or disapprove any performance
20bond or other security posted under this Section. Any person
21whose performance bond or other security is disapproved by the
22Agency may contest the disapproval as a permit denial appeal
23pursuant to Section 40.
 
24    Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
25severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
 

 

 

SB1578- 20 -LRB103 05037 CPF 50051 b

1    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
2becoming law.