2019 Illinois Compiled Statutes
Chapter 415 - ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
415 ILCS 5/ - Environmental Protection Act.
Title XIII - Miscellaneous Provisions

(415 ILCS 5/Tit. XIII heading)

(415 ILCS 5/46) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1046)
Sec. 46. (a) Any municipality, sanitary district, county or other public body created by or pursuant to State law and having jurisdiction over disposal of sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes, which has been directed by an order issued by the Board or by the circuit court to abate any violation of this Act or of any regulation adopted thereunder shall, unless such order be set aside upon review, take steps for the acquisition or construction of such facilities, or for such repair, alteration, extension or completion of existing facilities, or for such modification of existing practices as may be necessary to comply with the order. The cost of the acquisition, construction, repair, alteration, completion, or extension of such facilities, or of such modification of practices shall be paid out of funds on hand available for such purposes, or out of the general funds of such public body not otherwise appropriated.
If funds on hand or unappropriated are insufficient for the purposes of this Section, the necessary funds shall be raised by the issuance of either general obligation or revenue bonds. If the estimated cost of the steps necessary to be taken by such public body to comply with such order is such that the bond issue, necessary to finance such project, would not raise the total outstanding bonded indebtedness of such public body in excess of any limit which may be imposed upon such indebtedness, the necessary bonds may be issued as a direct obligation of such public body and retired pursuant to general law governing the issue of such bonds. No election or referendum shall be necessary for the issuance of bonds under this Section.
The funds made available by the issuance of direct obligation or revenue bonds as herein provided shall constitute a Sanitary Fund, and shall be used for no other purpose than for carrying out such order or orders of the Board.
The Attorney General shall enforce this provision of the Act by an action for mandamus, injunction, or other appropriate relief.
Any general obligation bonds issued under this Section, or any revenue bonds issued under this Section as limited bonds pursuant to Section 15.01 of the Local Government Debt Reform Act, are subject to the requirements of the Bond Issue Notification Act.
(b) In order to be eligible for federal grants for construction of sewage works pursuant to Section 201(g) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended, any sanitary district, drainage district, municipality, county, special district or other unit of local government established pursuant to State law, that owns or operates sewage works may adopt, in accordance with such unit's statutory procedures, ordinances or regulations to provide for systems of proportionate cost sharing for operation and maintenance by recipients of such unit's waste treatment services, to provide for payments by industrial users of costs of sewage works construction allocable to the treatment of industrial wastes, and to provide such other capabilities as may be necessary to comply with Sections 204(b), 307, and 308 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended.
(c) In order to comply with Section 307 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder, the units of local government identified in subsection (b) of this Section may adopt, in accordance with such unit's statutory procedures, ordinances or regulations to enable the unit of government, as regards industrial users of sewage works, to control through permit, contract, order or similar means, the nature and amount of pollutants discharged to the sewage works, to require compliance with applicable pretreatment standards and requirements, to require compliance schedules and the submission of notices and self-monitoring reports related thereto, to carry out inspection and monitoring procedures in order to determine compliance or noncompliance with the applicable pretreatment standards and requirements, to obtain remedies including, but not limited to, injunctive relief and civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance with pretreatment standards and requirements, and to provide such other capabilities as may be necessary to comply with Section 307 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(Source: P.A. 89-655, eff. 1-1-97.)

(415 ILCS 5/47) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1047)
Sec. 47. (a) The State of Illinois and all its agencies, institutions, officers and subdivisions shall comply with all requirements, prohibitions, and other provisions of the Act and of regulations adopted thereunder.
(b) (Blank).
(c) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 97-220, eff. 7-28-11.)

(415 ILCS 5/48) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1048)
Sec. 48. (a) Whenever the Board has adopted regulations respecting the equipment, specifications, use, inspection, or sale of vehicles, vessels, or aircraft, no department or agency shall license any such vehicles, vessels, or aircraft for operation in this State in the absence of such proof as the Board may prescribe that the equipment in question satisfies the Board's regulations.
(b) Whenever the Board has adopted regulations limiting vehicle, vessel, or aircraft operations to essential or other classes of use under certain conditions, the department or agency responsible for the licensing shall issue indicia of such use, subject to standards prescribed by the Board, for each vehicle, vessel, or aircraft qualifying therefor.
(Source: P.A. 76-2429.)

(415 ILCS 5/49) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1049)
Sec. 49. Proceedings governed by Act; compliance as defense.
(a) (Blank.)
(b) All proceedings respecting acts done before the effective date of this Act shall be determined in accordance with the law and regulations in force at the time such acts occurred. All proceedings instituted for actions taken after the effective date of this Act (July 1, 1970) shall be governed by this Act.
(c) (Blank.)
(d) (Blank.)
(e) Compliance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board under this Act shall constitute a prima facie defense to any action, legal, equitable, or criminal, or an administrative proceeding for a violation of this Act, brought by any person.
(Source: P.A. 92-574, eff. 6-26-02.)

(415 ILCS 5/50) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1050)
Sec. 50. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 76-2429. Repealed by P.A. 92-574, eff. 6-26-02.)

(415 ILCS 5/51) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1051)
Sec. 51. If any Section, subsection, sentence or clause of this Act shall be adjudged unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the Act as a whole or of any Section, subsection, sentence or clause thereof not adjudged unconstitutional.
(Source: P.A. 76-2429.)

(415 ILCS 5/52) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1052)
Sec. 52. (a) No person shall fire, or in any other way discriminate against, or cause to be fired or discriminated against, any employee or any authorized representative of employees by reason of the fact that such employee or representative has filed, instituted, or caused to be filed or instituted any proceeding under this Act, or has testified or is about to testify in any proceeding resulting from the administration or enforcement of the provisions of this Act, or offers any evidence of any violation of this Act.
(b) Any employee or a representative of employees who believes that he has been fired or otherwise discriminated against by any person in violation of subsection (a) of this Section may, within 30 days after such alleged violation occurs, apply to the Director of the Department of Labor for a review of such firing or alleged discrimination. A copy of the application shall be sent to such person who shall be the respondent. Upon receipt of such application, the Director of the Department of Labor shall cause such investigation to be made as he deems appropriate. Such investigation shall provide an opportunity for a public hearing at the request of any party to such review to enable the parties to present information relating to such alleged violation. The parties shall be given written notice of the time and place of the hearing at least 5 days prior to the hearing. Upon receiving the report of such investigation, the Director shall make findings of fact. If he finds that such violation did occur, he shall issue a decision, incorporating an order therein of his findings, requiring the party committing such violation to take such affirmative action to abate the violation as the Director deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, the rehiring or reinstatement of the employee or representative of employees to his former position and shall be fully compensated for the time he was unemployed. If he finds that there was no such violation, he shall issue an order denying the application. Such order issued by the Director under this subparagraph shall be subject to judicial review under the Administrative Review Law, and all amendments and modifications thereof.
(c) Whenever an order is issued under this Section to abate such violation, at the request of the applicant a sum equal to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses (including attorney's fees) as determined by the Director to have been reasonably incurred by the applicant for or in connection with the commencement and prosecution of such proceedings shall be assessed against the person committing such violation.
(d) This Section shall not apply to any employee who, acting without direction from his employer, or his agents, deliberately fails to comply with any requirement of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 83-1079.)

(415 ILCS 5/52.2)
Sec. 52.2. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 88-690, eff. 1-24-95. Repealed by P.A. 94-580, eff. 8-12-05.)

(415 ILCS 5/52.3-1)
Sec. 52.3-1. Findings; purpose.
(a) The General Assembly finds that:
(1) During the last decade, considerable expertise in

pollution prevention, sophisticated emissions monitoring and tracking techniques, compliance auditing methods, stakeholder involvement, and innovative approaches to control pollution have been developed.

(2) Substantial opportunities exist to reduce the

amount of or prevent adverse impacts from emissions or discharges of pollutants or wastes through the use of innovative and cost effective measures not currently recognized by or allowed under existing environmental laws, rules, and regulations.

(3) There are persons regulated under this Act who

have demonstrated excellence and leadership in environmental compliance or stewardship or pollution prevention and, through the implementation of innovative measures, who can achieve further reductions in emissions or discharges of pollutants or wastes or continued environmental stewardship.

(4) Current environmental laws and regulations have,

in some instances, resulted in burdensome transactional requirements that are unnecessarily costly and complex for regulated entities and have proven to be frustrating to the public that is concerned about environmental protection.

(5) The goals of environmental protection will be

best served by promoting and evaluating the efforts of those persons who are ready to achieve measurable and verifiable pollution reductions in excess of the otherwise applicable statutory and regulatory requirements or who can demonstrate real environmental risk reduction, promote pollution prevention, foster superior environmental compliance by other persons regulated under this Act, and who can improve stakeholder involvement in environmental decision making.

(6) The United States Environmental Protection Agency

is operating a program entitled "National Environmental Performance Track" 65 Federal Register 41655 (July 6, 2000) (Federal Performance Track Program) to recognize and reward businesses and public facilities that demonstrate strong environmental performance beyond current regulatory requirements. There should be a process that allows regulatory flexibility available to a participant in the Federal Performance Track Program to be also granted in the State if the participant's proposal is acceptable to the Agency.

(7) A process for implementing and evaluating

innovative environmental measures on a pilot project basis should be developed and implemented in this State.

(b) It is the purpose of this Section to create a voluntary pilot program by which the Agency may enter into Environmental Management System Agreements with persons regulated under this Act to implement innovative environmental measures not otherwise recognized or allowed under existing laws and regulations of this State if those measures:
(1) achieve emissions reductions or reductions in

discharges or wastes beyond the otherwise applicable statutory and regulatory requirements through pollution prevention or other suitable means; or

(2) achieve real environmental risk reduction or

foster environmental compliance by other persons regulated under this Act in a manner that is clearly superior to the existing regulatory system.

These Agreements may be executed with participants in the Federal Performance Track Program if the provisions are acceptable to the Agency.
(c) This program is a voluntary pilot program. Participation is at the discretion of the Agency, and any decision by the Agency to reject an initial proposal under this Section is not appealable. An initial Agreement may be renewed for appropriate time periods if the Agency finds the Agreement continues to meet applicable requirements and the purposes of this Section.
(d) The Agency shall develop and make publicly available a program guidance document regarding participation in the pilot program. A draft document shall be distributed for review and comment by interested parties and a final document shall be completed by December 1, 1996. At a minimum, this document shall include the following:
(1) The approximate number of projects that the

Agency envisions being part of the pilot program.

(2) The types of projects and facilities that the

Agency believes would be most useful to be a part of the pilot program.

(3) A description of potentially useful environmental

management systems, such as ISO 14000.

(4) A description of suitable Environmental

Performance Plans, including appropriate provisions or opportunities for promoting pollution prevention and sustainable development.

(5) A description of practices and procedures to

ensure that performance is measurable and verifiable.

(6) A characterization of less-preferred practices

that can generate adverse consequences such as multi-media pollutant transfers.

(7) A description of suitable practices for

productive stakeholder involvement in project development and implementation that may include, but need not be limited to, consensus-based decision making and appropriate technical assistance.

(e) The Agency has the authority to develop and distribute written guidance, fact sheets, or other documents that explain, summarize, or describe programs operated under this Act or regulations. The written guidance, fact sheets, or other documents shall not be considered rules and shall not be subject to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
(Source: P.A. 92-397, eff. 1-1-02; 93-171, eff. 7-10-03.)

(415 ILCS 5/52.3-2)
Sec. 52.3-2. Agency authority; scope of agreement.
(a) The Agency may enter into an initial Environmental Management System Agreement with any person regulated under this Act to implement innovative environmental measures that relate to or involve provisions of this Act, even if one or more of the terms of such an Agreement would be inconsistent with an otherwise applicable statute or regulation of this State. Participation in this program is limited to those persons who have submitted an Environmental Management System Agreement that is acceptable to the Agency and who are not currently subject to enforcement action under this Act.
(b) The Agency may adopt rules to implement this Section. Without limiting the generality of this authority, those regulations may, among other things:
(1) Specify the criteria an applicant must meet to

participate in this program.

(2) Specify the minimum contents of a proposed

Environmental Management System Agreement, including, without limitation, the following:

(A) requiring identification of all State and

federal statutes, rules, and regulations applicable to the facility;

(B) requiring identification of all statutes,

rules, and regulations that are inconsistent with one or more terms of the proposed Environmental Management System Agreement;

(C) requiring a statement of how the proposed

Environmental Management System Agreement will achieve one or more of the purposes of this Section;

(D) requiring identification of those members of

the general public, representatives of local communities, and environmental groups who may have an interest in the Environmental Management System Agreement; and

(E) requiring identification of how a participant

will demonstrate ongoing compliance with the terms of its Environmental Management System Agreement, which may include an evaluation of a participant's performance under the Environmental Management System Agreement by a third party acceptable to the Agency. Compliance with the Agreement shall be determined not less than annually.

(3) Specify the procedures for review by the Agency

of Environmental Management System Agreements.

(4) Specify the procedures for public participation

in, including notice of and comment on, Environmental Management System Agreements and stakeholder involvement in design and implementation of specific projects that are undertaken.

(5) Specify the procedures for voluntary termination

of an Environmental Management System Agreement.

(6) Specify the type of performance guarantee to be

provided by an applicant for participation in this program. The nature of the performance guarantee shall be directly related to the complexity of and environmental risk associated with the proposed Environmental Management System Agreement.

(c) The Agency shall propose by December 31, 1996, and the Board shall promulgate, criteria and procedures for involuntary termination of Environmental Management System Agreements. The Board shall complete such rulemaking no later than 180 days after receipt of the Agency's proposal.
(d) After July 1, 2003, the Agency may enter into an initial Environmental Management System Agreement with any participant in the Federal Performance Track Program, in accordance with the following:
(1) The participant submits, in writing, a proposed

Environmental Management System Agreement to the Agency.

(1.5) The Agency shall provide notice to the public,

including an opportunity for public comment and hearing in accordance with the procedures set forth in 35 Ill. Adm. Code Part 164, on each proposal filed with the Agency under this subsection (d).

(2) The Agency shall have 120 days after the public

comment period, unless the participant grants an extension, to execute a proposed Environmental Management System Agreement.

(3) Failure to execute an agreement shall be deemed a

rejection.

(4) A rejection of a proposed Environmental

Management System Agreement by the Agency shall not be appealable.

(Source: P.A. 92-397, eff. 1-1-02; 93-171, eff. 7-10-03.)

(415 ILCS 5/52.3-3)
Sec. 52.3-3. Effect of Environmental Management System Agreements.
(a) An Environmental Management System Agreement shall operate in lieu of all applicable requirements under Illinois and federal environmental statutes, regulations, and existing permits that are identified in the Agreement. Any environmental statute, regulation, or condition in an existing permit that differs from a term or condition in an Agreement shall cease to apply from the effective date of an initial or renewed Agreement until it is terminated or expires.
(b) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section, no Agreement entered into by the Agency may allow a participant to cause air or water pollution or an unauthorized release in violation of this Act.
(c) Nothing in this Section shall reduce, eliminate, or in any way affect any fees that a participant in this program may be subject to under any federal environmental statute or regulation or under this Act or any rule promulgated hereunder.
(d) Applicants for participation in the Environmental Management System Agreement Program shall pay all costs associated with public notice and hearings.
(Source: P.A. 89-465, eff. 6-13-96.)

(415 ILCS 5/52.3-4)
Sec. 52.3-4. Performance assurance.
(a) The Agency shall ensure that each Environmental Management System Agreement contains appropriate provisions for performance assurance. Those provisions may specify types of performance guarantees to be provided by the participant to assure performance of the terms and conditions of the Agreement.
(b) In the case of deficient performance of any term or condition in an Environmental Management System Agreement that prevents achievement of the stated purposes in subsection (b) of Section 52.3-1, the Agency may terminate the Agreement and the participant may be subject to enforcement in accordance with the provisions of Section 31 or 42 of this Act.
(b-5) The Agency may terminate an Agreement executed pursuant to subsection (d) of Section 52.3-1 if participation in the Federal Performance Track Program ceases.
(c) If the Agreement is terminated, the facility shall have sufficient time to apply for and receive any necessary permits to continue the operations in effect during the course of the Environmental Management Systems Agreement. Any such application shall also be deemed a timely and complete application for renewal of an existing permit under applicable law.
(d) The Agency may adopt rules that are necessary to carry out its duties under this Section including, but not limited to, rules that provide mechanisms for alternative dispute resolution and performance assurance.
(e) Nothing in this Section shall limit the authority or ability of a State's Attorney or the Attorney General to proceed pursuant to Section 43(a) of this Act, or to enforce Section 44 or 44.1 of this Act, except that for the purposes of enforcement under Section 43(a), 44, or 44.1, an Agreement shall be deemed to be a permit issued under this Act to engage in activities authorized under the Agreement.
(Source: P.A. 93-171, eff. 7-10-03.)

(415 ILCS 5/52.3-5)
Sec. 52.3-5. Effect of amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. Nothing contained in this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall remove any liability for any operation, site, or facility operating without any required legal permit or authorization for activities taking place prior to the effective date of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 96-611, eff. 8-24-09.)

(415 ILCS 5/52.3-10)
Sec. 52.3-10. Effect of amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. Nothing contained in this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall remove any liability for any operation, site, or facility operating without any required legal permit or authorization for activities taking place prior to the effective date of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 96-1068, eff. 7-16-10.)

(415 ILCS 5/52.5)
Sec. 52.5. Microbead-free waters.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Over the counter drug" means a drug that is a personal care product that contains a label that identifies the product as a drug as required by 21 CFR 201.66. An "over the counter drug" label includes:
(1) A drug facts panel; or
(2) A statement of the active ingredients with a list

of those ingredients contained in the compound, substance, or preparation.

"Personal care product" means any article intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body or any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance, and any article intended for use as a component of any such article. "Personal care product" does not include any prescription drugs.
"Plastic" means a synthetic material made from linking monomers through a chemical reaction to create an organic polymer chain that can be molded or extruded at high heat into various solid forms retaining their defined shapes during life cycle and after disposal.
"Synthetic plastic microbead" means any intentionally added non-biodegradable solid plastic particle measured less than 5 millimeters in size and is used to exfoliate or cleanse in a rinse-off product.
(b) The General Assembly hereby finds that microbeads, a synthetic alternative ingredient to such natural materials as ground almonds, oatmeal, and pumice, found in over 100 personal care products, including facial cleansers, shampoos, and toothpastes, pose a serious threat to the State's environment.
Microbeads have been documented to collect harmful pollutants already present in the environment and harm fish and other aquatic organisms that form the base of the aquatic food chain. Recently, microbeads have been recorded in Illinois water bodies, and in particular, the waters of Lake Michigan.
Although synthetic plastic microbeads are a safe and effective mild abrasive ingredient effectively used for gently removing dead skin, there are recent concerns about the potential environmental impact of these materials. More research is needed on any adverse consequences, but a number of cosmetic manufacturers have already begun a voluntary process for identifying alternatives that allay those concerns. Those alternatives will be carefully evaluated to assure safety and implemented in a timely manner.
Without significant and costly improvements to the majority of the State's sewage treatment facilities, microbeads contained in products will continue to pollute Illinois' waters and hinder the recent substantial economic investments in redeveloping Illinois waterfronts and the ongoing efforts to restore the State's lakes and rivers and recreational and commercial fisheries.
(c) Effective December 31, 2017, no person shall manufacture for sale a personal care product, except for an over the counter drug, that contains synthetic plastic microbeads as defined in this Section.
(d) Effective December 31, 2018, no person shall accept for sale a personal care product, except for an over the counter drug, that contains synthetic plastic microbeads as defined in this Section.
(e) Effective December 31, 2018, no person shall manufacture for sale an over the counter drug that contains synthetic plastic microbeads as defined in this Section.
(f) Effective December 31, 2019, no person shall accept for sale an over the counter drug that contains synthetic plastic microbeads as defined in this Section.
(Source: P.A. 98-638, eff. 1-1-15.)