Public Act 0078 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0072 Enrolled LRB098 02802 JDS 32810 b

Public Act 098-0078

AN ACT concerning safety.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

(30 ILCS 105/5.380 rep.)

Section 3. The State Finance Act is amended by repealing Section 5.380.

(225 ILCS 52/Act rep.)

Section 5. The Industrial Hygienists Licensure Act is repealed.

Section 7. The Commercial and Public Building Asbestos Abatement Act is amended by changing Section 20 as follows:

(225 ILCS 207/20)

Sec. 20. Powers and Duties of the Department.

(a) The Department is empowered to promulgate any rules necessary to ensure proper implementation and administration of this Act, and compliance with the federal Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act of 1990.

(b) Rules promulgated by the Department shall include, but not be limited to, rules relating to the correct and safe performance of response action services, rules for the assessment of civil penalties for violations of this Act or rules promulgated under it, and rules providing for the training and licensing of persons and firms (i) to perform asbestos inspection, (ii) to perform abatement work, and (iii) to serve as asbestos abatement contractors, response action contractors, and asbestos workers. The Department is empowered to inspect activities regulated by this Act to ensure compliance.

Except as otherwise provided by Department rule, on and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, any licensing requirement adopted pursuant to this Section that may be satisfied by an industrial hygienist licensed pursuant to the Industrial Hygienists Licensure Act repealed in this amendatory Act may be satisfied by a Certified Industrial Hygienist certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.

(c) In carrying out its responsibilities under this Act, the Department shall:

(1) Publish a list of response action contractors licensed under this Act, except that the Department shall not be required to publish a list of licensed asbestos workers; and

(2) Adopt rules for the collection of fees for training course approval and for the licensing of inspectors, project designers, contractors, supervisors, and workers.

(d) The provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act are hereby expressly adopted and shall apply to all administrative rules and procedures of the Department of Public Health under this Act, except that in case of conflict between the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and this Act the provisions of this Act shall control, and except that Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act relating to procedures for rulemaking does not apply to the adoption of any rule required by federal law in connection with which the Department is precluded by law from exercising any discretion.

(e) All final administrative decisions of the Department under this Act shall be subject to judicial review pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Review Law and the rules adopted under it. The term "administrative decision" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(f) The Director, after notice and opportunity for hearing to the applicant or license holder, may deny, suspend, or revoke a license or expunge such person from the State list in any case in which he or she finds that there has been a substantial failure to comply with the provisions of this Act or the standards or rules established under it. Notice shall be provided by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service setting forth the particular response for the proposed action and fixing a date, not less than 15 days from the date of such mailing or service, at which time the applicant, asbestos abatement contractor, or license holder shall be given an opportunity to request hearing.

The hearing shall be conducted by the Director or by an individual designated in writing by the Director as Hearing Officer to conduct the hearing. On the basis of any such hearing, or upon default of the asbestos abatement contractor, applicant or license holder, the Director shall make a determination specifying his or her findings and conclusions. A copy of the determination shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or served personally upon the applicant, contractor, or license holder.

The procedure governing hearings authorized by this Section shall be in accordance with rules promulgated by the Department. A full and complete record shall be kept of all proceedings, including the notice of hearing, complaint, and all other documents in the nature of pleadings, written motions filed in the proceedings, and the report and orders of the Director and Hearing Officer. All testimony shall be reported but need not be transcribed unless the decision is sought to be reviewed under the Administrative Review Law. A copy or copies of the transcript may be obtained by any interested party on payment of the cost of preparing the copy or copies. The Director or Hearing Officer shall, upon his or her own motion or on the written request of any party to the proceeding, issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and the giving of testimony by witnesses, and subpoenas duces tecum requiring the production of books, papers, records, or memoranda. All subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum issued under this Act may be served by any person of legal age. The fees of witnesses for attendance and travel shall be the same as the fees of witnesses before the courts of this State, such fees to be paid when the witness is excused from further attendance. When the witness is subpoenaed at the instance of the Director or Hearing Officer, such fees shall be paid in the same manner as other expenses of the Department, and when the witness is subpoenaed at the instance of any other party to any such proceeding the Department may require that the cost of service of the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum and the fee of the witness be borne by the party at whose instance the witness is summoned. In such case, the Department in its discretion may require a deposit to cover the cost of such service and witness fees. A subpoena or subpoena duces tecum so issued as above stated shall be served in the same manner as a subpoena issued by a circuit court.

Any circuit court of this State, upon the application of the Director, or upon the application of any other party to the proceeding, may, in its discretion, compel the attendance of witnesses, the production of books, papers, records, or memoranda and the giving of testimony before the Director or Hearing Officer conducting an investigation or holding a hearing authorized by this Act, by an attachment for contempt or otherwise, in the same manner as production of evidence may be compelled before the court.

The Director or Hearing Officer, or any party in an investigation or hearing before the Department, may cause the depositions of witnesses within this State to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for like depositions in civil actions in courts of this State, and, to that end, compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, records, or memoranda.

(Source: P.A. 89-143, eff. 7-14-95.)

Section 8. The Lead Poisoning Prevention Act is amended by changing Section 11.1 as follows:

(410 ILCS 45/11.1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1311.1)

Sec. 11.1. Licensing of lead abatement contractors and workers. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, performing lead abatement or mitigation without a license is a Class A misdemeanor. The Department shall provide by rule for the licensing of lead abatement contractors and lead abatement workers and shall establish standards and procedures for the licensure. The Department may collect a reasonable fee for the licenses. The fees shall be deposited into the Lead Poisoning Screening, Prevention, and Abatement Fund and used by the Department for the costs of licensing lead abatement contractors and workers and other activities prescribed by this Act.

The Department shall promote and encourage minorities and females and minority and female owned entities to apply for licensure under this Act as either licensed lead abatement workers or licensed lead abatement contractors.

The Department may adopt any rules necessary to ensure proper implementation and administration of this Act and of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 USC 2682 and 2684, and the regulations promulgated thereunder: Lead; Requirements for Lead-Based Paint Activities (40 CFR 745). The application of this Section shall not be limited to the activities taken in regard to lead poisoned children and shall include all activities related to lead abatement, mitigation and training.

Except as otherwise provided by Department rule, on and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, any licensing requirement adopted pursuant to this Section that may be satisfied by an industrial hygienist licensed pursuant to the Industrial Hygienists Licensure Act repealed in this amendatory Act may be satisfied by a Certified Industrial Hygienist certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.

(Source: P.A. 89-381, eff. 8-18-95.)

Section 10. The Environmental Protection Act is amended by changing Sections 17, 22.2, and 22.8 as follows:

(415 ILCS 5/17) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1017)

Sec. 17. Rules; chlorination requirements.

(a) The Board may adopt regulations governing the location, design, construction, and continuous operation and maintenance of public water supply installations, changes or additions which may affect the continuous sanitary quality, mineral quality, or adequacy of the public water supply, pursuant to Title VII of this Act.

(b) The Agency shall exempt from any mandatory chlorination requirement of the Board any community water supply which meets all of the following conditions:

(1) The population of the community served is not more than 5,000;

(2) Has as its only source of raw water one or more properly constructed wells into confined geologic formations not subject to contamination;

(3) Has no history of persistent or recurring contamination, as indicated by sampling results which show violations of finished water quality requirements, for the most recent five-year period;

(4) Does not provide any raw water treatment other than fluoridation;

(5) Has an active program approved by the Agency to educate water supply consumers on preventing the entry of contaminants into the water system;

(6) Has a certified operator of the proper class, or if it is an exempt community public water supply, under the Public Water Supply Operations Act has a registered person responsible in charge of operation of the public water supply;

(7) Submits samples for microbiological analysis at twice the frequency specified in the Board regulations; and

(8) A unit of local government seeking to exempt its public water supply from the chlorination requirement under this subsection (b) on or after September 9, 1983 shall be required to receive the approval of the voters of such local government. The proposition to exempt the community water supply from the mandatory chlorination requirement shall be placed on the ballot if the governing body of the local government adopts an ordinance or resolution directing the clerk of the local government to place such question on the ballot. The clerk shall cause the election officials to place the proposition on the ballot at the next election at which such proposition may be voted upon if a certified copy of the adopted ordinance or resolution is filed in his office at least 90 days before such election. The proposition shall also be placed on the ballot if a petition containing the signatures of at least 10% of the eligible voters residing in the local government is filed with the clerk at least 90 days before the next election at which the proposition may be voted upon. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

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Shall the community water supply of ..... (specify YES the unit of local government) be exempt from the mandatory -----------------------------

chlorination requirement NO of the State of Illinois?

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If the majority of the voters of the local government voting therein vote in favor of the proposition, the community water supply of that local government shall be exempt from the mandatory chlorination requirement, provided that the other requirements under this subsection (b) are met. If the majority of the vote is against such proposition, the community water supply may not be exempt from the mandatory chlorination requirement.

Agency decisions regarding exemptions under this subsection may be appealed to the Board pursuant to the provisions of Section 40(a) of this Act.

(c) Any supply showing contamination in its distribution system (including finished water storage) may be required to chlorinate until the Agency has determined that the source of contamination has been removed and all traces of contamination in the distribution system have been eliminated. Standby chlorination equipment may be required by the Agency if a supply otherwise exempt from chlorination shows frequent or gross episodes of contamination.

(Source: P.A. 92-574, eff. 6-26-02.)

(415 ILCS 5/22.2) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1022.2)

Sec. 22.2. Hazardous waste; fees; liability.

(a) There are hereby created within the State Treasury 2 special funds to be known respectively as the "Hazardous Waste Fund" and the "Hazardous Waste Research Fund", constituted from the fees collected pursuant to this Section. In addition to the fees collected under this Section, the Hazardous Waste Fund shall include other moneys made available from any source for deposit into the Fund.

(b)(1) On and after January 1, 1989, the Agency shall collect from the owner or operator of each of the following sites a fee in the amount of:

(A) 9 cents per gallon or $18.18 per cubic yard, if the hazardous waste disposal site is located off the site where such waste was produced. The maximum amount payable under this subdivision (A) with respect to the hazardous waste generated by a single generator and deposited in monofills is $30,000 per year. If, as a result of the use of multiple monofills, waste fees in excess of the maximum are assessed with respect to a single waste generator, the generator may apply to the Agency for a credit.

(B) 9 cents or $18.18 per cubic yard, if the hazardous waste disposal site is located on the site where such waste was produced, provided however the maximum amount of fees payable under this paragraph (B) is $30,000 per year for each such hazardous waste disposal site.

(C) If the hazardous waste disposal site is an underground injection well, $6,000 per year if not more than 10,000,000 gallons per year are injected, $15,000 per year if more than 10,000,000 gallons but not more than 50,000,000 gallons per year are injected, and $27,000 per year if more than 50,000,000 gallons per year are injected.

(D) 3 cents per gallon or $6.06 per cubic yard of hazardous waste received for treatment at a hazardous waste treatment site, if the hazardous waste treatment site is located off the site where such waste was produced and if such hazardous waste treatment site is owned, controlled and operated by a person other than the generator of such waste. After treatment at such hazardous waste treatment site, the waste shall not be subject to any other fee imposed by this subsection (b). For purposes of this subsection (b), the term "treatment" is defined as in Section 3.505 but shall not include recycling, reclamation or reuse.

(2) The General Assembly shall annually appropriate to the Fund such amounts as it deems necessary to fulfill the purposes of this Act.

(3) The Agency shall have the authority to accept, receive, and administer on behalf of the State any moneys made available to the State from any source for the purposes of the Hazardous Waste Fund set forth in subsection (d) of this Section.

(4) Of the amount collected as fees provided for in this Section, the Agency shall manage the use of such funds to assure that sufficient funds are available for match towards federal expenditures for response action at sites which are listed on the National Priorities List; provided, however, that this shall not apply to additional monies appropriated to the Fund by the General Assembly, nor shall it apply in the event that the Director finds that revenues in the Hazardous Waste Fund must be used to address conditions which create or may create an immediate danger to the environment or public health or to the welfare of the people of the State of Illinois.

(5) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this subsection (b), sludge from a publicly-owned sewage works generated in Illinois, coal mining wastes and refuse generated in Illinois, bottom boiler ash, flyash and flue gas desulphurization sludge from public utility electric generating facilities located in Illinois, and bottom boiler ash and flyash from all incinerators which process solely municipal waste shall not be subject to the fee.

(6) For the purposes of this subsection (b), "monofill" means a facility, or a unit at a facility, that accepts only wastes bearing the same USEPA hazardous waste identification number, or compatible wastes as determined by the Agency.

(c) The Agency shall establish procedures, not later than January 1, 1984, relating to the collection of the fees authorized by this Section. Such procedures shall include, but not be limited to: (1) necessary records identifying the quantities of hazardous waste received or disposed; (2) the form and submission of reports to accompany the payment of fees to the Agency; and (3) the time and manner of payment of fees to the Agency, which payments shall be not more often than quarterly.

(d) Beginning July 1, 1996, the Agency shall deposit all such receipts in the State Treasury to the credit of the Hazardous Waste Fund, except as provided in subsection (e) of this Section. All monies in the Hazardous Waste Fund shall be used by the Agency for the following purposes:

(1) Taking whatever preventive or corrective action is necessary or appropriate, in circumstances certified by the Director, including but not limited to removal or remedial action whenever there is a release or substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance or pesticide; provided, the Agency shall expend no more than $1,000,000 on any single incident without appropriation by the General Assembly.

(2) To meet any requirements which must be met by the State in order to obtain federal funds pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, (P.L. 96-510).

(3) In an amount up to 30% of the amount collected as fees provided for in this Section, for use by the Agency to conduct groundwater protection activities, including providing grants to appropriate units of local government which are addressing protection of underground waters pursuant to the provisions of this Act.

(4) To fund the development and implementation of the model pesticide collection program under Section 19.1 of the Illinois Pesticide Act.

(5) To the extent the Agency has received and deposited monies in the Fund other than fees collected under subsection (b) of this Section, to pay for the cost of Agency employees for services provided in reviewing the performance of response actions pursuant to Title XVII of this Act.

(6) In an amount up to 15% of the fees collected annually under subsection (b) of this Section, for use by the Agency for administration of the provisions of this Section.

(e) The Agency shall deposit 10% of all receipts collected under subsection (b) of this Section, but not to exceed $200,000 per year, in the State Treasury to the credit of the Hazardous Waste Research Fund established by this Act. Pursuant to appropriation, all monies in such Fund shall be used by the University of Illinois for the purposes set forth in this subsection.

The University of Illinois may enter into contracts with business, industrial, university, governmental or other qualified individuals or organizations to assist in the research and development intended to recycle, reduce the volume of, separate, detoxify or reduce the hazardous properties of hazardous wastes in Illinois. Monies in the Fund may also be used by the University of Illinois for technical studies, monitoring activities, and educational and research activities which are related to the protection of underground waters. Monies in the Hazardous Waste Research Fund may be used to administer the Illinois Health and Hazardous Substances Registry Act. Monies in the Hazardous Waste Research Fund shall not be used for any sanitary landfill or the acquisition or construction of any facility. This does not preclude the purchase of equipment for the purpose of public demonstration projects. The University of Illinois shall adopt guidelines for cost sharing, selecting, and administering projects under this subsection.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision or rule of law, and subject only to the defenses set forth in subsection (j) of this Section, the following persons shall be liable for all costs of removal or remedial action incurred by the State of Illinois or any unit of local government as a result of a release or substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance or pesticide:

(1) the owner and operator of a facility or vessel from which there is a release or substantial threat of release of a hazardous substance or pesticide;

(2) any person who at the time of disposal, transport, storage or treatment of a hazardous substance or pesticide owned or operated the facility or vessel used for such disposal, transport, treatment or storage from which there was a release or substantial threat of a release of any such hazardous substance or pesticide;

(3) any person who by contract, agreement, or otherwise has arranged with another party or entity for transport, storage, disposal or treatment of hazardous substances or pesticides owned, controlled or possessed by such person at a facility owned or operated by another party or entity from which facility there is a release or substantial threat of a release of such hazardous substances or pesticides; and

(4) any person who accepts or accepted any hazardous substances or pesticides for transport to disposal, storage or treatment facilities or sites from which there is a release or a substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance or pesticide.

Any monies received by the State of Illinois pursuant to this subsection (f) shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Hazardous Waste Fund.

In accordance with the other provisions of this Section, costs of removal or remedial action incurred by a unit of local government may be recovered in an action before the Board brought by the unit of local government under subsection (i) of this Section. Any monies so recovered shall be paid to the unit of local government.

(g)(1) No indemnification, hold harmless, or similar agreement or conveyance shall be effective to transfer from the owner or operator of any vessel or facility or from any person who may be liable for a release or substantial threat of a release under this Section, to any other person the liability imposed under this Section. Nothing in this Section shall bar any agreement to insure, hold harmless or indemnify a party to such agreements for any liability under this Section.

(2) Nothing in this Section, including the provisions of paragraph (g)(1) of this Section, shall bar a cause of action that an owner or operator or any other person subject to liability under this Section, or a guarantor, has or would have, by reason of subrogation or otherwise against any person.

(h) For purposes of this Section:

(1) The term "facility" means:

(A) any building, structure, installation, equipment, pipe or pipeline including but not limited to any pipe into a sewer or publicly owned treatment works, well, pit, pond, lagoon, impoundment, ditch, landfill, storage container, motor vehicle, rolling stock, or aircraft; or

(B) any site or area where a hazardous substance has been deposited, stored, disposed of, placed, or otherwise come to be located.

(2) The term "owner or operator" means:

(A) any person owning or operating a vessel or facility;

(B) in the case of an abandoned facility, any person owning or operating the abandoned facility or any person who owned, operated, or otherwise controlled activities at the abandoned facility immediately prior to such abandonment;

(C) in the case of a land trust as defined in Section 2 of the Land Trustee as Creditor Act, the person owning the beneficial interest in the land trust;

(D) in the case of a fiduciary (other than a land trustee), the estate, trust estate, or other interest in property held in a fiduciary capacity, and not the fiduciary. For the purposes of this Section, "fiduciary" means a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, receiver, conservator or other person holding a facility or vessel in a fiduciary capacity;

(E) in the case of a "financial institution", meaning the Illinois Housing Development Authority and that term as defined in Section 2 of the Illinois Banking Act, that has acquired ownership, operation, management, or control of a vessel or facility through foreclosure or under the terms of a security interest held by the financial institution or under the terms of an extension of credit made by the financial institution, the financial institution only if the financial institution takes possession of the vessel or facility and the financial institution exercises actual, direct, and continual or recurrent managerial control in the operation of the vessel or facility that causes a release or substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance or pesticide resulting in removal or remedial action;

(F) In the case of an owner of residential property, the owner if the owner is a person other than an individual, or if the owner is an individual who owns more than 10 dwelling units in Illinois, or if the owner, or an agent, representative, contractor, or employee of the owner, has caused, contributed to, or allowed the release or threatened release of a hazardous substance or pesticide. The term "residential property" means single family residences of one to 4 dwelling units, including accessory land, buildings, or improvements incidental to those dwellings that are exclusively used for the residential use. For purposes of this subparagraph (F), the term "individual" means a natural person, and shall not include corporations, partnerships, trusts, or other non-natural persons.

(G) In the case of any facility, title or control of which was conveyed due to bankruptcy, foreclosure, tax delinquency, abandonment, or similar means to a unit of State or local government, any person who owned, operated, or otherwise controlled activities at the facility immediately beforehand.

(H) The term "owner or operator" does not include a unit of State or local government which acquired ownership or control through bankruptcy, tax delinquency, abandonment, or other circumstances in which the government acquires title by virtue of its function as sovereign. The exclusion provided under this paragraph shall not apply to any State or local government which has caused or contributed to the release or threatened release of a hazardous substance from the facility, and such a State or local government shall be subject to the provisions of this Act in the same manner and to the same extent, both procedurally and substantively, as any nongovernmental entity, including liability under Section 22.2(f).

(i) 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 Section 33(c) of this Act shall not apply to any such action.

(j)(1) There shall be no liability under this Section for a person otherwise liable who can establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the release or substantial threat of release of a hazardous substance and the damages resulting therefrom were caused solely by:

(A) an act of God;

(B) an act of war;

(C) an act or omission of a third party other than an employee or agent of the defendant, or other than one whose act or omission occurs in connection with a contractual relationship, existing directly or indirectly, with the defendant (except where the sole contractual arrangement arises from a published tariff and acceptance for carriage by a common carrier by rail), if the defendant establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that (i) he exercised due care with respect to the hazardous substance concerned, taking into consideration the characteristics of such hazardous substance, in light of all relevant facts and circumstances, and (ii) he took precautions against foreseeable acts or omissions of any such third party and the consequences that could foreseeably result from such acts or omissions; or

(D) any combination of the foregoing paragraphs.

(2) There shall be no liability under this Section for any release permitted by State or federal law.

(3) There shall be no liability under this Section for damages as a result of actions taken or omitted in the course of rendering care, assistance, or advice in accordance with this Section or the National Contingency Plan pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-510) or at the direction of an on-scene coordinator appointed under such plan, with respect to an incident creating a danger to public health or welfare or the environment as a result of any release of a hazardous substance or a substantial threat thereof. This subsection shall not preclude liability for damages as the result of gross negligence or intentional misconduct on the part of such person. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, reckless, willful, or wanton misconduct shall constitute gross negligence.

(4) There shall be no liability under this Section for any person (including, but not limited to, an owner of residential property who applies a pesticide to the residential property or who has another person apply a pesticide to the residential property) for response costs or damages as the result of the storage, handling and use, or recommendation for storage, handling and use, of a pesticide consistent with:

(A) its directions for storage, handling and use as stated in its label or labeling;

(B) its warnings and cautions as stated in its label or labeling; and

(C) the uses for which it is registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act and the Illinois Pesticide Act.

(4.5) There shall be no liability under subdivision (f)(1) of this Section for response costs or damages as the result of a release of a pesticide from an agrichemical facility site if the Agency has received notice from the Department of Agriculture pursuant to Section 19.3 of the Illinois Pesticide Act, the owner or operator of the agrichemical facility is proceeding with a corrective action plan under the Agrichemical Facility Response Action Program implemented under that Section, and the Agency has provided a written endorsement of a corrective action plan.

(4.6) There shall be no liability under subdivision (f)(1) of this Section for response costs or damages as the result of a substantial threat of a release of a pesticide from an agrichemical facility site if the Agency has received notice from the Department of Agriculture pursuant to Section 19.3 of the Illinois Pesticide Act and the owner or operator of the agrichemical facility is proceeding with a corrective action plan under the Agrichemical Facility Response Action Program implemented under that Section.

(5) Nothing in this subsection (j) shall affect or modify in any way the obligations or liability of any person under any other provision of this Act or State or federal law, including common law, for damages, injury, or loss resulting from a release or substantial threat of a release of any hazardous substance or for removal or remedial action or the costs of removal or remedial action of such hazardous substance.

(6)(A) The term "contractual relationship", for the purpose of this subsection includes, but is not limited to, land contracts, deeds or other instruments transferring title or possession, unless the real property on which the facility concerned is located was acquired by the defendant after the disposal or placement of the hazardous substance on, in, or at the facility, and one or more of the circumstances described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of this paragraph is also established by the defendant by a preponderance of the evidence:

(i) At the time the defendant acquired the facility the defendant did not know and had no reason to know that any hazardous substance which is the subject of the release or threatened release was disposed of on, in or at the facility.

(ii) The defendant is a government entity which acquired the facility by escheat, or through any other involuntary transfer or acquisition, or through the exercise of eminent domain authority by purchase or condemnation.

(iii) The defendant acquired the facility by inheritance or bequest.

In addition to establishing the foregoing, the defendant must establish that he has satisfied the requirements of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (l) of this subsection (j).

(B) To establish the defendant had no reason to know, as provided in clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the defendant must have undertaken, at the time of acquisition, all appropriate inquiry into the previous ownership and uses of the property consistent with good commercial or customary practice in an effort to minimize liability. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the court shall take into account any specialized knowledge or experience on the part of the defendant, the relationship of the purchase price to the value of the property if uncontaminated, commonly known or reasonably ascertainable information about the property, the obviousness of the presence or likely presence of contamination at the property, and the ability to detect such contamination by appropriate inspection.

(C) Nothing in this paragraph (6) or in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall diminish the liability of any previous owner or operator of such facility who would otherwise be liable under this Act. Notwithstanding this paragraph (6), if the defendant obtained actual knowledge of the release or threatened release of a hazardous substance at such facility when the defendant owned the real property and then subsequently transferred ownership of the property to another person without disclosing such knowledge, such defendant shall be treated as liable under subsection (f) of this Section and no defense under subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be available to such defendant.

(D) Nothing in this paragraph (6) shall affect the liability under this Act of a defendant who, by any act or omission, caused or contributed to the release or threatened release of a hazardous substance which is the subject of the action relating to the facility.

(E)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii) of this subparagraph (E), a defendant who has acquired real property shall have established a rebuttable presumption against all State claims and a conclusive presumption against all private party claims that the defendant has made all appropriate inquiry within the meaning of subdivision (6)(B) of this subsection (j) if the defendant proves that immediately prior to or at the time of the acquisition:

(I) the defendant obtained a Phase I Environmental Audit of the real property that meets or exceeds the requirements of this subparagraph (E), and the Phase I Environmental Audit did not disclose the presence or likely presence of a release or a substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance or pesticide at, on, to, or from the real property; or

(II) the defendant obtained a Phase II Environmental Audit of the real property that meets or exceeds the requirements of this subparagraph (E), and the Phase II Environmental Audit did not disclose the presence or likely presence of a release or a substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance or pesticide at, on, to, or from the real property.

(ii) No presumption shall be created under clause (i) of this subparagraph (E), and a defendant shall be precluded from demonstrating that the defendant has made all appropriate inquiry within the meaning of subdivision (6)(B) of this subsection (j), if:

(I) the defendant fails to obtain all Environmental Audits required under this subparagraph (E) or any such Environmental Audit fails to meet or exceed the requirements of this subparagraph (E);

(II) a Phase I Environmental Audit discloses the presence or likely presence of a release or a substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance or pesticide at, on, to, or from real property, and the defendant fails to obtain a Phase II Environmental Audit;

(III) a Phase II Environmental Audit discloses the presence or likely presence of a release or a substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance or pesticide at, on, to, or from the real property;

(IV) the defendant fails to maintain a written compilation and explanatory summary report of the information reviewed in the course of each Environmental Audit under this subparagraph (E); or

(V) there is any evidence of fraud, material concealment, or material misrepresentation by the defendant of environmental conditions or of related information discovered during the course of an Environmental Audit.

(iii) For purposes of this subparagraph (E), the term "environmental professional" means an individual (other than a practicing attorney) who, through academic training, occupational experience, and reputation (such as engineers, industrial hygienists, or geologists) can objectively conduct one or more aspects of an Environmental Audit and who either:

(I) maintains at the time of the Environmental Audit and for at least one year thereafter at least $500,000 of environmental consultants' professional liability insurance coverage issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in Illinois; or

(II) is an Illinois licensed professional engineer or a Certified Industrial Hygienist certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene an Illinois licensed industrial hygienist.

An environmental professional may employ persons who are not environmental professionals to assist in the preparation of an Environmental Audit if such persons are under the direct supervision and control of the environmental professional.

(iv) For purposes of this subparagraph (E), the term "real property" means any interest in any parcel of land, and includes, but is not limited to, buildings, fixtures, and improvements.

(v) For purposes of this subparagraph (E), the term "Phase I Environmental Audit" means an investigation of real property, conducted by environmental professionals, to discover the presence or likely presence of a release or a substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance or pesticide at, on, to, or from real property, and whether a release or a substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance or pesticide has occurred or may occur at, on, to, or from the real property. Until such time as the United States Environmental Protection Agency establishes standards for making appropriate inquiry into the previous ownership and uses of the facility pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601(35)(B)(ii), the investigation shall comply with the procedures of the American Society for Testing and Materials, including the document known as Standard E1527-97, entitled "Standard Procedures for Environmental Site Assessment: Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Process". Upon their adoption, the standards promulgated by USEPA pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601(35)(B)(ii) shall govern the performance of Phase I Environmental Audits. In addition to the above requirements, the Phase I Environmental Audit shall include a review of recorded land title records for the purpose of determining whether the real property is subject to an environmental land use restriction such as a No Further Remediation Letter, Environmental Land Use Control, or Highway Authority Agreement.

(vi) For purposes of subparagraph (E), the term "Phase II Environmental Audit" means an investigation of real property, conducted by environmental professionals, subsequent to a Phase I Environmental Audit. If the Phase I Environmental Audit discloses the presence or likely presence of a hazardous substance or a pesticide or a release or a substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance or pesticide:

(I) In or to soil, the defendant, as part of the Phase II Environmental Audit, shall perform a series of soil borings sufficient to determine whether there is a presence or likely presence of a hazardous substance or pesticide and whether there is or has been a release or a substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance or pesticide at, on, to, or from the real property.

(II) In or to groundwater, the defendant, as part of the Phase II Environmental Audit, shall: review information regarding local geology, water well locations, and locations of waters of the State as may be obtained from State, federal, and local government records, including but not limited to the United States Geological Survey, the State Geological Survey of the University of Illinois, and the State Water Survey of the University of Illinois; and perform groundwater monitoring sufficient to determine whether there is a presence or likely presence of a hazardous substance or pesticide, and whether there is or has been a release or a substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance or pesticide at, on, to, or from the real property.

(III) On or to media other than soil or groundwater, the defendant, as part of the Phase II Environmental Audit, shall perform an investigation sufficient to determine whether there is a presence or likely presence of a hazardous substance or pesticide, and whether there is or has been a release or a substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance or pesticide at, on, to, or from the real property.

(vii) The findings of each Environmental Audit prepared under this subparagraph (E) shall be set forth in a written audit report. Each audit report shall contain an affirmation by the defendant and by each environmental professional who prepared the Environmental Audit that the facts stated in the report are true and are made under a penalty of perjury as defined in Section 32-2 of the Criminal Code of 1961. It is perjury for any person to sign an audit report that contains a false material statement that the person does not believe to be true.

(viii) The Agency is not required to review, approve, or certify the results of any Environmental Audit. The performance of an Environmental Audit shall in no way entitle a defendant to a presumption of Agency approval or certification of the results of the Environmental Audit.

The presence or absence of a disclosure document prepared under the Responsible Property Transfer Act of 1988 shall not be a defense under this Act and shall not satisfy the requirements of subdivision (6)(A) of this subsection (j).

(7) No person shall be liable under this Section for response costs or damages as the result of a pesticide release if the Agency has found that a pesticide release occurred based on a Health Advisory issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or an action level developed by the Agency, unless the Agency notified the manufacturer of the pesticide and provided an opportunity of not less than 30 days for the manufacturer to comment on the technical and scientific justification supporting the Health Advisory or action level.

(8) No person shall be liable under this Section for response costs or damages as the result of a pesticide release that occurs in the course of a farm pesticide collection program operated under Section 19.1 of the Illinois Pesticide Act, unless the release results from gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

(k) If any person who is liable for a release or substantial threat of release of a hazardous substance or pesticide fails without sufficient cause to provide removal or remedial action upon or in accordance with a notice and request by the Agency or upon or in accordance with any order of the Board or any court, such person may be liable to the State for punitive damages in an amount at least equal to, and not more than 3 times, the amount of any costs incurred by the State of Illinois as a result of such failure to take such removal or remedial action. The punitive damages imposed by the Board shall be in addition to any costs recovered from such person pursuant to this Section and in addition to any other penalty or relief provided by this Act or any other law.

Any monies received by the State pursuant to this subsection (k) shall be deposited in the Hazardous Waste Fund.

(l) Beginning January 1, 1988, and prior to January 1, 2013, the Agency shall annually collect a $250 fee for each Special Waste Hauling Permit Application and, in addition, shall collect a fee of $20 for each waste hauling vehicle identified in the annual permit application and for each vehicle which is added to the permit during the annual period. Beginning January 1, 2013, the Agency shall issue 3-year Special Waste Hauling Permits instead of annual Special Waste Hauling Permits and shall collect a $750 fee for each Special Waste Hauling Permit Application. In addition, beginning January 1, 2013, the Agency shall collect a fee of $60 for each waste hauling vehicle identified in the permit application and for each vehicle that is added to the permit during the 3-year period. The Agency shall deposit 85% of such fees collected under this subsection in the State Treasury to the credit of the Hazardous Waste Research Fund; and shall deposit the remaining 15% of such fees collected in the State Treasury to the credit of the Environmental Protection Permit and Inspection Fund. The majority of such receipts which are deposited in the Hazardous Waste Research Fund pursuant to this subsection shall be used by the University of Illinois for activities which relate to the protection of underground waters.

(l-5) (Blank).

(m) (Blank).

(n) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 97-220, eff. 7-28-11; 97-1081, eff. 8-24-12.)

(415 ILCS 5/22.8) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1022.8)

Sec. 22.8. Environmental Protection Permit and Inspection Fund.

(a) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Environmental Protection Permit and Inspection Fund. All fees collected by the Agency pursuant to this Section, Section 9.6, 12.2, 16.1, 22.2 (j)(6)(E)(v)(IV), 56.4, 56.5, 56.6, and subsection (f) of Section 5 of this Act or pursuant to Section 22 of the Public Water Supply Operations Act and funds collected under subsection (b.5) of Section 42 of this Act shall be deposited into the Fund. In addition to any monies appropriated from the General Revenue Fund, monies in the Fund shall be appropriated by the General Assembly to the Agency in amounts deemed necessary for manifest, permit, and inspection activities and for processing requests under Section 22.2 (j)(6)(E)(v)(IV).

The General Assembly may appropriate monies in the Fund deemed necessary for Board regulatory and adjudicatory proceedings.

(a-5) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, but no later than January 1, 2014, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer all monies in the Industrial Hygiene Regulatory and Enforcement Fund to the Environmental Protection Permit and Inspection Fund to be used in accordance with the terms of the Environmental Protection Permit and Inspection Fund.

(b) The Agency shall collect from the owner or operator of any of the following types of hazardous waste disposal sites or management facilities which require a RCRA permit under subsection (f) of Section 21 of this Act, or a UIC permit under subsection (g) of Section 12 of this Act, an annual fee in the amount of:

(1) $35,000 ($70,000 beginning in 2004) for a hazardous waste disposal site receiving hazardous waste if the hazardous waste disposal site is located off the site where such waste was produced;

(2) $9,000 ($18,000 beginning in 2004) for a hazardous waste disposal site receiving hazardous waste if the hazardous waste disposal site is located on the site where such waste was produced;

(3) $7,000 ($14,000 beginning in 2004) for a hazardous waste disposal site receiving hazardous waste if the hazardous waste disposal site is an underground injection well;

(4) $2,000 ($4,000 beginning in 2004) for a hazardous waste management facility treating hazardous waste by incineration;

(5) $1,000 ($2,000 beginning in 2004) for a hazardous waste management facility treating hazardous waste by a method, technique or process other than incineration;

(6) $1,000 ($2,000 beginning in 2004) for a hazardous waste management facility storing hazardous waste in a surface impoundment or pile;

(7) $250 ($500 beginning in 2004) for a hazardous waste management facility storing hazardous waste other than in a surface impoundment or pile; and

(8) Beginning in 2004, $500 for a large quantity hazardous waste generator required to submit an annual or biennial report for hazardous waste generation.

(c) Where two or more operational units are located within a single hazardous waste disposal site, the Agency shall collect from the owner or operator of such site an annual fee equal to the highest fee imposed by subsection (b) of this Section upon any single operational unit within the site.

(d) The fee imposed upon a hazardous waste disposal site under this Section shall be the exclusive permit and inspection fee applicable to hazardous waste disposal at such site, provided that nothing in this Section shall be construed to diminish or otherwise affect any fee imposed upon the owner or operator of a hazardous waste disposal site by Section 22.2.

(e) The Agency shall establish procedures, no later than December 1, 1984, relating to the collection of the hazardous waste disposal site fees authorized by this Section. Such procedures shall include, but not be limited to the time and manner of payment of fees to the Agency, which shall be quarterly, payable at the beginning of each quarter for hazardous waste disposal site fees. Annual fees required under paragraph (7) of subsection (b) of this Section shall accompany the annual report required by Board regulations for the calendar year for which the report applies.

(f) For purposes of this Section, a hazardous waste disposal site consists of one or more of the following operational units:

(1) a landfill receiving hazardous waste for disposal;

(2) a waste pile or surface impoundment, receiving hazardous waste, in which residues which exhibit any of the characteristics of hazardous waste pursuant to Board regulations are reasonably expected to remain after closure;

(3) a land treatment facility receiving hazardous waste; or

(4) a well injecting hazardous waste.

(g) The Agency shall assess a fee for each manifest provided by the Agency. For manifests provided on or after January 1, 1989 but before July 1, 2003, the fee shall be $1 per manifest. For manifests provided on or after July 1, 2003, the fee shall be $3 per manifest.

(Source: P.A. 93-32, eff. 7-1-03.)

Section 13. The Illinois Pesticide Act is amended by changing Section 19.3 as follows:

(415 ILCS 60/19.3)

Sec. 19.3. Agrichemical Facility Response Action Program.

(a) It is the policy of the State of Illinois that an Agrichemical Facility Response Action Program be implemented to reduce potential agrichemical pollution and minimize environmental degradation risk potential at these sites. In this Section, "agrichemical facility" means a site where agrichemicals are stored or handled, or both, in preparation for end use. "Agrichemical facility" does not include basic manufacturing or central distribution sites utilized only for wholesale purposes. As used in this Section, "agrichemical" means pesticides or commercial fertilizers at an agrichemical facility.

The program shall provide guidance for assessing the threat of soil agrichemical contaminants to groundwater and recommending which sites need to establish a voluntary corrective action program.

The program shall establish appropriate site-specific soil cleanup objectives, which shall be based on the potential for the agrichemical contaminants to move from the soil to groundwater and the potential of the specific soil agrichemical contaminants to cause an exceedence of a Class I or Class III groundwater quality standard or a health advisory level. The Department shall use the information found and procedures developed in the Agrichemical Facility Site Contamination Study or other appropriate physical evidence to establish the soil agrichemical contaminant levels of concern to groundwater in the various hydrological settings to establish site-specific cleanup objectives.

No remediation of a site may be recommended unless (i) the agrichemical contamination level in the soil exceeds the site-specific cleanup objectives or (ii) the agrichemical contaminant level in the soil exceeds levels where physical evidence and risk evaluation indicates probability of the site causing an exceedence of a groundwater quality standard.

When a remediation plan must be carried out over a number of years due to limited financial resources of the owner or operator of the agrichemical facility, those soil agrichemical contaminated areas that have the greatest potential to adversely impact vulnerable Class I groundwater aquifers and adjacent potable water wells shall receive the highest priority rating and be remediated first.

(b) The Agrichemical Facility Response Action Program Board ("the Board") is created. The Board members shall consist of the following:

(1) The Director or the Director's designee.

(2) One member who represents pesticide manufacturers.

(3) Two members who represent retail agrichemical dealers.

(4) One member who represents agrichemical distributors.

(5) One member who represents active farmers.

(6) One member at large.

The public members of the Board shall be appointed by the Governor for terms of 2 years. Those persons on the Board who represent pesticide manufacturers, agrichemical dealers, agrichemical distributors, and farmers shall be selected from recommendations made by the associations whose membership reflects those specific areas of interest. The members of the Board shall be appointed within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995. Vacancies on the Board shall be filled within 30 days. The Board may fill any membership position vacant for a period exceeding 30 days.

The members of the Board shall be paid no compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing their duties. If a civil proceeding is commenced against a Board member arising out of an act or omission occurring within the scope of the Board member's performance of his or her duties under this Section, the State, as provided by rule, shall indemnify the Board member for any damages awarded and court costs and attorney's fees assessed as part of a final and unreversed judgement, or shall pay the judgment, unless the court or jury finds that the conduct or inaction that gave rise to the claim or cause of action was intentional, wilful or wanton misconduct and was not intended to serve or benefit interests of the State.

The chairperson of the Board shall be selected by the Board from among the public members.

(c) The Board has the authority to do the following:

(1) Cooperate with the Department and review and approve an agrichemical facility remediation program as outlined in the handbook or manual as set forth in subdivision (d)(8) of this Section.

(2) Review and give final approval to each agrichemical facility corrective action plan.

(3) Approve any changes to an agrichemical facility's corrective action plan that may be necessary.

(4) Upon completion of the corrective action plan, recommend to the Department that the site-specific cleanup objectives have been met and that a notice of closure be issued by the Department stating that no further remedial action is required to remedy the past agrichemical contamination.

(5) When a soil agrichemical contaminant assessment confirms that remedial action is not required in accordance with the Agrichemical Facility Response Action Program, recommend that a notice of closure be issued by the Department stating that no further remedial action is required to remedy the past agrichemical contamination.

(6) Periodically review the Department's administration of the Agrichemical Incident Response Trust Fund and actions taken with respect to the Fund. The Board shall also provide advice to the Interagency Committee on Pesticides regarding the proper handling of agrichemical incidents at agrichemical facilities in Illinois.

(d) The Director has the authority to do the following:

(1) When requested by the owner or operator of an agrichemical facility, may investigate the agrichemical facility site contamination.

(2) After completion of the investigation under subdivision (d)(1) of this Section, recommend to the owner or operator of an agrichemical facility that a voluntary assessment be made of the soil agrichemical contaminant when there is evidence that the evaluation of risk indicates that groundwater could be adversely impacted.

(3) Review and make recommendations on any corrective action plan submitted by the owner or operator of an agrichemical facility to the Board for final approval.

(4) On approval by the Board, issue an order to the owner or operator of an agrichemical facility that has filed a voluntary corrective action plan that the owner or operator may proceed with that plan.

(5) Provide remedial project oversight, monitor remedial work progress, and report to the Board on the status of remediation projects.

(6) Provide staff to support the activities of the Board.

(7) Take appropriate action on the Board's recommendations regarding policy needed to carry out the Board's responsibilities under this Section.

(8) In cooperation with the Board, incorporate the following into a handbook or manual: the procedures for site assessment; pesticide constituents of concern and associated parameters; guidance on remediation techniques, land application, and corrective action plans; and other information or instructions that the Department may find necessary.

(9) Coordinate preventive response actions at agrichemical facilities pursuant to the Groundwater Quality Standards adopted pursuant to Section 8 of the Illinois Groundwater Protection Act to mitigate resource groundwater impairment.

Upon completion of the corrective action plan and upon recommendation of the Board, the Department shall issue a notice of closure stating that site-specific cleanup objectives have been met and no further remedial action is required to remedy the past agrichemical contamination.

When a soil agrichemical contaminant assessment confirms that remedial action is not required in accordance with the Agrichemical Facility Response Action Program and upon the recommendation of the Board, a notice of closure shall be issued by the Department stating that no further remedial action is required to remedy the past agrichemical contamination.

(e) Upon receipt of notification of an agrichemical contaminant in groundwater pursuant to the Groundwater Quality Standards, the Department shall evaluate the severity of the agrichemical contamination and shall submit to the Environmental Protection Agency an informational notice characterizing it as follows:

(1) An agrichemical contaminant in Class I or Class III groundwater has exceeded the levels of a standard adopted pursuant to the Illinois Groundwater Protection Act or a health advisory established by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency or the United States Environmental Protection Agency; or

(2) An agrichemical has been detected at a level that requires preventive notification pursuant to a standard adopted pursuant to the Illinois Groundwater Protection Act.

(f) When agrichemical contamination is characterized as in subdivision (e)(1) of this Section, a facility may elect to participate in the Agrichemical Facility Response Action Program. In these instances, the scope of the corrective action plans developed, approved, and completed under this program shall be limited to the soil agrichemical contamination present at the site unless implementation of the plan is coordinated with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency as follows:

(1) Upon receipt of notice of intent to include groundwater in an action by a facility, the Department shall also notify the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

(2) Upon receipt of the corrective action plan, the Department shall coordinate a joint review of the plan with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

(3) The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency may provide a written endorsement of the corrective action plan.

(4) The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency may approve a groundwater management zone for a period of 5 years after the implementation of the corrective action plan to allow for groundwater impairment mitigation results.

(5) The Department, in cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, shall recommend a proposed corrective action plan to the Board for final approval to proceed with remediation. The recommendation shall be based on the joint review conducted under subdivision (f)(2) of this Section and the status of any endorsement issued under subdivision (f)(3) of this Section.

(6) The Department, in cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, shall provide remedial project oversight, monitor remedial work progress, and report to the Board on the status of the remediation project.

(7) The Department shall, upon completion of the corrective action plan and recommendation of the Board, issue a notice of closure stating that no further remedial action is required to remedy the past agrichemical contamination.

(g) When an owner or operator of an agrichemical facility initiates a soil contamination assessment on the owner's or operator's own volition and independent of any requirement under this Section 19.3, information contained in that assessment may be held as confidential information by the owner or operator of the facility.

(h) Except as otherwise provided by Department rule, on and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, any Agrichemical Facility Response Action Program requirement that may be satisfied by an industrial hygienist licensed pursuant to the Industrial Hygienists Licensure Act repealed in this amendatory Act may be satisfied by a Certified Industrial Hygienist certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.

(Source: P.A. 92-113, eff. 7-20-01.)

Section 15. The Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act is amended by changing Section 14a as follows:

(615 ILCS 5/14a) (from Ch. 19, par. 61a)

Sec. 14a. It is the express intention of this legislation that close cooperation shall exist between the Pollution Control Board, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Natural Resources and that every resource of State government shall be applied to the proper preservation and utilization of the waters of Lake Michigan.

The Environmental Protection Agency shall work in close cooperation with the City of Chicago and other affected units of government to: (1) terminate discharge of pollutional waste materials to Lake Michigan from vessels in both intra-state and inter-state navigation, and (2) abate domestic, industrial, and other pollution to assure that Lake Michigan beaches in Illinois are suitable for full body contact sports, meeting criteria of the Pollution Control Board.

The Environmental Protection Agency shall regularly conduct water quality and lake bed surveys to evaluate the ecology and the quality of water in Lake Michigan. Results of such surveys shall be made available, without charge, to all interested persons and agencies. It shall be the responsibility of the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency to report biennially annually or at such other times as the Governor shall direct; such report shall provide hydrologic, biologic, and chemical data together with recommendations to the Governor and members of the General Assembly.

The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report with the Speaker, the Minority Leader and the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the President, the Minority Leader and the Secretary of the Senate and the Legislative Research Unit, as required by Section 3.1 of "An Act to revise the law in relation to the General Assembly", approved February 25, 1874, as amended, and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

In meeting the requirements of this Act, the Pollution Control Board, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Natural Resources are authorized to be in direct contact with individuals, municipalities, public and private corporations and other organizations which are or may be contributing to the discharge of pollution to Lake Michigan.

(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

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