We haven’t run a legislative update in a long time! To make
up for our lapse, here’s a long list of some what’s going on in the Illinois
General Assembly this spring session.
Water Pollution Control Loan
HB 4382
Synopsis:
- An amendment to the Environmental Protection Act
- Removes a provision requiring a local 30% match for total project cost for projects funded through grants
- Allows the IEPA to provide financial assistance for any project eligible for assistance under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
Status:
- Introduced January 29, 2014
- Placed on the House calendar for a second reading on March 26, 2014
HB 5939
Synopsis:
- Is an amendment to the Environmental Protection Act
- Regulates the storage, processing, and transloading of coal and coke
- Requires minimum setbacks for coal and coke facilities (5,000 feet for the property line of a residence, childcare service, school, etc.)
- Sets limits for fugitive dust from facilities
- Requires permits for construction and operations of facilities
- Regulates the loading, unloading, paving, and cleaning of facilities
- Requires monitoring, recording keeping, and reporting to the IEPA
Status:
- Introduced February 14, 2014
- Assigned to the House Environment Committee in early March
- Currently accumulating lots of co-sponsors
Nuisance Organisms
Synopsis:
- An amendment to the Fish and Aquatic Life Code
- Any individual who knowingly imports any nuisance organisms into Illinois is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor or a fine not exceeding $1,500 per organisms imported, maximum fine not to exceed $25,000
- Nuisance organisms are nonnative aquatic organisms that could alter or threaten the ecosystem or native or naturalized fish and other organisms
Status:
- Introduced February 14, 2014
- Currently a floor amendment has kicked it back to the Rules Committee
Anything related to
the Fox Waterway
Since the Fox Waterway seems to be stirring a lot of
discussion in the General Assembly, we grouped all these measures together.
Synopsis:
- Dissolves the Fox Waterway Agency Act
- Dissolves the Fox Waterway Agency
- Assigns assets and property to the Department of Natural Resources
- Status:
- Introduced January 28, 2014
- Second reading was added to the Senate calendar on March 26, 2014
Synopsis:
- Declares the House’s opposition to SB 2629
Status:
- Introduced March 20, 2014
- Adding co-sponsors at the moment
Synopsis:
- Amendment to the Fox Waterway Agency Act
- If any dredging or restoration work is done on the channel using public funds, then the water in the channel remains a public waterway open and accessible to the public
- If only private funds are used for dredging and maintenance, then property owners adjacent to the channel have the right to close the channel to public access, so long as the closing is posted
Status:
- Introduced and referred to Assignments January 28, 2014
