Legislative Round-up of the General Assembly Spring Session

The Illinois General Assembly recessed at the end of May, so here’s a summary of water-related measures that progressed through Springfield this spring:

Updates on past bills: please see the March blog post for summaries of these measures

Water Pollution Control Loan

HB 4382

Passed in the House, referred to assignments in the Senate on April 7

Coal and Coke Regulation

HB 5939

Acquired several co-sponsors within the House of Representatives

Nuisance Organisms

HB 5869

Passed both houses on May 28

Fox Waterway

SB 2696—no changes

HR 0934—was placed on the House Calendar Order of Resolutions on 4.8.14

SB 2732—no changes

Recent Legislation

Hydraulic Fracturing:

SB 649

Synopsis:

• Amends the Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act, which was signed into law by Governor Quinn last year
• Some changes to the regulations governing the hydraulic fracturing process, including a two-year moratorium on fracking around Chicago
• Remove the responsibility of creating fracking rules from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and give it to a committee comprised of General Assembly members.
• For media coverage of this measure, see here

Status:

• Passed the Senate on 5.1.2014 and progressed to the House
• The House re-referred this measure to the Rules Committee on 5.30.2014

Boater Safety Courses:

SB 3433

Synopsis:

• Amends the Boat Registration and Safety Act
• Beginning January 1, 2016 no person born on or after January 1, 1991 can operate a motorboat with over 10 horse power without a Boating Safety Certificate

Status:

• Passed both houses on 30 May, 2014

Public Water Supply Operations:

SB 2770

Synopsis:

• Amends the Public Water Supply Operations Act
• Defines “Responsible Operator in Charge”
• Provides that every community water supply in Illinois shall have a responsible operator in charge to supervise the treatment and distribution facilities of the community water supply

Status:

• Passed both houses on 29 May, 2014

Water Loss Accounting:

SB 3047

Synopsis:

• Creates the Water Loss Accounting Awareness Act
• Provides that the IEPA, IDNR, and ISWS shall submit a report that reviews and evaluates the latest regional available information on water loss in Illinois to the General Assembly before July 31, 2015

Status:

• Introduced on February 7, 2014
• Currently referred to the Senate Assignments Committee

Research Highlights: The Value of Clean Water

Just how much are people willing to give for a dry basement or a healthy stream? University of Illinois economics professor Dr.Amy Ando and her Ph.D. student Catalina Londoño Cadavid sought to answer this question through their IWRC-supported study: “Measuring Public Preferences over Stormwater Outcomes in Illinois: Willingness to Pay and Willingness to Help.”

With its history of stormwater problems, Chicago seemed like the natural place for an Illinois-based researcher to ask this question. And Chicago is also home to a large low-income population, which allowed Ando and Cadavid to add an interesting twist to their research. If people don’t have the ability to pay for relief from stormwater flooding, would they volunteer time to receive some benefits of reduced flooding?

Chicago is starting to employ green infrastructure, or low impact development, as a way to address its persistent struggle with combined sewer overflows during big rainstorms. Features like rain gardens and rain barrels have joined a massive tunnel project, and their presence also means that, in Ando’s words “there are other ways [besides money] for people to contribute, because maybe rain barrels need to be checked or rain gardens need to be weeded.”    

Ando and Cadavid worked with Reed College professor Noelwah Netusil to create a survey to reach 500 Chicago-area residents for their opinions on stormwater-related flooding and environmental damage. Developed with input from Chicago-based nonprofit Center forNeighborhood Technology and Chicago’s Departmentof Water Management, the survey measured residents’ willingness to pay for stormwater improvements with money, volunteer hours, or a combination of the two. Traditionally, Ando explains, consumer choice studies like this use cost as the “lynchpin that translates choice into willingness to pay.” But by using time as a form of payment, the research team was able to push the envelope of economic methods and include the opinions of lower income residents through scenario options that would actually be available to them.  

While Ando and Cadavid originally intended to mail out a survey, when the cost became prohibitive Cadavid proposed Qualtrics. A data collection and research firm, Qualtrics enlists volunteers on survey panels, where they can then opt in or out of a survey opportunity to earn points redeemable for prizes. The survey relies on an online platform, but it also ensures a representative sample of the population is collected and provides computer access to those without. The survey was carried out during the fall and winter of 2012, and the collected respondents’ opinions were a bit unexpected.

Few survey respondents reported any personal experience with stormwater flooding. For example, only 33% of respondents recalled any flooding event in the past year, while less than 6% had experienced four or more flood events. Consequently, few respondents felt that flooding relief was something worth paying for, either with time or money. Rather, greater value was placed on improving environmental attributes like water quality and aquatic health in local streams. People also showed themselves willing to pay much more through in-kind contributions of time than through direct payments of money (if time is valued at people’s wage rates). Ando and Cadavid speculate that this could be driven in part by people gaining value from directly participating in neighborhood improvement projects.

While the final results of the study haven’t been published yet, Cadavid did depend on this study to successfully defend her Ph.D. dissertation this spring and additional findings were presented at national meetings over the summer. As for application of the research, Ando calls that outreach the “fun part” of working in a land-grant university. Not only does she plan to follow up with the original partners who helped develop the survey, but she also intends to use the data to help the U.S. EPA generate more complete estimates of the benefits of green solutions to stormwater problems.

June Legislative Updates

The spring session of the General Assembly ended May 31st. Here's a final recap of the measures we've followed this session.

Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking):

Obviously this is a big topic in the news at the moment, but here’s the final status of all the introduced legislation.

HB 2615—Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act

This particular version of the fracking regulations never made it back out of the Rules Committee, but….

SB 1715 Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act

The Senate version of the fracking regulations was passed in both Houses on 31 May 2013 and was signed into law by Governor Quinn on 17 June 2013. Essentially, this means that once Illinois Department of Natural Resources gets the rules in place, fracking is coming to Illinois.

For the press release from Gov. Quinn’s office, see here

The Environmental Law and Policy Center breaks down the act here

HB 3086 Two-Year Fracking Moratorium/Ban

There are no changes to this measure—it’s still hanging out in committee.

Regardless of the passage of SB1715, there are a lot of angry people who are deeply opposed to any hydraulic fracturing in Illinois at all. They’re working to resurrect HB 3086 to ban fracking while its potential harms can be studied.

Passed Both Houses and Sent to Governor:

HB 1379 Water and Sewer Utilities Value

This measure was passed in both Houses on 16 May 2013

SB 1869 Multi-Drainage Code

Passed both Houses as of 16 May 2013.

HB 2753 Lake Michigan Wind Energy

This measure had passed both Houses on 31 May, and it was sent to the Governor on 19 June 2013. If Governor Quinn signs this into law, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will begin its two-year study of the possibility of locating wind turbines in Lake Michigan.

HB 1522 County Stormwater Management

As we stated in May, this measure has passed both Houses and is now on Governor Quinn’s desk. For more information about what stormwater management and associated fees will mean, you can check out our blog post on the topic. 

No Changes:

HB 2907—EPA Disposal of PCBs

This measure is still sitting in the Rules Committee as of 22 March 2013 

SB 1868—EPA Hazardous Waste Siting

This measure was referred to the Assignments Committee of 30 April 2013

Rain Barrels as Dinner Conversation

I have a confession to make. Lately, I’ve been hijacking parties to talk up rain barrels to my friends. Fortunately for my agenda (and my social life), the cities of Champaign and Urbana are hosting a rain barrel sale this coming Saturday, May 25 (see complete info here), and, not only are the barrels half the price they would be at a hardware store, but they might also keep saving you money.

According to Scott Tess, the Urbana Environmental Sustainability Manager and one of the organizers of the sale, the primary purpose of rain barrels is to reduce potable water usage in landscaping. And, since the U.S. EPA estimates that about 30% of American water use is for landscaping, disconnecting your downspout could result in a smaller water bill.

Here in Champaign-Urbana, as in much of Illinois, there’s an additional benefit to saving some rainwater for later use: our water is supplied exclusively from groundwater. Unfortunately for our water use habits, though, the U.S. Geological Survey just released a report stating that the U.S. is rapidly using up its groundwater resources. Consequently, those 55 gallon rain barrels might make a big difference in keeping gardens green while still ensuring that groundwater resources are available in the future.

In a coming blog post, we’ll examine the work of IWRC-sponsored researchers Drs. Amy Ando and Catalina Londoño as they take a look at what motivates people to add rain barrels and other green infrastructure to their neighborhoods in the Chicago region.             

May Legislative Updates

 

HB 2753 Lake Michigan Wind Energy

Last time we updated, this bill had passed the House and was headed for the Senate Energy Committee. It has since passed out of committee, and was slated for a third reading on May 15. No word, yet, on progress since then.

We should also note that we got the HB number wrong on the last go round—it should be HB 2753, not 2758. 2758 is a school meal program update. While interesting, it’s not exactly in the province of Illinois Water. Sorry about that.

HB 1522 County Stormwater Management

This measure passed both Houses on May 16. We’ll update on DuPage and Peoria Counties’ stormwater plans as we hear more. 

HB 3086 Two-Year Fracking Moratorium/Ban

This measure is still sitting in the Rules Committee, although some new co-sponsors signed on in May.

HB 2615—Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act

Amendment 1—which added requirements regarding well crew staff members—was defeated on May 1. According to various news sources, this measure will be up for a vote again, soon.

HB 2907—EPA Disposal of PCBs

This measure is still sitting in the Rules Committee as of 22 March 2013 

SB 1868—EPA Hazardous Waste Siting

This measure was referred to the Assignments Committee as of 30 April 2013, and there it sits.

HB 1379 Water and Sewer Utilities Value

This measure was passed in both Houses on 16 May 2013

And here’s another important one we missed:

SB 1869

Summary: Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of cities and villages must also maintain storm sewers, detention basins, and retention basins for drainage purposes.

Status: Passed both Houses as of 16 May 2013.

Water Jobs: Making Plans

Abby Crisostomo, an associate at the of the Metropolitan Planning Council, joins us today to discuss what it’s like to be a planner in the non-profit world. Abby grew up in Duluth, Minnesota but moved to Chicago to attend the University of Chicago and stayed to earn her master’s at the University of Illinois at Chicago. When not working hard to save water in Chicagoland, Abby enjoys swing dancing and chatting with @IllinoisWater on twitter.   

Would you please explain what an Associate with the Metropolitan Planning Council does?

MPC is a small organization without too much hierarchy, so everyone ends up doing a lot of different types of work. Associates handle much of the day-to-day management of our various projects. MPC does research, advocacy and on-the-ground implementation, so daily work can vary wildly from doing research to convening partners to coordinating meetings to site visits to writing reports and blog posts to attending conferences and giving presentations, and more.

How did you end up at the Metropolitan Planning Council?

I interned here while I was in grad school and loved what I was doing. I stayed on past the internship period to do my master’s project, and ended up getting hired full-time just as I was completing my degree.

How did you become interested in planning?

I’ve always been interested in the interdisciplinary nature of planning. Growing up, I always thought I’d go into law, as I thought that was the only way to get such a broad exposure to issues, but then I discovered planning while in undergrad taking a class from the urban sociologist, Saskia Sassen. I spent the rest of my undergrad years trying to learn more about what planning was. After graduation, I moved to New York City to work at a law firm, but on the side, I got involved with my local community association. I went to events by an organization similar to MPC in NYC (Municipal Arts Society), and took classes through Rutgers’ planning school and New York University’s real estate school. When I moved back to Chicago, I worked at the Alliance for the Great Lakes for a few years, which reignited interest I had in water issues and environmental policy, so I knew I wanted to go back to grad school to combine all those things.

What kind of education does a planner need?

Planners do such varied jobs, that there’s no one-size-fits-all path. It’s pretty standard to get a master’s degree in planning, public policy, public administration, architecture, or a specific policy topic (such as, environmental policy). Beyond that, on-the-job experience through internships is almost, if not more, important.

April Legislative Updates

Back in March we posted a list of water resources legislation in Illinois. Quite a bit has happened since then, so we've collected updates for the various measures. Please refer back to the March post for summaries of the bills.

HB 2758 Lake Michigan Wind Energy

• The House adopted Amendment 1 on 8 April 2013, which:
•  Changed the definition of public trust lands to mean the bed of Lake Michigan
• Removed the deadline for DNR’s siting matrix process
•  Removed provisions for DNR to identify prohibited and preferred development areas
•  Removed the provision that allowed any leases to be granted before the siting matrix was completed
• Sent to the Senate on 10 April 2013, when it went through its first reading
• Assigned the Energy Committee on 16 April 2013 

HB 1522 County Stormwater Management

• This measure went through its first and second readings in the Senate
• Was scheduled for Third Reading in 17 April 2013—we were unable to find any further updates 

HB 3086–Two-Year Moratorium/Ban  

•  Rules Committee Deadline was extended to 30 April 2013 on March 28
• Assigned to the Revenue and Finance Committee on 28 March 2013
• Proceeded to the Finance Subcommittee on 10 April 2013
• And is finally back in the Rules Committee on 19 April 2013, suggesting that it probably will not be brought to a vote this session    

HB 2615—Hydraulic Fracture Regulatory Act

• This measure is still in the Rules Committee, where it was re-referred on 22 March 2013, following the addition of a surprise amendment.   

HB 2907—EPA Disposal of PCBs

•  This measure was also re-referred to the Rules Committee on 22 March 2013 

SB 1868—EPA Hazardous Waste Siting

• An additional floor amendment was filed on 15 April 2013, which changed some of the language of the bill
• As of 25 April 2013, the amendment has been postponed  

Oops, we missed this one:

HB 1379 Water and Sewer Utilities Value

Synopsis

•  Introduces an alternative appraisal process for determining rate and rating making practices of large utility providers when they buy water and sewer utilities 
• Allows for three appraisals of the real value of the water and sewer services; the average of the appraisals will be used to determine rate making
• Sets specific instructions on how appraisers and engineers will be chosen and how the public will be informed about changes in utility ownership

Status: This bill was introduced in the House 6 February 2013, passed the House on 19 April 2013, and is now in the Senate, where it has been assigned to the Energy Committee.