SUBJECT:
As reported at the January 18, 2012, IERG Quarterly Meeting, U.S.
EPA issued its proposal to reconsider (revise) it’s original
Boiler MACT rules, that were generally thought to be too stringent
to be complied with, and had been stayed by U.S. EPA while it
developed the revised rule. Also reported was the fact that on
January 9, 2012, a federal court vacated U.S. EPA’s stay, meaning
that the original Boiler MACT rules are now in effect.
SUBJECT:
Update
- 2008 Ozone NAAQS Designations
On
February 1, 2012, IERG filed the attached comments with U.S. EPA in
its docket dedicated to the initial area designations under the 2008
8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard. As Members
likely recall, U.S. EPA requested comments on its initial
determination to designate 3 counties in Illinois (Madison, Monroe,
and St. Claire) as nonattainment, and the remainder of the state as
“unclassifiable/attainment.” IERG’s comments support the
initial determination, and make a number of arguments against U.S.
EPA looking at 2011 data to make a determination that the Chicago
area also be designated nonattainment.
Subject:
Environmental Groups Petition to have Illinois' Title V Permitting
Authority Withdrawn
In
a petition dated January 30, 2012, a number of environmental groups
petitioned U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to make a
determination (and issue a Notice of Deficiency) that Illinois is
not administering the Title V permit program in accordance with the
Clean Air Act, and, if the identified deficiencies are not corrected
within 90 days, withdraw approval of the program and administer it
federally. The petition is largely premised on the fact that
many of Illinois’ coal-fired power plants still do not have
effective Title V permits (as they are stayed during their pending
appeals before the Illinois Pollution Control Board). In
addition, the petition alleges deficiencies in Illinois’
regulations dealing with emissions during periods of malfunction,
breakdown, and startup, as well as alleged underfunding of the
permit program from a deficient fee structure.
SUBJECT:
IERG Conference Call to Discuss Beneficial Use Determinations
for Coal Combustion Byproducts
The
IERG conference call to discuss whether IERG should develop a
regulatory proposal to govern the Illinois EPA’s making beneficial
use determinations for the use of Coal Combustion Byproducts (CCB)
will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2012.
With apologies to those who are unable to participate at that time,
please don’t hesitate to contact IERG Staff to discuss the matter.
SUBJECT:
IERG Proposal to Regulate Coal Combustion
Byproduct Beneficial Use Determinations
In
light of the pending regulatory changes tightening Illinois’
groundwater quality standards, and the previously expressed
frustration that IERG Members have with the Illinois EPA’s
beneficial use determination process for coal combustion byproducts
(“CCB”), IERG Staff has offered to explore the possibility of
crafting and pursuing the adoption of a regulatory proposal to
govern the beneficial use determination process.
SUBJECT: Environmental Fees Question and Answer
As the Members surely know, the General Assembly passed the Governor's huge fee increase bill this last legislative session in an effort to provide funding for the Agency and to fill the state's budget hole. Since the Governor signed this bill, these fees are now law, and the Agency is in the process of implementing the increased and new fees. With this implementation comes many questions. IERG Staff will answer these questions as they arise, and will add them to our growing list of 'Environmental Fees: Questions and Answers.