In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable federal and State laws, the hearing will be accessible to individuals
with disabilities. Persons requiring auxiliary aids and services should contact Dorothy Gunn, Clerk of the Board, at 100 West. Randolph St.,
Suite 11-500, Chicago, Illinois 60601, at telephone number 312/814-6931, fax number 312/814-3669, or TDD number 312/814-6032, five days
prior to the hearing.
ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
July 13, 2000
IN THE MATTER OF:
NATURAL GAS-FIRED, PEAK-LOAD
ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATING
FACILITIES (PEAKER PLANTS)
)
)
)
)
)
R01-10
NOTICE OF HEARINGS
DATES, TIMES AND PLACES:
FIRST HEARING: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2000,
AND THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2000
10:30 a.m.
James R. Thompson Center
Assembly Hall Auditorium
Concourse Level
100 West Randolph Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
SECOND HEARING: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2000
Time and location to be announced
THIRD HEARING: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2000
Time and location to be announced
FOURTH HEARING: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2000
Time and location to be announced
FIFTH HEARING: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2000,
AND FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2000
1:00 p.m. (October 5, 2000)
10:00 a.m. (October 6, 2000, if needed)
Illinois Pollution Control Board
Hearing Room 403
600 South Second Street
Springfield, Illinois 62704
PURPOSE OF HEARINGS: To develop a record of information concerning the
potential environmental impact of natural gas-fired, peak-load
electrical power generating facilities, known as peaker plants,
for the purpose of issuing an informational order.
DEADLINE FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS: November 6, 2000
ATTENDING BOARD MEMBERS: Claire A. Manning, Board Chairman
Ronald C. Flemal, Board Member
G. Tanner Girard, Board Member
Elena Z. Kezelis, Board Member
Samuel T. Lawton, Jr., Board Member
Marili McFawn, Board Member
Nicholas Melas, Board Member
HEARING OFFICER: Amy L. Jackson (217) 524-8507, jacksona@ipcb.state.il.us
HEARING OFFICER ORDER
Summary of Proceeding
On July 6, 2000, Governor George H. Ryan requested the Illinois Pollution Control
Board to conduct inquiry hearings concerning the potential environmental impact of natural
gas-fired, peak-load electrical power generating facilities, known as peaker plants. The
Governor’s correspondence requested that the Board examine the following issues:
1.
Do peaker plants need to be regulated more strictly than Illinois’ current air
quality statutes and regulations provide?
2.
Do peaker plants pose a unique threat, or a greater threat than other types of State-
regulated facilities, with respect to air pollution, noise pollution, or groundwater
or surface water pollution?
3.
Should new or expanding peaker plants be subject to siting requirements beyond
applicable local zoning requirements?
4.
If the Board determines that peaker plants should be more strictly regulated or
restricted, should additional regulations or restrictions apply to currently permitted
facilities or only to new facilities and expansions?
5.
How do other states regulate or restrict peaker plants?
Hearings
The Board has currently scheduled five hearings in this proceeding. (See Notice of
Hearings.) The purpose of these hearings is to develop a record of information concerning the
potential environmental impact of peaker plants, for the purpose of issuing an informational
order which will include the Board’s recommendation on whether any additional requirements
should be imposed on peaker plants to protect the environment and, if so, whether future
regulatory or legislative action is appropriate to accomplish that objective.
The first hearing, set for August 23 and 24, 2000, will serve a primary purpose of
providing the Board with background and technical information from State agencies and the
affected industries. The first day of hearing, August 23, will focus primarily on the
presentation of information by the State agencies. The second day of hearing, August 24, will
provide the affected industries with an opportunity to present their background and technical
information. Prefiling of testimony and exhibits is required for this first hearing in Chicago on
August 23 and 24, 2000. State agencies and affected industries planning to appear on the
record during this first hearing should submit all written testimony and any related exhibits to
the Board’s Clerk’s Office by August 16, 2000. Those submitting prefiled testimony should
contact the hearing officer for further information.
The following three hearings will be located in those areas of the State most affected by
the current or proposed construction of peaker plants. The specific purpose of these hearings is
to provide local governments and citizens with an opportunity to present testimony concerning
peaker plants and to provide any other relevant information, concerns, or suggestions. While
prefiling of testimony is not required for these hearings, persons wishing to testify are
encouraged to contact the hearing officer before the hearing date. Priority of presentation will
be given to those who have notified the hearing officer of their intent to testify. Persons who
wish to comment, but who do not contact the hearing officer in advance of the hearing, will be
allowed to comment as time permits. State agency representatives should be present and
available at these hearings.
The final hearing will be held in Springfield, and will provide the Board and interested
persons with an opportunity to address any downstate issues and any outstanding issues or
questions raised during the four previous hearings. Prefiling of testimony is not required for
this hearing, but persons wishing to testify or present evidence are requested to contact the
hearing officer before the hearing date, as set forth above. Again, State agency representatives
should be present and available at this hearing.
The inquiry hearings will be transcribed by a court reporter and the full transcript of
every hearing will be posted on the Board’s Web site (www.ipcb.state.il.us) within several days
of each hearing. Persons attending any of the hearings who do not wish to give testimony on
the record, may still file written public comments with the Board, as described below.
Public Comment
Interested persons may submit written public comment to the Board on or before
Monday, November 6, 2000. Public comments must contain the Board’s docket number for
this matter (R01-10), prominently displayed on the face of the document. Public comments
must be filed with the Board’s Clerk at the following address:
Dorothy Gunn, Clerk
Illinois Pollution Control Board
100 West Randolph Street, Suite 11-500
Chicago, Illinois 60601
All written public comments received, to the extent practicable, will be published on the
Board’s Web site.
Board Orders and Hearing Officer Orders
All Board orders and hearing officer orders will be available on the Board’s Web site.
For those persons wishing to receive paper copies of the Board’s orders and hearing officer
orders, the Board will establish a Notice List for this proceeding. Persons wishing to appear
on the Notice List for this proceeding are asked to contact Kim Schroeder at (217) 782-2633 or
by e-mail (schroedk@ipcb.state.il.us).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
____________________________
Amy L. Jackson
Hearing Officer
Illinois Pollution Control Board
600 South Second Street, Suite 402
Springfield, Illinois 62704
(217) 524-8507
jacksona@ipcb.state.il.us