RECEIVED
    r
    CLERK’S
    OFFICE
    LOU
    IS E.
    COSTA
    PFI
    ?I°od
    (618) 242-3120
    STATE
    OF
    ILLINOIS
    APPELLATE
    COURT
    FIFTH
    DISTRICT
    14TH
    &
    MAIN
    STREETS
    P.O.
    Box
    867
    MT.
    VERNON,
    IL
    62864-0018
    September
    5,
    2008
    Dorothy
    M.
    Gunn,
    Clerk
    Illinois
    Pollution
    Control
    Board
    State
    of
    Illinois
    Center
    100
    West
    Randolph
    St.,
    Suite
    11-500
    Chicago,
    IL 60606
    RE:
    United
    States
    Steel
    Corporation
    v. Illinois
    Environmental
    Protection
    Agency,
    et
    at.
    PCBNo.
    06-171
    Gen. No.:
    5-07-0285
    Dear
    Clerk:
    Enclosed
    please
    find
    the
    Mandate
    of
    the
    Appellate
    Court
    in
    the
    above
    cause.
    Under
    separate
    cover,
    the Record
    on Appeal
    is
    being
    returned
    to your
    office
    in
    the
    above
    cause.
    Please
    sign
    the
    receipt
    which
    is
    enclosed
    with
    the
    record
    and
    return
    the
    receipt
    to this
    office.
    Yours
    very
    truly,
    Louis
    E. Costa,
    Clerk
    LEC/sr
    Enclo.
    cc:
    David
    T.
    Ballard
    Rachel
    Murphy
    Marie
    E. Tipsord
    Maxine
    I.
    Lipeles
    Gale
    W.
    NewtOn

    NO. 5-07-0285
    Term,
    2008
    PIc
    STATE
    OF
    ILL[NOIS,
    APPELLATE
    COURT
    FIFTH
    DISTRICT,
    ss.
    EP
    082008
    Si-A
    IL..LlNoj
    AT AN
    APPELLATE
    COURT,
    begun
    and
    held
    at
    Mt.
    Vernon,
    on
    the
    First
    WedI’nWrie
    month
    of
    January,
    in
    the
    year
    of
    our
    Lord,
    two
    thousand
    eight,
    the
    same
    being
    the
    2nd
    day
    of
    January
    in
    the
    year
    of
    our
    Lord, two
    thousand
    eight.
    Hon.
    THOMAS
    M.
    WELCH,
    Justice.
    Hon.
    STEPHEN
    L.
    SPOMER,
    Justice.
    Hon.
    JAMES
    M.
    WEXSTTEN,
    Justice.
    Hon.
    LOUIS
    E.
    COSTA,
    Clerk.
    BE
    IT
    REMEMBERED
    that
    on
    the
    22nd
    day
    of
    July, 2008,
    the
    final
    judgment
    of
    the
    Appellate
    Court
    was
    entered
    of
    record
    as
    fOllows:
    UNITED
    STATES
    STEEL
    CORPORATION,
    )
    Petition
    on
    Review
    of
    the
    )
    Order of
    the
    Illinois
    Petitioner,
    )
    Pollution
    Control
    Board.
    v.
    )
    )
    PCBO6-171
    ILLiNOIS
    POLLUTION
    CONTROL
    BOARD,)
    )
    BOTTOMPROTECTION
    ILLINOIS
    ENVIRONMENTALCONSERVANCY,AGENCY,
    and
    AMERICAN
    )
    )
    )
    Respondents.
    ))
    It
    is
    the
    decision
    of
    this
    Court
    that
    the
    judgment
    on
    appeal
    be
    ORDER
    VACATED;
    cause
    REMANDED
    to
    the
    Pollution
    Control
    Board
    for
    such
    other
    proceedings
    as
    required
    by
    the
    order of
    this
    Court,
    a copy
    of
    which
    is
    attached
    hereto.
    And
    it
    is
    further
    considered
    by
    the
    Court,
    that
    the
    costs
    of
    appeal
    shall
    be
    taxed
    as
    provided
    by
    law.
    As
    Clerk of
    the
    Appellate
    Court,
    Fifth
    District
    of
    the
    State
    of
    illinois
    and
    keeper
    of
    the
    records,
    files
    and Seal
    thereof,
    I certify
    that
    the
    foregoing
    is
    a
    true
    copy
    of
    the
    final
    order of
    the
    said
    Appellate
    Court,
    in
    the
    above
    entitled
    cause
    of
    record
    in
    my
    office.
    EN
    WITNESS
    WHEREOF,
    I
    have
    hereunto
    subscribed
    my
    name
    and
    affixed
    the
    Seal
    of
    said
    Court,
    this 5th
    dayof
    Septe
    er
    2008.
    Clerk
    L
    of
    the
    Appellate
    Court.

    NOTICE
    The
    taxt
    of
    th
    opinion
    may
    be
    changd
    or
    corrected
    prior
    to
    the
    time
    for
    filing
    of
    a
    F
    Rehearing
    or
    the
    dispoiNon
    of
    NO.
    5-07-0285
    JUL
    2
    2
    INTHE
    Cu74
    APPELLATE
    COURT
    OF
    ILLINOlS
    APPELLTECV1JT
    D1s
    FIFTH
    DISTRICT
    UNITED
    STATES
    STEEL CORPORATION,
    )
    Petition
    on
    Review
    of
    the
    Order
    )
    of
    the
    Illinois
    Pollution
    Control
    Petitioner,
    )
    Board.
    )
    v.
    )
    PCBO6-171
    )
    ILLINOIS
    POLLUTION
    CONTROL
    BOARD,)
    ILLINOIS
    ENVIRONMENTAL
    )
    PROTECTION
    AGENCY,
    and
    AMERiCAN
    )
    BOTTOM
    CONSERVANCY,
    )
    )
    Respondents.
    )
    JUSTICE
    WELCH
    delivered
    the
    opinion
    of
    the
    court:
    This
    is
    a direct
    administrative
    review
    of
    a
    decision
    of
    the
    Illinois
    Pollution
    Control
    Board
    (Board)
    that
    invalidated
    a
    renewed
    National
    Pollutant
    Discharge
    Elimination
    System
    (NPDES)
    pennit
    issued
    to
    United
    States
    Steel
    Corp.
    (U.S. Steel)
    by
    the
    Illinois
    Environmental
    Protection
    Agency (Agency).
    The
    Board
    invalidated
    the
    permit
    solely
    on
    the
    basis
    that
    despite
    a
    “significant
    degree
    of
    public
    interest in
    the
    proposed
    permit”
    the
    Agency
    had failed
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing
    on
    the
    issuance
    of
    the
    perinit. For
    reasons
    that
    follow,
    we
    vacate
    the
    decision
    of
    the
    Board
    and
    remand
    this
    cause
    to
    the
    Board
    for
    further
    proceedings.
    On
    October
    17,
    2002,
    the
    Agency
    received
    an
    application
    from
    National
    Steel
    Corp.
    for
    the
    renewal
    of its
    permit
    for
    its
    Granite
    City
    steel-making
    facility
    to
    discharge
    industrial
    process
    wastewater
    into
    Horseshoe
    Lake,
    which
    is
    a
    part
    of Horseshoe
    Lake
    State
    Park.
    The
    application
    was
    subsequently
    amended
    to
    reflect
    U.S.
    Steel’s acquisition
    of
    the
    Granite
    City
    facility.
    On
    December
    14,
    2002, the
    Agency
    issued
    a
    public
    notice
    soliciting
    public
    comment

    on
    the
    proposed
    permit.
    The
    Agency
    received
    only
    three
    comment
    letters,
    one
    from
    U.S.
    Steel,
    which
    did
    not
    request
    a
    public
    hearing
    on the
    proposed
    permit.
    The
    second
    comment
    letter
    was
    from
    an
    organization
    entitled
    Health
    &
    Environmental
    Justice—St. Louis,
    which
    requested
    a
    public
    hearing
    on
    the
    proposed
    permit.
    A
    third
    comment
    letter
    was
    received
    from
    American
    Bottom
    Conservancy,
    Health
    &
    Environmental
    Justice—St.
    Louis,
    Neighborhood
    Law
    Office
    of East
    St.
    Louis,
    the
    Sierra
    Club,
    and
    the Webster
    Groves
    Nature
    Study
    Society.
    This
    letter
    also
    requested
    a
    public
    hearing.
    The
    Agency
    considered
    the
    matters
    raised
    in
    the
    comment
    letters,
    declined
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing, sent
    written
    responses
    to
    the
    organizations
    that
    had
    sent
    the
    comment
    letters,
    and
    issued
    a
    final
    permit
    to
    U.S.
    Steel
    on March
    31,
    2006.
    On
    May
    8,
    2006,
    American
    Bottom
    Conservancy
    (ABC)
    filed
    with
    the
    Board
    a
    third-
    party
    petition
    for
    review
    ofthe
    permit,
    properly
    raising
    only
    the
    issue
    ofwhether
    the
    Agency
    had
    improperly
    denied
    the request
    for
    a
    public
    hearing.
    After
    hearing
    evidence
    and
    receiving
    posthearing
    briefs,
    the
    Board
    held
    that
    the
    Agency
    had
    improperly
    denied
    the
    request
    for
    a
    public
    hearing
    and
    that
    the
    Agency’s
    decision
    not to
    hold
    a public
    hearing
    invalidated
    the
    issued
    permit.
    The
    Board
    concluded
    that
    the
    Agency’s
    decision
    not
    to hold
    a
    public
    hearing
    prior
    to the
    issuance
    of
    the
    U.S.
    Steel
    permit
    violated
    section
    309.115(a)
    of the
    Board’s
    regulations
    (35
    Iii.
    Adrn.
    Code
    §309.115(a)
    (1996)).
    Accordingly,
    the
    Board
    ruled
    that
    the
    permit
    as
    issued
    violated
    the
    Environmental
    Protection
    Act
    (415
    ILCS
    5/1
    et
    seq.
    (West
    2006))
    and
    the
    regulations
    and
    was
    invalid.
    The
    Board
    invalidated
    the permit
    solely
    on
    the
    basis
    that
    the
    Agency
    had erred
    in failing
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing
    on
    the proposed
    penriit,
    and
    it did
    not
    otherwise
    address
    any issues
    relating
    to
    the proposed
    permit.
    The
    Agency
    and
    U.S.
    Steel
    filed
    motions
    for
    reconsideration,
    which
    were
    denied
    by
    the
    Board.
    The
    Agency
    and
    U.S.
    Steel
    (hereinafter
    referred
    to
    as
    the
    appellants)
    seek
    the
    direct
    administrative
    review
    of
    the Board’s
    decision
    in
    this
    court
    pursuant
    to
    section
    41
    of
    the
    2

    Environmental
    Protection
    Act
    (Act)
    (415
    1LCS
    5/41
    (West
    2006))
    and
    Illinois
    Supreme
    Court
    Rule
    335 (155
    111.
    2d R.
    335).
    We
    review
    pursuant
    to
    the Administrative
    Review
    Law
    (735
    ILCS
    5/3-101
    et
    seq.
    (West
    2006)).
    The
    Board
    and
    ABC
    filed
    answer
    briefs,
    and
    an
    amicus
    curiae
    brief
    was
    filed
    in
    support
    of
    the appellants’
    position
    by
    the
    Illinois
    Environmental
    Regulatory
    Group,
    a
    not-for-profit
    corporation
    affiliated
    with
    the
    Illinois
    State
    Chamber
    of
    Commerce.
    We
    have
    ordered
    taken
    with
    the
    case
    the
    Agency’s
    motion
    for
    leave
    to
    cite
    supplemental
    authority
    and
    the
    objections
    thereto
    of
    the
    Board
    and
    ABC.
    We
    hereby
    grant
    the
    motion
    to
    cite
    supplemental
    authority.
    The
    appellants
    argue
    on
    appeal
    that
    the
    Board
    applied
    the
    wrong
    standard
    of
    review
    in
    determining
    whether
    the
    Agency
    erred
    in
    deciding
    not
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing
    on
    the
    proposed
    permit.
    While
    in
    its
    analysis
    the
    Board
    acknowledged,
    “[T]he
    Agency
    has
    discretion
    in
    determining
    whether
    or
    not
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing
    prior
    to
    the
    issuance
    of
    an
    NPDES
    permit,”
    it
    also
    held
    as
    follows:
    “In
    reviewing
    the
    Agency’s
    decision
    not
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing,
    the
    Board
    applies
    the
    standard
    applicable
    to
    all
    reviews
    of
    an
    Agency’s
    pennit
    decision—whether
    or
    not
    the
    issuance
    of
    the
    penhlit
    violated
    the Act
    or
    Board
    regulations.
    Thus,
    the
    Board
    does
    not
    apply
    an
    ‘abuse
    of
    discretion’
    standard.”
    The
    appellants
    argue
    that
    the
    Board
    elTed
    as
    a
    matter
    of
    law
    in
    applying
    a
    de
    novo
    standard
    of
    review
    to
    the
    Agency’s
    decision
    not
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing
    instead
    of
    reviewing
    the
    Agency’s
    decision
    for
    an
    abuse
    of
    discretion.
    We
    agree
    and
    vacate
    the
    Board’s
    decision.
    Noting
    that
    the
    parties
    do
    not
    agree
    on
    the
    standard
    of
    review
    which
    this
    court
    should
    apply
    to
    its
    review
    of
    the
    Board’s
    decision,
    and
    because
    the
    issue
    presented
    to
    us
    for
    review
    concerns
    the
    appropriate
    standard
    of
    review
    applicable
    by
    the
    Board
    to
    the
    Agency’s
    decision
    not
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing,
    we
    begin
    with
    a
    general
    discussion
    of
    standards
    of
    review.
    In
    our view,
    the
    determination
    of
    the
    appropriate
    standard
    of
    review
    turns primarily
    upon
    the
    3

    type of
    question
    or
    issue presented
    for
    review.
    See Joel
    R.
    v. Board
    of
    Education
    of
    Mannheim
    School
    District
    83,
    292 III. App.
    3d
    607,
    612
    (1997).
    This
    is
    equally
    true
    when
    reviewing
    the
    decision
    of
    an administrative
    agency.
    LaSalle
    National
    Bank
    v.
    City
    of
    1-ugh/and
    Park,
    344
    III.
    App.
    3d
    259, 265-66
    (2003).
    When
    we
    review
    a lower
    tribunal’s
    factual
    determinations,
    those
    determinations
    will
    not
    be
    reversed
    on
    appeal
    unless they
    are contrary
    to the
    manifest
    weight
    of
    the evidence.
    JoelR.,
    292
    111. App.
    3d at 613.
    A factual
    finding
    is
    contrary
    to the
    manifest
    weight
    of
    the
    evidence
    when,
    upon a
    review
    ofall the evidence
    in the
    light most
    favorable
    to the prevailing•
    party,
    the opposite
    conclusion
    is
    clearly apparent
    or
    the fact
    finder’s
    finding
    is
    palpably
    erroneous
    and wholly
    unwarranted,
    is clearly
    the result
    of passion
    or
    prejudice,
    or
    appears
    to
    be arbitrary
    and
    unsubstantiated
    by the
    evidence.
    Joel
    R., 292
    III. App.
    3d at 613.
    The
    manifest-weight-of-the-evidence
    standard
    of
    review
    applies
    only to factual
    determinations
    of the
    lower tribunal.
    When
    we review
    a
    lower tribunal’s
    exercise
    of its
    discretion,
    the lower
    tribunal’s
    determination
    will
    not
    be
    reversed
    unless
    that
    tribunal
    has clearly
    abused
    its
    discretion.
    A
    tribunal
    abuses
    its
    discretion
    when
    it makes
    an
    arbitrary
    decision,
    without
    using
    conscientious
    judgment,
    or
    when,
    in
    view of
    all
    the
    circumstances,
    the lower
    tribunal
    oversteps
    the bounds
    of reason,
    ignores
    the
    law,
    and thereby
    causes
    substantial
    prejudice.
    In re
    Marriage
    ofMunger,
    339
    111. App.
    3d
    1104, 1107
    (2003).
    The
    question
    is not
    whether
    the reviewing
    court
    would
    have
    made the same
    decision
    if it were
    the
    lower
    tribunal.
    In
    re
    Marriage
    ofMunger,
    339 Ill. App.
    3d at
    1107.
    This standard
    of
    review is
    traditionally
    used
    in
    reviewing
    decisions
    made
    by a
    trial
    judge
    overseeing
    his
    courtroom
    or in
    maintaining
    the
    progress
    of
    a
    trial.
    In reD.
    T.,
    212
    Ill. 2d
    347,
    356
    (2004).
    If
    a
    lower
    tribunal’s
    ruling
    is a
    matter
    ofjudicial
    discretion,
    then it
    is
    reviewable
    only for an
    abuse of
    that
    discretion.
    In re
    D.T., 212
    111.
    2d at 356.
    4

    Finally,
    when
    reviewing
    a
    lower
    tribunal’s
    disposition
    of
    a question
    of
    law,
    our
    review
    of
    the
    lower
    tribunal’s
    decision
    is
    tie
    novo.
    Arthurv
    Carour,
    216
    111.
    2d
    72.78
    (2005);
    Joel
    R.,
    292
    111.
    App.
    3d
    at
    613.
    This
    standard
    of review
    is
    completely
    independent
    of
    the
    lower
    tribunal’s
    judgment.
    Arthur.
    216
    111.
    2d
    at
    78.
    Of
    these
    standards
    of
    review.
    de
    novo
    review
    is
    the
    least deferential
    to
    the
    lower
    tribunal
    Arthur.
    21
    6
    Ill.
    2d
    at
    78),
    while
    the
    abuse-of-discretion
    standard
    is
    the
    most
    deferential
    to
    the
    lower
    tribunal.
    In
    re
    D.T., 212
    Ill.
    2d
    at
    356.
    The
    issue
    presented
    to
    us
    for
    our
    review
    is
    whether
    the
    Board applied
    the
    correct
    standard
    of
    review
    in
    reviewing
    the
    Agency’s
    decision
    not
    to
    hold
    a
    public hearing
    on
    the
    proposed
    permit.
    The
    Agency’s
    obligation
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing
    is
    governed
    by
    section
    309.115(a)
    of
    Title
    35
    of
    the
    Illinois
    Administrative
    Code,
    which
    provides
    as
    follows:
    “(1)
    The
    Agency
    shall
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing
    on
    the
    issuance
    or
    denial
    of
    the
    an
    [sic]
    NPDES
    Permit
    or
    group
    of
    permits
    whenever
    the
    Agency
    determines
    that
    there
    exists
    a
    significant
    degree
    of
    public
    interest
    in the
    proposed
    permit
    or
    group
    of
    permits
    (instances
    of
    doubt
    shall
    be
    resolved
    in
    favor
    of
    holding the
    hearing),
    to
    warrant
    the
    holding
    of
    such
    a
    hearing.
    (2)
    Any
    person,
    including
    the
    applicant,
    may
    submit
    to
    the
    Agency
    a
    request
    for
    a
    public
    hearing
    or
    a
    request
    to
    be
    a
    party
    at
    such
    a
    hearing
    to
    consider
    the
    proposed
    pennit
    or
    group
    of
    permits.
    Any
    such
    request
    for
    public
    hearing
    shall
    be
    filed
    with
    [sic]
    the
    30-day
    public
    comment
    period
    and
    shall
    indicate
    the
    interest of
    the
    part
    [sic]
    filing
    such
    a
    request
    and the
    reasons
    why
    a
    hearing
    is
    warranted.”
    35
    Ill.
    Adm.
    Code
    §309.115(a)
    (1996).
    The
    correct
    interpretation
    of
    this
    regulatory
    provision
    is a
    question
    of
    law,
    which
    we
    review
    de
    novo. Elernentwy
    School
    District
    159
    v.
    Schiller,
    221
    Ill.
    2d
    130,
    144
    (2006).
    The
    Board
    argues
    that
    the
    Act
    itself
    provides
    that
    this
    court’s review
    of
    the
    Board’s
    5

    decision use
    the
    manifest-weight-of-the-evidence
    standard
    (415
    ILCS
    5/41
    (West
    2006))
    and
    that
    the
    Illinois
    Supreme
    Court
    has
    adopted
    this
    standard of
    review
    in
    Environmental
    Protection
    Agency
    v.
    Pollution
    Control
    Board,
    115
    III. 2d
    65.
    70-7
    1
    (1986).
    As
    we
    have
    stated,
    the
    manifest-weight-of-the-evidence
    standard of
    review
    applies
    to
    factual
    determinations
    and
    is the
    correct
    standard
    of
    review
    when
    the
    Board
    invalidates
    the
    permit
    on
    the
    basis
    of
    facts
    in
    evidence.
    Our
    review
    of
    an
    administrative
    agency’s
    findings of
    fact
    is
    performed
    under
    a
    manifest-weight-of-the-evidence
    standard
    of
    review.
    Christian
    County
    Board
    ofRei’iew
    v.
    Property
    Tax
    AppealBoard,
    368111.
    App.
    3d
    792,794(2006).
    But
    where
    the
    issue
    before
    us
    is
    whether
    the
    Board
    erred
    as
    a
    matter
    of
    law,
    we
    review
    the
    issue
    de
    nova.
    The
    only
    issue
    before
    us
    on
    appeal
    is
    whether
    the
    Board
    erred
    as
    a
    matter
    of law
    in
    applying
    the
    incorrect
    standard
    of
    review
    in
    deciding
    that
    the
    Agency
    erred
    in
    failing
    to hold
    a
    public
    hearing.
    This
    presents
    a question
    of
    law,
    which
    we
    review
    de
    nova.
    Arthur,
    216
    III.
    2d
    at
    78.
    Rules
    and
    regulations
    promulgated
    by
    the Board have
    the
    force
    and
    effect
    of
    law
    and
    will
    be
    construed
    by
    the
    same
    standards
    used
    to
    construe
    statutes.
    Granite City
    Division
    qf
    National
    Steel
    Co.
    v.
    illinois
    Pollution
    Z’ontrol
    Board,
    155
    111.
    2d
    149,
    162
    (1993).
    We
    give
    statutory language
    its
    plain
    and
    ordinary
    meaning,
    and
    where
    a
    statute
    is clear
    and
    unambiguous,
    it
    must
    be
    enforced
    as
    written
    without
    resort
    to
    further
    aids
    of
    statutory
    construction.
    Town
    &
    country
    Utilities,
    Inc.
    v. Illinois
    Pollution
    Control
    Board,
    225
    Ill.
    2d
    103,
    117
    (2007).
    This
    court
    may
    not
    depart
    from
    the
    statute’s
    plain
    language
    by
    reading
    into
    it
    exceptions,
    limitations,
    or
    conditions
    not
    expressed
    therein. Town
    &
    Country
    Utilities,
    Inc..
    225
    Ill.
    2d
    at
    117.
    The
    unambiguous
    and
    plain
    language
    of
    section
    309.115(a)
    vests
    discretion in
    the
    Agency
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing whenever
    it
    determines
    that
    there
    exists
    a
    significant
    degree
    of
    public
    interest
    in the
    proposed
    permit.
    The
    regulation does
    not
    state
    that
    the
    Agency
    must
    6

    hold
    a
    hearing
    whenever
    there
    is
    a
    sign
    /icant
    degree
    of
    public interest.
    It
    states that
    the
    Agency
    must
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing
    whenever
    it
    determines
    that
    there
    is
    a
    significant
    degree
    of
    public
    interest
    in
    the
    permit.
    This
    language
    can
    be
    read
    no
    way
    other than vesting
    discretion
    in
    the
    Agency
    to
    determine
    when
    and
    if
    there
    is
    a
    significant
    degree
    of
    public
    interest in
    a
    proposed
    permit.
    If
    the
    Agency
    determines,
    in
    its
    discretion,
    that
    there
    is
    a
    significant
    degree
    of
    public
    interest
    in
    a
    proposed
    permit,
    based
    on
    requests
    for
    a
    public
    hearing
    that
    are
    filed within
    the
    public
    comment
    period
    and
    that
    indicate
    the
    party’s
    interest
    and
    why
    a
    hearing
    is
    warranted,
    then
    a
    public
    hearing
    must
    be
    held.
    Indeed,
    the
    Board
    acknowledged
    this
    in
    its
    order
    invalidating
    the
    permit,
    when
    it
    stated, “[T]he Agency
    has
    discretion
    in
    determining
    whether
    or
    not
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing
    prior
    to
    the
    issuance
    of
    an
    NPDES
    permit.”
    Furthermore,
    in
    a
    case
    involving
    language
    equivalent
    to
    that
    in
    section 309.115,
    the
    appellate
    court
    has
    recognized
    that
    the
    decision
    of
    whether
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing
    is
    a
    discretionary
    one
    to
    be
    made
    by
    the
    Agency.
    Borg-
    Warner
    corp.
    i
    Mauzy, 100111.
    App.
    3d
    862,
    867
    (1981).
    The
    party
    requesting
    the
    hearing
    has
    the
    burden
    of
    showing
    why
    it
    is
    warranted.
    Borg-Warner
    C’orp.,
    100
    111.
    App.
    3d
    at
    867.
    As
    the
    appellate
    court
    stated,
    “Certainly,
    Agency
    action
    on
    a
    decision
    [whether
    to hold
    a
    public
    hearing]
    is
    reviewable,
    subject to
    an
    abuse
    of
    discretion
    standard,
    but
    the
    availability
    of
    review
    over
    the
    determination
    does
    not
    alter
    the
    essentially
    discretionary
    nature
    of
    the
    determination)’
    Borg-
    Warner
    corp.,
    ioo
    Iii.
    App.
    3d
    at
    867.
    That
    a
    public
    hearing
    on
    a
    proposed
    NPDES
    permit
    is
    discretionary
    with
    the
    Agency
    was
    also
    recognized
    in
    Village
    of
    Sauget v.
    Pollution
    Control
    Boa,-d,
    207
    Ill.
    App.
    3d
    974,
    981
    (1990).
    Finally,
    the
    Board
    itself
    has
    ruled
    that
    it
    caimot
    order
    the
    Agency
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing
    on
    an
    NPDES
    permit
    application
    in
    the
    absence
    of
    the
    Agency’s
    abuse of
    its
    discretion
    in
    failing
    to
    hold
    one. In
    its
    own
    decision
    in
    Marathon
    Oil
    Co.
    v.
    Illinois
    7

    Emironmenta/
    Protection
    Agency,
    Illinois
    Pollution
    Control Bd.
    op.
    92-
    166,
    opinion
    &
    order
    at
    10 (March
    3 1,
    1994),
    the
    Board
    held
    as follows:
    “Whether
    an
    Agency hearing
    is
    to
    beheld
    in
    an
    NPDES
    permit
    review
    is
    discretionary
    with
    the
    Agency
    ***
    Marathon
    presents
    no
    argument
    that
    would
    allow
    this
    Board
    to conclude
    that
    the
    Agency
    abused
    this
    discretion
    ***“
    As
    we
    have
    stated,
    if
    the
    decision
    of
    a
    lower
    tribunal,
    in
    this
    case
    the
    Agency,
    is
    a
    matter
    of
    discretion,
    then
    it is
    reviewable
    only
    for
    an
    abuse
    of
    that
    discretion.
    See
    In
    reD.
    T.,
    212
    Ill.
    2d
    at
    356.
    Despite
    this
    clear
    grant
    of discretion
    to
    the
    Agency
    to
    determine
    whether
    there
    is
    sufficient
    public
    interest
    in
    a
    proposed
    permit
    to
    warrant
    a
    public
    hearing
    thereon,
    the
    Board
    did
    not
    review
    the
    Agency’s
    decision
    on
    whether
    to
    hold
    a
    public hearing
    to
    determine
    whether
    the
    Agency
    had
    abused
    its
    discretion,
    but
    the
    Board
    reviewed
    the
    Agency’s
    decision
    not
    to
    hold
    the
    hearing
    using
    a
    de
    novo
    standard
    of
    review.
    The
    Board
    examined
    the
    public
    comment
    letters
    received
    and
    concluded
    that
    they
    evidenced
    a
    significant
    degree
    of public
    interest in
    the
    proposed
    permit.
    The
    Board
    gave
    no
    deference
    to
    the
    Agency’s
    decision
    but
    reviewed
    the
    public
    comments
    independently
    and
    made
    its
    own
    determination
    that
    there
    was
    significant
    public
    interest
    to
    warrant
    a
    public
    hearing.
    The
    Board
    argues
    that
    it
    need
    not
    give
    deference
    to
    the
    Agency’s
    decision on
    whether
    to
    issue
    the
    permit
    because
    the
    procedures
    before
    the
    Agency
    do
    not
    include
    hearing
    requirements
    and
    have
    none
    of
    the
    characteristics
    of
    an
    adversary
    proceeding.
    While
    this
    may
    be
    true
    with
    regard
    to
    factual
    or
    evidentiary
    issues
    before the
    Agency,
    it
    is
    not
    true
    where
    the
    Agency’s
    determination
    is
    discretionary
    and
    relates
    to
    a
    procedural
    issue,
    as
    in the
    case
    at
    bar.
    Where
    the
    regulation
    clearly
    grants the
    Agency
    discretion
    to
    determine
    when
    a
    public
    hearing
    is
    required,
    its
    determination
    in
    this
    regard
    must
    be
    reviewed
    only
    for
    an
    abuse
    of
    that
    discretion.
    In
    reD.T.,
    212
    Ui.
    2d
    at
    356.
    Under
    the
    Act,
    the
    Board
    has
    the
    power
    to
    invalidate
    a permit that
    violates
    the
    Act
    or
    8

    regulations
    promulgated
    thereunder.
    Frau-ic
    Rivers
    Network
    1’.
    Illinois Pollution
    Control
    Board.
    335
    Ill.
    App.
    3d
    391,
    401
    (2002).
    Section
    309.115(a)
    of
    the
    regulations
    gives
    the
    Agency
    discretion
    to
    determine
    when
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing.
    Therefore,
    a
    permit
    that
    is
    issued
    without
    a
    public
    hearing
    violates
    section
    309.
    11
    5(a)—and is
    invalid—only
    when
    the
    Agency
    abuses its
    discretion
    in
    deciding
    not
    to
    hold
    a
    hearing.
    But
    if
    the
    Agency
    properly
    exercises
    its
    discretion,
    then
    the
    permit
    does
    not
    violate
    section
    309.115(a),
    even
    if
    the
    Board
    might
    have
    made
    a different
    decision
    in
    the
    first
    instance.
    The
    Board
    erred
    as
    a
    matter
    of
    law
    in
    applying
    the
    incorrect
    standard
    of
    review
    to
    the
    Agency’s
    decision
    not
    to
    hold
    a
    public
    hearing.
    Accordingly,
    we
    vacate
    the
    final
    order
    of
    the
    Board
    invalidating
    the
    NPDES
    permit
    issued
    to
    U.S.
    Steel
    and
    remand
    this
    cause
    to
    the
    Board
    for
    review
    using
    the
    correct
    standard
    of
    review.
    In
    determining
    whether
    the
    permit
    as
    issued
    violates
    the
    Act
    or
    regulations
    because
    the
    Agency
    did
    not
    hold
    a public
    hearing,
    the
    Board
    must
    use
    an
    abuse-of-discretion
    standard.
    It
    must
    review
    the
    Agencys
    decision
    not
    to
    hold
    a public
    hearing
    to
    determine
    whether
    the
    agency
    made
    an
    arbitrary
    decision,
    without using
    conscientious
    judgment,
    or
    if,
    in
    view
    of
    all
    the
    circumstances,
    the
    Agency
    overstepped
    the
    bounds of
    reason,
    ignored
    the
    law,
    and
    thereby
    caused
    substantial
    prejudice.
    In
    reMarriage
    ofMunger,
    339
    Ill.
    App.
    3d
    1104,
    1107
    (2003).
    Only
    if
    the
    Agency
    abused
    its discretion
    in
    failing
    to hold
    a
    public
    hearing
    would
    the
    permit
    as
    issued violate
    the
    Act
    or
    regulations.
    For
    the
    foregoing
    reasons,
    the
    final
    order
    of
    the
    Board
    is
    vacated,
    and
    this
    cause is
    remanded
    to
    the
    Board
    for
    further
    proceedings
    not
    inconsistent
    with
    this
    opinion.
    Motion
    granted;
    order
    vacated;
    cause
    remanded.
    SPOMER
    and
    WEXSTTEN,
    JJ.,
    concur.
    9

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