On June 20, 2024, the Board adopted amendments to Illinois’ wastewater pretreatment regulations. The amendments to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 307 are “identical in substance” to rule amendments adopted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) during the second half of 2023. Specifically, on August 9, 2023, USEPA updated the reporting and recordkeeping requirements for dental offices as a point source category (40 C.F.R. § 441.50).

On June 20, 2024, the Board adopted amendments to keep Illinois’ hazardous waste regulations “identical in substance” to the federal regulations. The amendments reflect actions taken by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) during the second half of calendar years 2020 and 2021, as well as the first half of calendar year 2023. During these timeframes, USEPA updated its regulations for identifying ignitable hazardous waste, modernized test methods that currently require the use of mercury thermometers, harmonized its regulations on hazardous waste import-export recovery and disposal operations with new Canadian disposal code numbers and descriptions, and revised Method 23.

In 2023, the Board adopted new rules (35 Ill. Adm. Code 1501) on licensing drycleaning facilities, overseeing their environmental insurance coverage, and administering State fund reimbursement for the costs of cleaning up drycleaning solvent releases. In that rulemaking (docket R21-19), the Board also opened a sub-docket (R21-19(A)) to further consider the issues of continuing education and compliance program requirements for owners and operators of active drycleaning facilities.

On May 16, 2024, the Board adopted amendments to keep Illinois’ ambient air quality standards identical in substance to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The amendments reflect two actions taken by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) during the second half of 2023. First, USEPA updated the current ozone absorption cross-section to the recommended consensus-based cross-section value. Second, USEPA designated two new equivalent methods for monitoring ambient air quality, one for measuring concentrations of lead (pb) and the other for measuring concentrations of particulate matter (PM10). The Board’s final amendments account for these USEPA updates.

On May 16, 2024, the Board adopted amendments to keep Illinois’ wastewater pretreatment regulations “identical in substance” to the federal regulations. The amendments reflect action taken by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) during the first half of calendar year 2023. USEPA amended a provision of the steam electric power generating point source category within the effluent limitation guidelines. Specifically, USEPA extended the date by which existing coal-fired power plants must submit a notice if they plan to participate in a subcategory of electric generating units permanently ceasing coal combustion by December 31, 2028. The Board added the extended deadline to the Illinois sewer discharge criteria rules for steam electric power generating.

On June 6, 2024, the Board issued an order proposing, for public comment, non-substantive amendments to Illinois’ air pollution rules. The proposed amendments are part of a larger undertaking by the Board to update its rules across multiple media and subject areas. The proposal will remove unnecessary language, replace outdated language, update statutory references, and reorganize provisions for clarity. The proposed amendments include revisions submitted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to delete obsolete provisions and make other non-substantive updates and corrections.

On April 18, 2024, the Board proposed first-notice amendments to update its air pollution rules on permitting for the construction and modification of major stationary sources in non-attainment areas. The changes will make the Board’s Non-Attainment New Source Review (NA NSR) permitting rules consistent with the federal Clean Air Act and the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s underlying NA NSR permitting program. The Board also proposed related changes to its rules on Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting, as well as its rules on toxic air contaminants.

On March 7, 2024, the Board proposed first-notice amendments to update its groundwater quality rules in 35 Ill. Adm. Code 620. The proposed changes will uphold the policy of the Illinois Groundwater Protection Act “to restore, protect, and enhance the groundwaters of the State, as a natural and public resource.” 415 ILCS 55/2(b) (2022). Among the amendments, the Board proposes adding groundwater quality standards for ten new chemicals detected in Illinois groundwater, including six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or “PFAS.”

On March 7, 2024, the Board proposed amendments to keep Illinois’ ambient air quality standards “identical in substance” to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The amendments reflect two actions taken by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) during the second half of 2023. First, USEPA updated the current ozone absorption cross-section to the recommended consensus-based cross-section value. Second, USEPA updated its List of Designated Reference and Equivalent Method. This update modified existing method designations and designated a new Federal Equivalent Method (FEM) for measuring concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM10) in ambient air.

On March 7, 2024, for public comment, the Board proposed amendments to Illinois’ wastewater pretreatment regulations. The proposed amendments are “identical in substance” to rule amendments adopted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) during the second half of 2023. Specifically, on August 9, 2023, USEPA updated the reporting and recordkeeping requirements for dental offices as a point source category (40 C.F.R. § 441.50).

On March 7, 2024, for public comment, the Board proposed amendments to keep Illinois’ hazardous waste regulations “identical in substance” to the federal regulations. The proposal reflects action taken by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) during the second half of calendar years 2020 and 2021, as well as the first half of calendar year 2023. During these timeframes, USEPA updated its regulations for identifying ignitable hazardous waste, modernized test methods that currently require the use of mercury thermometers, harmonized its regulations on hazardous waste import-export recovery and disposal operations with new Canadian disposal code numbers and descriptions, and revised Method 23.

On February 15, 2024, the Board adopted non-substantive amendments to its agriculture-related water pollution rules. These final amendments are part of a larger undertaking by the Board to update its rules across multiple media and subject areas. The amendments include removing unnecessary language, replacing outdated text, updating statutory references, and reorganizing provisions for clarity. All four Parts of the Board’s Subtitle E rules are affected, i.e., Parts 501, 502, 503, and 506 of Title 35 of the Illinois Administrative Code.

On January 4, 2024, the Board proposed non-substantive amendments to its agriculture-related water pollution rules for second-notice review by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). These proposed amendments are part of a larger undertaking by the Board to update its rules across multiple media and subject areas. The proposal will remove unnecessary language, replace outdated text, update statutory references, and reorganize provisions for clarity.

On January 4, 2024, the Board adopted amendments to keep Illinois’ definition of “volatile organic material” (VOM) “identical in substance” to the federal definition of “volatile organic compound” (VOC). The amendments reflect one action taken by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) during the first half of 2023. Specifically, USEPA excluded HFO–1336mzz(E) from its VOC definition (40 C.F.R. § 51.100(s)) after determining that the compound makes a negligible contribution to the formation of tropospheric ozone, commonly known as “smog.” The Board also made a few non-substantive changes to its VOM definition (35 Ill. Adm. Code 211.7150).

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