June 6, 2002 - On June 6, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board adopted a first-notice opinion and order in Proposed Amendments to Ammonia Nitrogen Standards: 35 Ill. Adm. Code 302.212, 302.213, and 304.122. The Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies initiated this rulemaking to amend the Board’s ammonia regulations. Specifically, this rulemaking would change the acute and chronic general use water quality standards for un-ionized ammonia. The proposal also adds calculations for sub-chronic ammonia. Additionally, the amendments would repeal portions of the rules related to Effluent Modified Waters.

October 17, 2002 - On October 17, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board adopted a final opinion and order in the rulemaking entitled Proposed Amendments to Ammonia Nitrogen Standards 35 Ill. Adm. Code 302.100, 302.212, 302.213, and 304.122, R02-19. This proposal filed by the Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies and supported by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, updates the Board’s ammonia regulations.

February 21, 2002 - On February 21, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board (Board) adopted for second notice two rulemakings that address issues concerning remediation of contaminated sites. The two rulemakings involve the remediation of sites enrolled in the Site Remediation Program (SRP) and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) program. On February 1, 2001, the Board consolidated two rulemaking proposals involving the SRP regulations. See Site Remediation Program: Amendments to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 740, R01-27 and Site Remediation Program: Proposed 35 Ill. Adm. Code 740.Subpart H (Public Schools), R01-29.

April 18, 2002 - On April 18, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board adopted two rulemakings regarding site remediation of contaminated sites. The rulemakings involved amendments to the regulations governing the Site Remediation Program (SRP) and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) program.

November 7, 2002 - On November 7, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board adopted a first-notice opinion and order in the rulemaking entitled Revision of the Board’s Procedural Rules: 35 Ill. Adm. Code 101-130, R03-10. The Board initiated this rulemaking to allow electronic filing in all Board proceedings through its new Clerk’s Office On-Line or “COOL.” Additionally, the rules will reflect recent amendments to the Environmental Protection Act (415 ILCS 5 (2000), amended by P.A. 92-0574, effective June 26, 2002) and the Administrative Procedure Act (5 ILCS 100 (2000), amended by P.A. 92-0330, effective August 9, 2001).

October 3, 2002 - On October 3, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board adopted an opinion soliciting public comments in the rulemaking entitled Noise Rule Update: Amendments to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 900 and 903, R03-08. The Board initiated this rulemaking to amend and update the Board’s noise rules.

January 24, 2002 - On January 24, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board adopted two rules dealing with methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE). MTBE is a water-soluble fuel additive. Since 1994, 26 community water supplies have found evidence of MTBE contamination in their finished drinking water.

March 7, 2002 - On March 7, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board granted a provisional variance from various emission limitations regulations and certain Clean Air Act Permit Program permit conditions to Bway Corporation (Bway) for the period from February 25, 2002 to March 26, 2002. The provisional variance will allow Bway to repair its Smith thermal oxidizer at its metal decorating facility located a 3400 North Powell Avenue, Franklin Park, Cook County.

October 17, 2002 - On October 17, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board granted a 45-day provisional variance from the monthly average chlorine residual, total suspended solids (TSS), and carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD) effluent limits in the city of Benton’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and 35 Ill. Adm. Code, 304.120(b) and 304.141(a) for the period beginning October 14, 2002. The provisional variance will allow the City of Benton to repair its trickling filter at its wastewater treatment plant in Benton, Franklin County.

September 5, 2002 - On September 5, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board granted a 45-day provisional variance from the daily maximum and monthly average total suspended solids effluent limits in Dynegy Midwest Generation’s (Dynegy) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the 45-day period beginning September 2, 2002. The provisional variance will allow Dynegy to dredge the secondary cell of the plant’s ash pond at its coal-fired generating system located near Baldwin in St. Clair and Randolph Counties.

March 7, 2002 - On March 7, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board granted a 45-day provisional variance from various open burning regulations to Ensign Bickford Company for the 45-day period beginning with the issuance of the Board’s order. The provisional variance will allow Ensign Bickford Company to burn explosive and potentially explosive contaminated wastes at its explosive products manufacturing facility near the town of Wolf Lake in Union County.

October 3, 2002 - On October 3, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board granted a ten-day provisional variance from certain thermal discharge limitations in Exelon’s National Pollution Dishcarge Elimination System (NPDES) permit that would allow Exelon to perform essential maintenance on the lift pump electrical switchgear and operate in the open cycle mode at its nuclear-fueled steam electric generating facility located at the confluence of the Des Plaines and Kankakee Rivers near Morris in Grundy County. The provisional variance will begin when Exelon notifies the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) that the lift station has been taken out of service on October 12, 2002,and continues for ten days or until the project is complete, whichever occurs earlier.

January 10, 2002 - On January 10, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board granted a 30-day provisional variance from various hazardous waste storage standards to Garrett Aviation, Inc. for the period of December 30, 2001 to January 29, 2002. The provisional variance would allow Garrett Aviation, Inc. to accumulate hazardous wastes on site for longer than 90 days at its aviation facility at 1200 North Airport Drive, Springfield.

November 7, 2002 - On November 7, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board granted a 30-day provisional variance from hazardous waste storage rules contained in 35 Ill. Adm. Code, 722.134(b). The provisional variance will allow Osmose Wood Preserving Inc. (Osmose) to store hazardous wastes on-site for longer than 90 days during a court-ordered soil remediation project at its former wood treatment facility near Beardstown in Cass County.

May 16, 2002 - On May 16, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board granted a 30-day provisional variance from various hazardous waste storage regulations to Precoat Metals for the 30-day period from May 16, 2002 to June 15, 2002. The provisional variance will allow Precoat Metals to store hazardous wastes on-site for longer than 90-days at its facility located at 25 Northgate Industrial Drive, Granite City, Madison County.

September 19, 2002 - On September 19, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board granted a 45-day provisional variance from the effluent limits for chemical biological oxygen demand (CBOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) stated in the Seward Sanitary District’s (District) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the 45-day period beginning September 17, 2002. The provisional variance will allow the District to inspect and repair two potential leaks in one of its lagoon cell dike walls at its facility located in Winnebago County.

December 5, 2002 - On December 5, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board (Board) granted to the City of Benton (Benton) a 45-day provisional variance from monthly average chlorine residual, total suspended solids (TSS), and carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD) effluent limits in its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and in 35 Ill. Adm. Code 304.120(b) and 304.141(a).

July 11, 2002 - On July 11, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board adopted a first-notice opinion and order in Proposed Amendments to General Permitting Provisions For Portable Emission Units Amendments to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 201. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) initiated this rulemaking to relieve the administrative burden on the IEPA and the owners and operators of the portable emission units that are frequently relocated. Portable emission units release emissions for less than one year, are permitted to release less than 25 tons annually of any combination of regulated air pollutants, are designed to be portable, and are not used as thermal desorption systems or as incinerator systems.

November 7, 2002 - On November 7, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board adopted a second-notice opinion and order in Proposed Amendments to General Permitting Provisions For Portable Emission Units Amendments to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 201. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) initiated this rulemaking to relieve the administrative burden on the IEPA and the owners and operators of the portable emission units that are frequently relocated. Portable emission units release emissions for less than one year, are permitted to release less than 25 tons annually of any combination of regulated air pollutants, are designed to be portable, and are not used as thermal desorption systems or as incinerator systems.

December 19, 2002 - On December 19, 2002, the Illinois Pollution Control Board adopted an opinion and order sending to first notice the rulemaking entitled Noise Rule Update: Amendments to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 900 and 903, R03-08. The Board initiated this rulemaking to amend and update the Board’s noise rules.