On October 19, 2017, the Board adopted an order consolidating two identical-in-substance rulemakings and extending the Board’s deadline for completing them. Both rulemakings concern recent amendments to federal regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): Subtitle C hazardous waste regulations and Subtitle D Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (MSWLF) regulations. The federal rule changes resulted from actions taken by the United States Environmental Protection Agency during the last half of 2016 and in August 2017. Among its actions, USEPA adopted the “Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule” (GIR), which extensively revised the federal standards applicable to hazardous waste generators. Based on the breadth of USEPA’s actions, the Board found it necessary to extend the Board’s deadline—to June 1, 2018—for filing final amendments to Illinois’ rules. The Board plans to propose rule amendments for public comment on February 8, 2018.

On October 5, 2017, the Board proposed amendments to streamline and update its noise rules (35 Ill. Adm. Code 900, 901, 902, and 910). The Board invited public comment on the proposed changes, without submitting them to first-notice publication. This proposal is part of the Board’s broader review—started in the summer of 2016—to ensure that Board rules are clear and up to date. The noise rulemaking is captioned Noise Rule Update: Amendments to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 900, 901, 902, and 910, docket R18-19. For more information, please contact Tetyana Rabczak at 312-814-3620 or tetyana.rabczak@illinois.gov.

On October 19, 2017, the Board accepted for hearing the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s rulemaking proposal to amend the Multi-Pollutant Standard (MPS). The Board also proposed the rule amendments for first notice without commenting on their substance. The MPS applies to specific coal-fired electrical generating units in central and southern Illinois. In its opinion and order, the Board also denied IEPA’s motion for expedited review of the proposal. The Board will hold public hearings and receive public comment on the proposed rule amendments. This rulemaking is captioned Amendments to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 225.233, Multi-Pollutant Standard (MPS), docket R18-20. For more information, please contact Marie Tipsord (312-814-4925; marie.tipsord@illinois.gov) or Mark Powell (312-814-6887; mark.powell@illinois.gov).

On October 19, 2017, the Board adopted final rule amendments that keep Illinois’ ambient air quality standards “identical in substance” to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The amendments reflect actions taken by the United States Environmental Protection Agency during the last half of 2016 and the first half of 2017. Among its actions, USEPA adopted the implementation rule for the 2012 primary annual PM2.5 NAAQS and revised the requirements for handling monitoring data influenced by exceptional events. During its rulemaking, the Board received public comment and held a public hearing. The Board rulemaking is captioned National Ambient Air Quality Standards, USEPA Amendments (July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016, March 20, 2017, May 11, 2017, and June 16, 2017), docket R17-10. For more information, please contact Jason James at 312-814-6929 or jason.james@illinois.gov.

On October 19, 2017, the Board adopted a final rule amendment that keeps Illinois’ definition of “volatile organic material” (VOM) “identical in substance” to the federal definition of “volatile organic compound” (VOC). The Board’s VOM amendment reflects the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s August 1, 2016 addition of an exclusion from the VOC definition. USEPA added one hydrofluoroether compound to the list of excluded chemicals. The Environmental Protection Act requires the Board to expand the exclusion from ozone regulation due to negligible photochemical reactivity. The Board received public comment and held a public hearing during this rulemaking, which is captioned Definition of VOM Update, USEPA Regulations (July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016), docket R17-11. For more information, please contact Jason James at 312-814-6929 or jason.james@illinois.gov.