EPA-MAHOMET AQUIFER

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Codifies the findings and recommendations of the Mahomet Aquifer Task Force established under P.A. 100-0403. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall identify unlined, thinly covered legacy landfills for inspection and study the landfills after prioritizing them based on potential hazards to surface water and groundwater resources. Prescribes required qualifications for Agency inspectors designated to identify and inspect legacy landfills. Provides that the Agency shall collect and archive information about landfills for present and long-term use, including manifests and engineering records. Provides that the Agency shall assemble location information about industries and companies that generate waste and that the resulting records should be available for use as confidential information by regulatory agencies but shall not be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Amends the Illinois Groundwater Protection Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Agency, in consultation and cooperation with the Illinois State Geological Survey and the Illinois State Water Survey, shall design and implement a Pilot Project at the Pekin Metro Landfill in Tazewell County, to be completed by December 31, 2020. Provides that the Pilot Program shall perform specified tasks. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of Senate Amendment No. 2, and makes the following changes: Provides that, when prioritizing the unregulated or underregulated landfills (currently, only landfills) that overlie the Mahomet Aquifer for inspection, the Agency shall consider the specified factors. Requires the Agency to identify unknown, unregulated, or underregulated (currently, unpermitted) waste disposal sites that overlie (currently, that are located within the boundaries of) the Mahomet Aquifer. Removes language requiring the Prairie Research Institute to offer specified training to instruct landfill instructors for the routine inspection and management of landfills. Removes language requiring the Prairie Research Institute to provide the Agency with updates on developments in specified technologies and systems. Requires the Agency to (i) archive information about landfills prioritized for response action following inspection and investigation, including their ownership, operational details, and waste disposal history, and (ii) assemble location information about industries and companies that generate waste. Removes language requiring the information to be available for use as confidential information but exempted from the Freedom of Information Act. Removes language requiring the Agency to utilize the information and data collected from the project to create best management practices for addressing other landfills throughout the State. Requires the Agency, following the completion of the pilot project response actions, to (i) evaluate the use of aerial photography and other remote sensing technologies to aid in the inspection and investigation of landfills; and (ii) identify additional procedures, requirements, or authorities that may be appropriate or necessary to address threats to human health and the environment from other unregulated or underregulated landfills throughout the State. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 415 ILCS 5/13.9 new Further amends the Environmental Protection Act to require the Prairie Research Institute to conduct a Mahomet Aquifer natural gas storage study using specified methods.