Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency
www.epa.state.il.us
1021 North Grand Avenue East
Springfield, IL 62794
217.782.3397
• Passed Electronic Waste Disposal Law. One
of the most comprehensive state electronic waste
(e-waste) recycling laws in the nation was passed
in 2008 with support from IEPA. IEPA will be the
lead agency in implementing a system by which
manufacturers of computers, televisions and
printers will partner with local governments,
recyclers, refurbishers and others to develop
alternatives to landfill disposal.
KEY BUDGET INITIATIVES
• Federal recovery. Illinois will receive
approximately $260 million to support the
Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
Revolving Loan Programs. These funds will be
used for drinking water and wastewater treatment
and sewer projects. Twenty percent of the new
funds are reserved for “green action projects,”
such as those that conserve water, encourage
low impact development, and energy efficiency at
drinking water and wastewater treatment
facilities.
• Protecting our children through the Target
Toxic Toys for Tots program. As part of a
proposed Child-Safe Chemicals Act, IEPA will
seek the creation of a pilot program to evaluate
the safety of chemicals in toys and other child-oriented
products, as well as assess potential
safer alternatives to such chemicals. The IEPA
will work in partnership with the Illinois
Department of Public Health and a proposed
Child Health Advisory Panel.
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are
impacting climate change. IEPA will continue to
work with other government agencies and the
private sector to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions in the state that contribute to global
warming and climate change. IEPA will work to
implement recommendations of the Illinois
Climate Change Task Force. These include
increasing the use of renewable energy,
expanding green building and operating
practices, and encouraging agricultural practices
that store carbon dioxide and reduce methane
gas.
• Expanding financing for upgrading wastewater
treatment plants, sewage lines, drinking water
treatment plants, water mains and storage
facilities. IEPA will allocate appropriate
resources to accelerate the processing of new
loans for those projects that are shovel ready for
an anticipated release of federal economic
stimulus funds in 2009.
• Continuing regulatory streamlining. Building
on its successful implementation of management
efficiency techniques to reduce the average
processing time for minor air pollution control
construction permits, IEPA will expand
streamlining to water pollution control permits.
• Expanding environmentally responsible
disposal of medications. IEPA will continue to
work with a wide variety of partners, including
healthcare providers, environmental and
watershed advocates, pharmacists and
pharmacies, drinking water and wastewater
treatment plant operators, local governments, law
enforcement and others. The goal is to form
coalitions to expand public awareness of keeping
pharmaceuticals out of our lakes and streams
and creating additional drop-off and collection
options for discarded medications.
• Seeking federal funding for biomass crop
research and applications. IEPA, in
partnership with the University of Illinois, a
recognized leader in the field of biomass
research, will move to secure federal funds to
conduct research and investigate means of large-scale
production of biofuels in Illinois. The
university is conducting promising research on a
tall grass (miscanthus Giganteus), prairie cane,
corn stover, corn cobs and other plants that
readily convert to biofuel.
PROGRAMS
Pollution Control Board
The board promulgates pollution control standards
and environmental regulations to protect the public
health and environment. The board provides a public
forum for hearing enforcement cases; requests for
variances; appeals of final IEPA administrative
decisions; underground storage tank reimbursement
appeals; and reviews of local government decisions
regarding the siting of new pollution control facilities.
The board has original jurisdiction in cases alleging
violations of environmental laws and regulations that
are investigated by the IEPA and prosecuted by the
Office of the Attorney General or other entities, as
well as those filed by individuals.
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