[November 19, 2013]SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois
Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comment and has
scheduled two public hearings on proposed regulations to implement
provisions of the state's new Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act.
The regulations, when adopted, will include the most stringent
environmental protections in the U.S. for high-volume horizontal
hydraulic fracturing. The proposed regulations are now available
for public review and comment through the IDNR website at
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/
OilandGas/Pages/
Hydraulicfracturing.aspx.
The proposed regulations include amendments to 62 Ill. Adm.
Code 240, the Illinois Oil and Gas Act, and the new 62 Ill. Adm.
Code 245, the Illinois Hydraulic Fracturing Act.
The proposed regulations have been submitted by IDNR to the
Illinois secretary of state and were published Friday in the
Illinois Register. The "First Notice" period will allow for
public review and comment on the proposal through Jan. 3.
The IDNR will accept written public comments by mail or
online and will host two public hearings at which comments on
the proposed regulations will be accepted.
Public comments in writing can
be addressed to:
Attn: IDNR Office of Legal Counsel
1 Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702.
The public hearings on the proposed regulations are scheduled for
Nov. 26 at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Dec. 3 at Rend
Lake College in Ina. Both public hearings will begin at 6:30 p.m.
For meeting details and location information, check the IDNR website
at
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/
OilandGas/Pages/PublicHearings.aspx.
Following the "First Notice" review period, the IDNR will submit
the proposed regulations to the Legislative Joint Committee on
Administrative Rules for a 45-day "Second Notice" review. The
committee will decide whether IDNR can proceed to adopt the rules.
