Illinois EPA Registration
of Smaller Sources Program hits program landmark
3,000 Illinois small
businesses benefit from permit streamlining
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[October 25, 2014]
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois EPA Director
Lisa Bonnett today announced the Agency has met its target of
registering 3,000 small sources since the 2012 inception of the
Registration of Smaller Sources (ROSS) program. The ROSS program is part
of a major regulatory streamlining effort designed to reduce the burden
and costs on Illinois small businesses.
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The Registration of Smaller Sources program was created in response
to legislation signed by Governor Pat Quinn on July 12, 2011. Public
Act 97-0095 streamlined the environmental permitting process in
Illinois, making the process easier for small businesses to open and
expand business in Illinois. Through the legislation, the Agency
established the ROSS program, which allowed low-polluting small
businesses to register with the Illinois EPA instead of completing
the permitting process. The program was developed through a
collaborative effort of Governor Pat Quinn, members of the General
Assembly, Illinois industry and the Illinois EPA.
“The ROSS program saves time, money and the environment," Governor
Pat Quinn said. "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy,
and this program makes it even easier for them to continue doing
business in Illinois.”
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“The ROSS program is a clear example of multiple stakeholders
working together in the best interest of the state,” said Illinois
EPA Director Lisa Bonnett. “ROSS allows the Agency to dedicate
resources to the largest sources of emissions in order to better
serve businesses concurrent with economic growth and enhanced
environmental protection.”
Among several benefits to small businesses is the need to simply
register instead of being required to apply for and obtain a permit
prior to constructing and operating. Under ROSS, small businesses no
longer need to wait for the Illinois EPA to complete an application
review and issue a permit before opening for business. ROSS sources
are still required to maintain records for inspection by the Agency
including descriptions of emission units, associated control
devices, control efficiency or emission rates, documentation of
actual emissions and calculations demonstrating eligibility for
ROSS.
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The ROSS program applies to sources whose combined emissions account
for less than one percent of the total air emissions in Illinois.
Prior to the ROSS program, more than 3,000 Illinois small sources
represented just 1 percent of the air emissions in Illinois. The
larger sources, more than 2,750, represented the remaining 99
percent of emissions.
Illinois EPA projected an estimated 3,000 sources would be eligible
to register through the ROSS program. Illinois EPA continues to
maintain a robust database of these small emission sources. The
Agency also continues to track and oversee these sources, who must
still comply with all applicable air pollution control requirements.
The Agency retains the ability to inspect and enforce against a
source to ensure compliance with all applicable statues and
regulations.
[Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency]
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