The Department of Natural Resources proposed amendments to regulations governing siting requirements for recreational impoundments. The amendments would update the lead free standard and federally required state enforcement actions, such as requiring a locally enforceable mechanism to ensure that any installation or repair involving pipes, fittings, fixtures, solder, or flux connected to a public water system is lead free. A hearing will be held May 16, 2023. Comments are due May 23, 2024.

The Department of Natural Resources adopted amendments to regulations governing the Illinois Oil and Gas Act. The amendments improve the processing of drilling unit permit applications, establish a deadline for applications involving drilling in areas of mining activity, and allow communication with permittees through electronic mail. See https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/index/register/volume48/register_volume48_15.pdf (pp. 5734-50).

The Department of Natural Resources adopted amendments to regulations governing the Conservation Stewardship Program. The amendments provide detailed information regarding the Conservation Stewardship Program and the requirements that must be upheld to qualify, apply, and maintain enrollment. See https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/index/register/volume48/register_volume48_15.pdf (pp. 5725-33).

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery proposed amendments to regulations governing recycling alternative schedules. The amendments would clarify the eligibility process for which certified recycling centers can apply to operate on an alternative schedule by establishing requirements to apply for alternative schedules, deleting operational time restrictions, defining terms such as "family-owned business" and "natural disaster," establishing criteria and procedures for alternative schedule requests, and clarifying handling fee eligibility.

The Department of Natural Resources proposed amendments to regulations governing dam and levee construction. The amendments would remove regulatory restrictions from the dam and levee safety rules and remove regulations that are duplicative with the Department of Agriculture. A hearing will be held May 16, 2024. See https://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/hearings/hearingsSearch/results/847987/348861.

The Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department proposed to adopt amendments to regulations governing the New Solar Market Development Income Tax Credit.

The Department of Environmental Services proposed to readopt, with amendments, regulations governing Solid Waste Program permits. The amendments would, among other things, relocate and add permit exemptions, modify filing provisions and notification requirements, clarify professional engineer and geologist requirements, establish a general permit program, and update permit-by-notification and emergency facility permit provisions. A hearing will be held April 25, 2024. Comments are due May 3, 2024.

The Department of Environmental Services proposed to readopt, with amendments, regulations governing additional solid waste facility requirements. The amendments would clarify and revise provisions concerning equipment installation, access control, design plans, construction prerequisites, operating approval, reporting obligations, waste management, closure procedures, and notifications to the Department. A hearing will be held May 1, 2024. Comments are due May 10, 2024.

The Department of Environmental Services proposed to readopt, with amendments, regulations governing financial assurance. The amendments would remove outdated references, clarify definitions related to financial assurance mechanisms, revise closure cost estimation procedures, clarify requirements for financial assurance plans and updates to a facility’s closure cost estimate, add conditions for the release of financial assurance obligations, and add procedures for accessing funds guaranteed by a permittee’s financial assurance mechanism. A hearing will be held May 1, 2024.

The Department of Environmental Services proposed to readopt, with amendments, regulations governing processing/treatment (P/T) facility requirements. The amendments would, among other things, allow unprocessed recyclable material, whether select or non-select, at P/T facilities; establish capacity limits for select recyclables, non-select recyclables, and liquids; specify storage quantities for residual and bypass waste; and prohibit waste processing by combustion. A hearing will be held May 1, 2024. Comments are due May 10, 2024.