By Kathleen C. Bassi

Click here for a more detailed report of the rule.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") has posted on its website a draft rule that requires reductions of emissions not previously generally controlled in Illinois. The types of sources that would be affected by this rule are those with industrial boilers; process heaters; glass melting furnaces; non-metal manufacturing processes; primary, secondary, and fabricated metal products and machinery manufacturing; and electrical generating units. (For a more detailed description of the rule, click here.)

We encourage our clients to participate in this rulemaking — before Illinois EPA formally proposes it as well as after it has been submitted to the Pollution Control Board — to ensure that Illinois EPA and the Pollution Control Board understand the unique intricacies of your industry and the costs and environmental benefits to be gained from installation of what could be very expensive pollution control equipment. The time to become active in the rulemaking process is now, before the rule is proposed. The rule can be viewed at the following web address: www.epa.state.il.us/air/rules/nox/index.html.

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Schiff Hardin's Environmental Practice Group has extensive experience in rulemaking. Please contact any of the following attorneys for assistance: