Illinois § 5b

§ 5b.

Local programs. This Act does not prohibit the enforcement of ordinances of units of local government which require the issuance of a water well construction permit and which establish a system for the inspection of water well construction and regulation, provided such ordinances adopt the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act and are approved by the Department. The local ordinance must also provide for the following: (1) inclusion in the construction permit application of the depth to which the well is to be lowered and the aquifer involved; (2) notice to the unit of local government of any subsequent lowering of the well, including the depth of the subsequent lowering and the aquifer involved; and (3) maintenance by the unit of local government of a record of construction applications and permits, notices of subsequent lowerings, and the information contained in those documents. The record shall be arranged at least by location of wells and shall be available for public inspection. Any unit of local government which wishes its ordinance to be approved shall submit a copy of such ordinance, including all amendments, to the Department requesting approval. If such ordinance is approved by the Department the ordinance shall prevail in lieu of the State permit, fee and inspection program, and the Department shall issue written approval. Not less than once each year the Department shall evaluate the program created by such ordinance to determine whether the program is being administered in accordance with the approved ordinance. If the Department finds after the evaluation that the administration of the program is not in accordance with the approved ordinance or is not being enforced, the Director shall give written notice of the findings to the chief administrative officer of such unit of local government. If the Department thereafter finds, not less than 30 days after the giving of such notice, that the program is not being conducted in a manner consistent with the approved ordinance, the Director shall give written notice of such findings to the chief administrative officer of the unit of local government and may revoke approval of such ordinance and program. All persons within such unit of local government shall thereupon be immediately subject to the State permit, fee and inspection program. Each unit of local government shall also submit information concerning each water well permit issued by the unit of local government, as specified in rule by the Department, within 30 days of issuance. The rules for submission of information shall require at least the submission of each well's depth and the aquifer involved and the depth and aquifer involved in subsequent lowerings. (Source: P.A. 89-368, eff. 1-1-96.)