James L. Curtis, Erin Dougherty Foley, and Craig B. Simonsen
Effective January 1, 2014, the Illinois Vehicle Code, at 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2, was amended to prohibit driving while using an electronic communication device, including hand-held wireless telephones, hand-held personal digital assistants, or portable or mobile computers.
The amendment provides for exceptions including the use of hands-free devices,…
Continue Reading Employees Driving In Illinois? What Employers Need to Know
By Jeryl L. Olson and Craig B. Simonsen
The Illinois Pollution Control Board just rejected Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (IEPA) proposed “emergency” rules that would have imposed additional Statewide requirements on the handling of coke and coal, including petroleum coke or “petcoke,” at bulk terminals and other specified facilities. Opinion and Order, January 23, 2014.
The IEPA had filed…
Continue Reading Illinois Pollution Control Board Rejects Emergency Rules for Coke/Coal Bulk Terminals
Lawrence Moss and Scott Schonfeld recently published a client alert on the City of Chicago’s new Building Energy Use Benchmarking Ordinance. Chapter 18-14.
Chicago now joins several other major municipalities which have adopted similar legislation, including New York City, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Boston, and San Francisco. Subject to limited exceptions, and staggered reporting obligations, the Ordinance broadly requires…
Continue Reading Mandatory Energy Benchmarking Ordinance
By Patrick D. Joyce, Philip L. Comella, and William R. Schubert
Illinois and California, two states that passed major pieces of legislation governing hydraulic fracturing (fracking) earlier this year, have just released drafts of the regulations that will implement their new laws.
What are the major issues? While the two States’ schemes are not identical (please see our previous…
Continue Reading Draft Fracking Regs Are Out In Illinois and California
Abigail Cahak and Ronald J. Kramer have just put out an important Client Alert that provides an update and a link to the recent Illinois State Police Department guidance on signage required under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.
The Department press release included a template of an approved sign for use on private property. Consistent with that Act, the 4…
Continue Reading Illinois State Police Release Sign Required to Prohibit Concealed Carry on Private Property
By Mark A. Lies II and Craig B. Simonsen
Illinois has just enacted the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, PA 98-63, July 9, 2013. Accordingly, in response to the fact that employees may be carrying weapons, Illinois employers have to ask themselves “are the Company’s policies and procedures up-to-date.”
It will take some time for the State to begin issuing…
By Jeryl L. Olson and Rebecca A. Davis
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has joined several other states (including e.g., Illinois, Minnesota, and South Carolina) in implementing an expedited air permit process where applicants can, for a fee, enjoy accelerated air permit review, and issuance of air permits, in Georgia.
The expedited permitting program is optional for permit…
Andrew H. Perellis and William R. Schubert
The Illinois General Assembly passed and Governor Pat Quinn signed into law a highly-publicized bill overhauling the regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking). Public Act 098-0022, Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act. The new Illinois scheme will be among the most stringent and comprehensive in the Country, and a likely model for other States seeking…
Continue Reading Illinois Enacts Stringent Fracking Legislation
By Andrew H. Perellis and Jeryl L. Olson
Properties in Illinois that are currently contemplating or pending sale, and properties with existing No Further Remediation (NFR) letters, may encounter difficulties and issues arising under the recent indoor inhalation rules adopted in Illinois. In the Matter of: Tiered Approach to Corrective Action Objectives (TACO) (Indoor Inhalation): Amendments to 35 Ill. Adm.
Continue Reading No Further Remediation Letters and the New Indoor Inhalation Pathway in Illinois
By Philip L. Comella
Rulemaking procedures underway before the Illinois Pollution Control Board’s (Board) in the First Notice of proposed amendments to Clean Construction or Demolition Debris (CCDD) Fill Operations (35 Ill.Adm.Code 1100) show that battle lines have been drawn over how CCDD will be regulated in the State of Illinois. One of the key battles taking shape now is…
Continue Reading Battle Lines Drawn in Clean Construction and Demolition Debris Rulemaking
